KDE or Gnome? (or something else?)

**TFoS_Fan** · July 11th, 2009, 10:47 AM

Which windows manager/environment do you prefer?

**MoonMan** · July 11th, 2009, 10:50 AM

Years go by, and this question still remains relevant lol.

Gnome. I think. It's been a while since I have operated a Linux console.

**TFoS_Fan** · July 11th, 2009, 10:56 AM

I'm just back to ZP...and the Linux forum was empty and I am a Linux hippy now...so I felt it necessary to start a geek war with my first new thread!

I prob have used Gnome more (using it right now), but I am trying out KDE 4.2, as it seems more stable now and is defo more modern than looking than Gnome.

**sudilav** · July 11th, 2009, 12:11 PM

I am new to linux however have used both GNOME and KDE, i have decided to stick with KDE as GNOME is just... it's crap, after several updates it breaks down because their programmers make spelling mistakes, since switching to KDE all these bugs and errors are fixed and it is performing 10x better than before... Now to fix my damn internet >_> my ISP was a lier and my download speeds are 10x slower.

**TFoS_Fan** · July 11th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by sudilav

I am new to linux however have used both GNOME and KDE, i have decided to stick with KDE as GNOME is just... it's crap, after several updates it breaks down because their programmers make spelling mistakes, since switching to KDE all these bugs and errors are fixed and it is performing 10x better than before... Now to fix my damn internet >_> my ISP was a lier and my download speeds are 10x slower.

Which distro do you use?, because I have to say I find KDE prettier / more usable, but way more buggy than Gnome.

**sudilav** · July 11th, 2009, 12:17 PM

I use fedora. Well i have more knowledge of linux since i used gnome so i fix most bugs if any however the specific bugs which i got, linux forums claimed it was a gnome error... hence i switched to KDE. i haven't been using KDE long so i'm sure i'll find more bugs... Like, make or makeinstall doesn't work? but that was with a specific archive which says ./configure is outdated and so i need to update my perl...

**RACKnRAIL** · July 11th, 2009, 12:23 PM

I used gnome when I had Mandrake. I use KDE with SimplyMepis. KDE just seems to run better, but comparing Mandrake to SimplyMepis is really comparing apples to oranges. I just don't have enough Linux experience to make a fair opinion.

**Tic3** · July 11th, 2009, 02:13 PM

Some years ago when I was comparing distros and using SUSE, I liked KDE much better than Gnome.

I'm not too sure now, though. I gave Ubuntu a test drive this year and it came with Gnome only. I haven't tried any distro to compare KDE to Gnome, so I don't really know anymore. Gnome with Ubuntu seemed ok. One of these days I'll have to get around to really giving Linux a fair try again, but I just don't have time to spare learning all of that again.

**TFoS_Fan** · July 12th, 2009, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Tic3

Some years ago when I was comparing distros and using SUSE, I liked KDE much better than Gnome.

I'm not too sure now, though. I gave Ubuntu a test drive this year and it came with Gnome only. I haven't tried any distro to compare KDE to Gnome, so I don't really know anymore. Gnome with Ubuntu seemed ok. One of these days I'll have to get around to really giving Linux a fair try again, but I just don't have time to spare learning all of that again.

If you do get round to it, Ubuntu with KDE is called Kubuntu and is available from a separate website http://www.kubuntu.org/.

**Tic3** · July 13th, 2009, 06:17 PM

Ok, I've downloaded and tried Ubuntu with KDE (thanks for the link, TFoS_Fan). I definitely like Gnome better with Ubuntu.

If I had to pick one word to describe why I didn't like the KDE, it would be "cartoonish" (if that's even a word). I probably didn't really run it long enough to give it a fair evaluation, but it really didn't make a good first impression and running it for two hours didn't really improve that impression.

**sudilav** · July 15th, 2009, 04:42 PM

gotta look at the highest rated wallpapers on kde ;)

**TFoS_Fan** · July 16th, 2009, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by Tic3

Ok, I've downloaded and tried Ubuntu with KDE (thanks for the link, TFoS_Fan). I definitely like Gnome better with Ubuntu.

If I had to pick one word to describe why I didn't like the KDE, it would be "cartoonish" (if that's even a word). I probably didn't really run it long enough to give it a fair evaluation, but it really didn't make a good first impression and running it for two hours didn't really improve that impression.

I kind of agree with you about Oxygen theme, but it has actually grown on me now.

In 4.3 though, they are using a new theme called Air. I am already using it on a test machine and with compiz on (desktop effects / transparency)

Here is a couple of demo videos other people have made:

4.3 (without Compiz and with thin taskbar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQHG_30PeX4

4.3 Notification Area (with Compiz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWBfwloevgc

Just another 4.3 video (with Compiz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Q9Y4DPnu0

Also, so I am not being too KDE centric, for those of us who enjoy annoying people with Apple, check out Mac4Lin, a fairly easy way to make your Linux system look like a Mac - http://sourceforge.net/projects/mac4lin/

**sudilav** · July 16th, 2009, 07:57 AM

okay, i can't use KDE. I love it, it is great, but it doesn't know how to use my sound card so i have no sound :( can't play movies. Until i get my terrabyte drive to switch everything to my laptop >_>

**TFoS_Fan** · July 16th, 2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by sudilav

okay, i can't use KDE. I love it, it is great, but it doesn't know how to use my sound card so i have no sound :( can't play movies. Until i get my terrabyte drive to switch everything to my laptop >_>

For DVD check that nothing in Mixer is not muted.

For DVD playback install libdvdcss package using KPackageKit application.

...or just stick with Gnome lol or Dual-boot.

**norm1515** · July 16th, 2009, 05:27 PM

Gnome hasn't been too buggy for me. There are a few things I'm not happy about in gnome, but overall I prefer it's minimalistic approach to KDE's clutter.

Not saying that KDE is bad though, it really comes down to preference.

Xfce is not that bad actually. I might switchover one day. I'm also excited to see this supposed new windows manager google is making for chrome os.

Edit: Wait, actually I've read that Chrome OS will not simply replace the windows manager, but replace X itself. Is this true?