kde vs gnome which is better? New user!

[ranjan2001]

New user of linux I installed UE 1.8 based on Ubuntu 8.04 it only gave me gnome desktop, later when I compared my desktop with screen shots posted in this forum I found that KDE has better user interface & its own applications.

I will be reinstalling linux as my wubi install is too slow to boot. I have a choice that instead of UE 1.8x64(only gnome) I install Ubuntu x64 which gives me option to choose gnome vs kde (I guess so)

I want to know any downside of KDE desktop as I use 20 inch wide screen LCD & concerned about font sharpness & resolution, my personal inclination is to KDE as it has better user interface & quite configurable but just want to be sure that I know what will I loose in comparison to Gnome.

Gnome I read that is very light on resources & quite stable. KDE I read in many forums that it is bloated not sure why users say so, so need an opinion before I try.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...e-year-514945/

I can always use KDE selected applications on Gnome desktop too getting best of the both.
Are there anymore such desktops beside kde & gnome?

Does Ubuntu 8.04 have a problem detecting wide screen at the time of 1st install? I read that they did some changes which makes it difficult to work with wide screen out of the box.

I don't like the KDE fonts so can I install vista fonts & get a better look?
I am a user of mainly graphics program & plan to shift full time to linux x64 version for speed & stability.

[krishnandu.sarkar]

My personal opinion is...........Nothing can b said about lyk "which one is the best???"..........both UI hav their advantage n disadvantage.............I'll suggest you to install both of the desktop environment(if your machine resource supports) and try it on your own.........otherwise install any of the environment and try it and unistalling it again install the other environment and try that too...........and opt for the best for urself..........u can too refer to FAST TRACK TO LINUX(if u havn't bought that issue........find its PDF version on this months DVD).................I think my suggestion will help you.........if not wait for other members to suggest u...........Me too is not a old user in LINUX........

My personal opinion is...........Nothing can b said about lyk "which one is the best???"..........both UI hav their advantage n disadvantage.............I'll suggest you to install both of the desktop environment(if your machine resource supports) and try it on your own.........otherwise install any of the environment and try it and unistalling it again install the other environment and try that too...........and opt for the best for urself..........u can too refer to FAST TRACK TO LINUX(if u havn't bought that issue........find its PDF version on this months DVD).................I think my suggestion will help you.........if not wait for other members to suggest u...........Me too is not a old user in LINUX........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is many LINUX distros...........not only UBUNTU...............try OPEN SUSE(Given earlier on DIGIT DVD) it will not stop you to install both the UI. And you can change the environment at the time of login from "Settings" menu.

[FilledVoid]

Seriously the above post hurts my eyes. Stop using "............" like the space bar.

New user of linux I installed UE 1.8 based on Ubuntu 8.04 it only gave me gnome desktop, later when I compared my desktop with screen shots posted in this forum I found that KDE has better user interface & its own applications.

KDE has its fair amount of applications. Also it has a much better looking interface in my opinion.

I will be reinstalling linux as my wubi install is too slow to boot. I have a choice that instead of UE 1.8x64(only gnome) I install Ubuntu x64 which gives me option to choose gnome vs kde (I guess so)

I have no idea what UE 1.8x64 is but if I recall right no "Ubuntu" distribution has KDE on it. Also I think that you cant choose the environment during the install you actually have to go to synaptic and install it for yourself. Or at least I don't recall seeing that step to choose the environment. Nonetheless installing KDE is quite simple.

Gnome I read that is very light on resources & quite stable. KDE I read in many forums that it is bloated not sure why users say so, so need an opinion before I try.

Gnome is definitely not small on resources. It hogs a good amount of memory and f KDE says it doesn't then thats a lie as well. Both of them hogs resources which is on the higher side well Ill have ot check and I could post screenshots of usage here. I have KDE 4.1 and Gnome 2.22.

I can always use KDE selected applications on Gnome desktop too getting best of the both.
Are there anymore such desktops beside kde & gnome?

Theres quite a few of them. You could try our Fluxbox if you are conscious about resources ut a bit of configuraiton will be required for setting up the menu according to your preferences etc. but I find it quite nice and it saves you some space on your desktop. You could check about others like XFCE, IceWM, etc

Does Ubuntu 8.04 have a problem detecting wide screen at the time of 1st install? I read that they did some changes which makes it difficult to work with wide screen out of the box.

Sometimes you might be missing a resolution or two . It's nothing you can't configure from my understanding. If you have one of the nVidia cards then it should be easier. An Ati card might end up in alot or hassles though.

I don't like the KDE fonts so can I install vista fonts & get a better look?
I am a user of mainly graphics program & plan to shift full time to linux x64 version for speed & stability.

I believe you can change the fonts in your user interface easily. Check for Linux alternatives for your programs or if there is a Linux version of the program
you plan to use . Otherwise you could use products like Crossover Office or Wine to help you out.

[ranjan2001]

Oh thanks,
I was not aware that you can have both of them together & choose at the time of login, thats a great news to me.
Does OpenSuse have x64 edition?

[FilledVoid]

Originally Posted by ranjan2001

Oh thanks,
I was not aware that you can have both of them together & choose at the time of login, thats a great news to me.
Does OpenSuse have x64 edition?

Yes it does. I think NucleusKore might be able to help you with OpenSuse . he uses that OS .

[ranjan2001]

I have no idea what UE 1.8x64 is

Here is the link http://forumubuntusoftware.info/view...1a602dc7424def

Sometimes you might be missing a resolution or two . It's nothing you can't configure from my understanding. If you have one of the nVidia cards then it should be easier. An Ati card might end up in alot or hassles though.

I have nvidia 7600GT card & that gave me serious trouble in detecting wide screen resolution & I read on Ubuntu forums that its the same with Ubuntu too. They locked some Xorg config file which created such issues.

[FilledVoid]

Here is the link http://forumubuntusoftware.info/view...1a602dc7424def

No wonder I didn't understand. Ultimate Edition is technically not supported by Ubuntu AFAIR. its just a precompiled version of Ubuntu with several other packages I guess.

I have nvidia 7600GT card & that gave me serious trouble in detecting wide screen resolution & I read on Ubuntu forums that its the same with Ubuntu too. They locked some Xorg config file which created such issues.

Hmm strange. Unfortunately I have a 8600 GT so I can't vouch for the same. But I'm retty sure there are quite a few folks using Ubuntu with wide screen resolutions. You could always try the Live CD and see what all resolutions it picks up I guess.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by FilledVoid

No wonder I didn't understand. Ultimate Edition is technically not supported by Ubuntu AFAIR. its just a precompiled version of Ubuntu with several other packages I guess.

And a lot of tweaks under the hood

[ranjan2001]

Originally Posted by Pat

And a lot of tweaks under the hood

Thats what I heard & installed it for hat very reason, but after using it for a while & reading about other distros I am wondering that what are those tweaks ?
Being a new linux user I cant compare UE 1.8 with other compilations.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by ranjan2001

Thats what I heard & installed it for hat very reason, but after using it for a while & reading about other distros I am wondering that what are those tweaks ?
Being a new linux user I cant compare UE 1.8 with other compilations.

Tweaks in general that the developer thinks improve performance, provide better functionality etc. I use UE for one simple reason, it makes available a lot of apps that otherwise I have to manually search and install!

However, keep in mind that it is not much different than Ubuntu. So if you are a minimalistic, you are better off sticking with Ubuntu!

[ranjan2001]

Originally Posted by Pat

it makes available a lot of apps that otherwise I have to manually search and install!

Most experienced linux users would already know what applications they need to use for specific task, at least I know on windows side, so weather I use 98/2000/xp or vista I will install applications which i need, so I don't really understand that packaging so many applications with a distro does not make it better, since my 1st install I removed many applications as I did not need it &installed other applications which I needed.

There must be those tweaks which make it better & stable than Ubuntu thats why UE 1.8 exist.

[Pat]

^^Stable ? No
Performance ? Maybe

Probably you should check this out:
http://forumubuntusoftware.info/view...8c7ac5a6ab81f7

[Faun]

gnome is all about dirty hacks
you can play with it till you make your own customized layout.

Gnome ftw. Simple yet elegant.

Btw I liked KDE4, but its still buggy.

[MetalheadGautham]

Gnome is THE thing you should start with if you are new to linux.
KDE can be installed in linux with a simple sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop. But learn gnome first, then you can move over to KDE.

KDE is much more advanced than gnome. Its better looking, can be customised much more, has tweakable options everywhere, has lots of excellent high quality software in its official channel, etc. Only recently is gnome catching up with PulseAudio, AWN and company.

IMO, Gnome uses as much, if not more, in resources OTHER than RAM compared to KDE.

Gnome today looks like an odd version of macintosh in many ways, especially since its "Gnome Human Interface" guidelines. All this appeal a lot to new users, thats why I suggest gnome.

But be warned, gnome can become a bit too simplistic to handle once you get settled down and used to linux. Then, KDE looks more worthwile and appealing to "Power" users. Since that takes around an year to do so, and by then the scene may have changed completely, I suggest you stick with gnome.

PeRsOnAlLy I think KDE ROCKS GNOME SUCKS and IceWM and Xfce are the best lighter alternatives, but thats just an indivudual view.

And yes, as a newbie, DO consider Xfce too if you care about speed but STILL want gtk applications and graphical configuration for everything. Its the lightest environment that still manages to be very powerful and at the same time appealing to new users.

[Pat]

Dont want to start an argument, but Gautham can you please tell throw some more light on this ? Looks are probably a matter of personal choice. So please explain how is KDE more 'advanced' and 'more customizable' !

IMO, KDE is more appealing for newcomers and it targets first time linux users with its strikingly similar interface to Windows!

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

KDE is much more advanced than gnome. Its better looking, can be customised much more, has tweakable options everywhere, has lots of excellent high quality software in its official channel, etc.

[ranjan2001]

reading your replies can I conclude that in using linux one can use any distro with any desktop environment.

Is there any binding of application with the desktops?

[Faun]

Originally Posted by ranjan2001

reading your replies can I conclude that in using linux one can use any distro with any desktop environment.

Is there any binding of application with the desktops?

no the libraries will be downloaded automagically

Originally Posted by Pat

Dont want to start an argument, but Gautham can you please tell throw some more light on this ? Looks are probably a matter of personal choice. So please explain how is KDE more 'advanced' and 'more customizable' !

IMO, KDE is more appealing for newcomers and it targets first time linux users with its strikingly similar interface to Windows!

yeah, thats why PCLinuxOS, linspire and all other have KDE
KDE is for user looking for a windows like interface

[Pat]

Originally Posted by ranjan2001

reading your replies can I conclude that in using linux one can use any distro with any desktop environment.

Is there any binding of application with the desktops?

Heres how it works:

1: Any distro can be used with any desktop environment (Although its better to stick with default one as it is normally tweaked well to work with that distro)
2: There is no binding on application with DEs (Desktop Environments). Having said that applications are dependent on libraries which means some applications need KDE libraries (QT) while some need GNOME libraries (GTK)
3: Point 2 does not mean you cannot run a KDE app under GNOME. If you have all the necessary libraries installed, then you can do it both ways i.e. KDE apps under GNOME and GNOME apps under KDE
4: KDE apps on GNOME or vice-versa dont look as good as native apps. The UI of apps get messy (The style of buttons, menus etc. on native apps look different than non-native ones)

By native apps I mean GNOME apps on GNOME and KDE apps on KDE!
Hope that helps