Desktop System... KDE or GNOME?

[07dcolem]

What are the pros and cons of the different Desktop Systems......I started with gnome and switched to KDE and I think I like KDE better........ Any thoughts...?

[ewdi]

well, it's all go down to your personal needs and personal preferences.
I use KDE because i use a lot of QT liblary to code my applications. But i like gnome because i'm pretty familiar with it since i used it since 1.2

but again, we can go on and on about advantage and disadvantage. :) all comes down to your personal taste

[RedFedora]

I prefer KDE. Every version of Gnome I've used had something about it that irked me.
2.6 was (on my FC2 system) broken nearly beyond use. Also, the file section
and file browser features drive me nuts.
KDE, on the other hand, is (in my opinion) a solid, well intergrated desktop. Though
I have had sound problems in KDE.

[Paul_Vandenberg]

I like KDE because there is menu editing. I managed to fix it in FC2 by copying all files in /etc/xdg/menus to ~/.config/menus. Before I did that, I could only change existing menu items. Since I did the above copy, I can add and delete entries to menus in KDE. I tried menu editing for KDE in FC3 Test 2 and it seems to work great without any tweaking. Apparently, they are trying to get menu editing working in GNOME for 2.10. My personal opinion is that since GNOME has taken a more corporate focus, menu editing is not a high priority for them. In a corporate environment, these kind of things are ususally locked down anyway.

Paul

[DarkMasterMatt]

I prefer GNOME. I found KDE to be a bit complex and I never used any of it's more advanced features.

[vinu]

I prefer KDE to GNOME. Both have similar functionality.... which of the two you choose to use is a matter of personal choice. Enlightemnent WM is another windowmanager (WM) that is in a similar league as the other two.

If you have an older box that struggles to cope with KDE or GNOME, you could try FVWM or TWM.

[crackers]

Enlightemnent WM is another windowmanager (WM) that is in a similar league as the other two.
E is in a league of it's own - talk about a lot of bells and whistles!!!

Nit-picking time! Gnome and KDE (the collectives), are complete UI environments that use X. Gnome uses metacity as it's window-manager, which KDE uses kwin. Enlightenment is a window-manager, trying to move into the complete UI category. So what's the difference? Well, a window-manager manages windows and how they behave/look. The UI is another level on top of that which also controls how the innards of the windows look and behave. It's kind of a subtle difference, but easily shown:

Run WindowMaker or another Gnome/KDE friendly window-manager. Run a KDE or Gnome application - it looks the same on the inside of the window as it would on Gnome or KDE. But the window itself looks different and can behave differently than it would under metacity or kwin.

[Panos]

Gnome all the way up. I don't not abandon KDE but i always preffered Gnome (since the 0.8)

[desipher]

I prefer gnome

[hav0x]

Gnome here, didn't even install KDE ...

[jim]

E17 (enlightenment) image (fedorajim_E17_desktop_image.png)
Gnome see attached image (fedoajimdsktpimg.png )

[Raafi]

gnome here

(and i dont know why, probably because i started on it, and am used to it, and tired of any more changes until i know fedora better)

[ianmac]

KDE here, it's the desktop that was used to teach me Linux a long time ago. Tried Gnome but never could get used to the lack of some of my favourtie features in KDE. Personal taste, I guess.

Although, the new XFCE looks very nice. I think I'll give that a go this week.

[Sammy]

Started with KDE on Mandrake. Chose Gnome when I moved to FC3. Cant say which I like better. KDE looks cleaner. Gnome has fewer problems. Dunno why. But in the end the one what causes the least grief it the one I go with. KDE had some updates since I used it last... think I will give it a go again ;o)

[Pudduh]

I like both but KDE kind of reminds me of Windows (which is why I retreat to Linux - to get away from Windows) but is very nice and slick and well made.

Gnome is very cool but what is really annoying is the fact that when the panels are set to autohide you can't properly maximise the window for love nor money! It really does annoy me.

[Vinneh]

I've used KDE before, back on 3.2, but I didn't like it all that well. I've been using GNOME since 2.6.
But if you like KDE, use it

[R3V3L4T10N]

I'm a Gnome man, myself.

Why? Gnome has a more simple, professional look to it. I can't stand how KDE has those abnormally long menus just to configure it; I found it really annoying. Plus, KDE had a bunch of extra stuff that I didn't need or use.

Ever take a look at those Konqueror preferences? Talk about pain...

[tejas]

I'm a KDE Guy all the way. There are tons of software which, I think, will not run on GNOME. This includes my fav. Kopete, the instant messenger. KDE is so easy to customize. And there are thousands of themes out there.

[roolegion]

Gnome came standard when I installed Fedora; never saw the reason to change - it just works. Sure, I had problems finding a dvd player in Fedora that will work and I ended up using Kaffeine - which because of the "K", I assume, comes from KDE. But all I did was install some libraries and there it was.

It works, why fix it.

[AndyGreen]

I initially used Gnome since it was the default but became actively enraged by Nautilus. At that time it became extremely sluggish as the number of open windows increased. I tried KDE and found Konqueror much superior. It's since become clear to me that Gnome is only the default, and some Gnome library apps included in Fedora, for "historical political reasons". The Nautilus default change to "spatial mode" in particular was completely unacceptable IMO and I was glad I did not get mugged by it. I ran Nautilus just to see if it was a sucky as it sounded and it was even worse than it sounded :-O

However since the apps work through their respective libraries directly to X, and so all the apps work on all the Desktop Environments, it's not really critical what DE you run. But don't assume that because Gnome is the RH default it must be the best; if something in Gnome is chafing see how you get on with KDE.

[jim]

KDE was broke for me from jump street I gave it a good try but was never sucessful with KDE. I use gnome becausse it works. First thing i did was stop that dam spatial window of nautilus. UGH my god who's stupid freaken idea was that to have that view default? IMO, i use E for the most of the time

[Sammy]

Just froma as athstetic point of view KDE is a wee better... but of course that depends on taste. Functionwise KDE does seem to be more eficient, unless there are problems (as some people have, as always, with any OS). But not by much. Not enough to be a big deal. I do like how Nautilus works... when it works good. But nothing is perfect. KDE was ovely complicated for some reason in some modes, but does give more options when needed. I can do without Kopote and stick with Gaim. Not that it has to do with this kind of comparison. A common comparison are the toolbars. Gnome is overly big. Gnome seemed to be more affected by network problems until they were fixed. The KDE browser lists all drives, including ones that shouldnt be available. The result is an error of course. But better to simply not show them or grey them out so they cant even be selected.

Of course, many of these come down to various config issues and can be changed so that there is little difference. But others cannot. But for the beginner, IMHO for the most part the defaults in KDE are set up a bit better... especially after KDE worked out some of the kinks that caused me to stick with Gnome for awhile.

Cheers

[Artik]

I think both desktops are very good - what to use - you need to try both... and decide what you prefere - animation, fansy themes and lots of small tools. Or something simpler but that do all the job also.
I used for some time Gnome, then KDE, then returned to Gnome... why... I think I like how it works little more:

I prefere default Gnome panels layout (lunchers at top and taskbar at bottom)
I prefere gnome-terminal over konsole
I like the concept of Gnome panels - add and put anything, anywere you want.
I does all I need but it looks somehow simpler


However KDE is much more configurable and has much more small/good tools.

[Unbreakable]

I also started with Gnome, switched to KDE, and have switched back to Gnome. For me it was a matter of the more simple interface of Gnome, in KDE everything was a little to polished for me, although I did enjoy how KDE had a whole set of apps that integrated with eachother. Pet peeve with KDE: I NEED my "computer" "home" and "trash" icons on my desktop, trying to find system files without Nautilus sent me over the edge, also I enjoy being able to right-click>open terminal with Gnome. KDE seems aimed more towards the desktop user and would be a great Windows replacement, but Linux hasn't gotten to the point where I don't need to rely on my terminal anymore. I also had problems with sound in KDE - rhythmbox won't work (some sort of alsa error, but works fine with Gnome) and other players distort the sound. This may just be an alsa problem that might be fixed in later version, in the meantime I won't hold it against KDE. In the long run I will probably stick with Gnome and continue to try KDE from time to time to see how it advances. *Here's to never underestimating software and it's future*

[jsmaye]

Are there applications that work in Gnome or KDE that won't work in the other, either by accident or design?

I thought the desktops were just 'presentation services', with no real tendrils into the applications themselves. How can one be more sensitive to network failures? Or one runs a sound app and the other doesn't?

[tejas]

If you are an windows or mac OS user, or you like installing themes, with flashy colors, lights and stuff, KDE is much better.

GNOME has the professional look about it, but is much more compact.

Or just install both.

You can switch between them by typing
switchdesk kde
or switchdesk gnome

I personally like KDE better because there is a bit more applications for it [like Kopete instant messenger], but most Redhat users tend to stick to GNOME for some reason

[ramaswamyps]

i installed KDE and gnome desk in fedora4 test2

gonme looks majestic

i am used to KDE in other debian livecds

the KDE installation does not work as good in this fedora4 test

the program works just barely

desktop configuration does not hold
it does not integrate tnis system as seemless as gnome

ramaswamyps

[leaded]

I come from a Windows then Mac background and I think KDE is a little too cartoonish. Also, I can't stand how every freaking application has to start with a K! Apple has a handful of i applications, but KDE takes it to another level

[AndyGreen]

Good job Gnome avoids the temptation to start the name of any of its applications with G then.

[tejas]

Good job Gnome avoids the temptation to start the name of any of its applications with GThey can't, g has been reserved for GNU. [Yes I know GNOME stands for GNU something or the other]. Like GIMP, and GAIM, which I thought was GNOME only until I tried them

[ramaswamyps]

KDE has wonderfull applications

checkout with Linux4 all basilisk live cd which has both gnome and KDE desktops

that KDE is 100 times better working than the one in fc4

infact i came to fedora because of that cd

still i cant install that cd for want of fc3 does not install

bug with parted in fc3

ramaswamyps

[leaded]

Tehas, you're right, hahaha... Gnome does have its G applications, but it just seems like, at a glance, there's more Ks than Gs. For PERSONAL OPINION, enough Ks to make me go nuts.

[mbokil]

I originally was a KDE Mandrake user but after switching to Fedora I saw a site talking about XFCE4 as an alternative window manager. People were claiming it ran GTK applications faster than Gnome since it had less overhead. I was skeptical at first but after using XFCE4.2 for several months it runs much smoother than Gnome. You can run all your favorite KDE and Gnome applications too. It is very cool. Everyone that uses a GUI Linux needs to try it. It may not be good for Newbies since you have to customize XFCE4.2 to get back user friendliness. http://xfce.org/

[dotCOM]

I'll have to agree with some others .... I like GNOME. I used KDE for a while but I like the terminal better, the context menus and the overall feel ... I may try KDE again but who knows :P

[Sammy]

I would like in KDE to selectively remove many of the multimedia packages that come with it. But it seems to be all or nothing since I never use them. Maybe I missed something.

[TheRicXperience]

I recently finished building my PC and loaded with FC3. I installed FC3 twice. The first time I installed both KDE and Gnome. I learned to Linux using FC2 with Gnome, and I still prefer Gnome. Though I gave KDE a chance as I never got to see it in action. After spending an hour experimenting with KDE I did a reinstall (also with a more efficient partioning scheme) and am only using Gnome.

I don't know why, there is just something I like better about Gnome.

[need2mod]

KDE here, I have been using GNOME for the past several days and just did not feel at home with it. I switched to KDE last night and I have been reconfiguring and playing with all the settings since. I think I prefer KDE snce I come from a Windows enironment and KDE gives me more options that I feel comfortable using. KDE, to me, feels a bit more hip compared to what I am able to do with GNOME. Pleasing to me eyes :cool:

It's pretty cool that we can switch to one or the other with a few key strokes.... awesome :D