I’ve been using Fedora for a couple of months now, and have been loving it. Very soon after I jumped into this community (among other Linux communities) and started laughing at all the people saying “KDE rules, GNOME drools,” and “GNOME is better, KDE is for babies.” But then I thought, “Why not give KDE a try? The worst that happens is I go back to using GNOME.”
Now I get it. The level of customization is incredible, it’s way faster than GNOME, and looks beautiful too. At this point, I’m not going back.
I’ll happily contribute to the playground fight over desktop environments. KDE rules, GNOME drools.
KDE has a lot of nice points, I do really like the customization and I think I prefer a lot of the default KDE apps over their GNOME counterparts.
But there’s just something about GNOME I find really comfortable to use. I feel like on paper I should like KDE more, but I always end up going back to GNOME and being happier with it.
I have a similar feeling about it. I think I would prefer the customization of KDE, etc, but GNOME just works for me right out of the box. I don’t think I change anything except the monospace font nowadays (in Tweaks). It works great and gets out of the way. For people who do not like the GNOME workflow I suspect it would be horrific because there is far less customization.
Gnome is sleek, gnome is special, gnome is unique. I love gnome. I’ve used KDE, but I don’t want a Windows clone, I want something special.
[…] but I don’t want a Windows clone, […]
KDE fortunately doesn’t have to be a Windows clone. There are several guides available on how to customize the UX / workflow to something completely different. I get what you mean, though, the default UX seems to be at least inspired by Windows.
I hear you there. I like the workflow of GNOME, and I wish I could make the app launcher in KDE be as minimalist as the GNOME launcher in ArcMenus. But at the same time, a number of things I was using the launcher for can be done as a keystroke in KDE, so it kinda makes up for it.
it’s way faster than GNOME
Real question, are you on modern hardware? Only time I’ve noticed anything slow on gnome is on a pretty under powered laptop
Actually KDE devs said they use the GPU a lot for Desktop stuff so it breaks more often but is performant
Same. I have zero performance issues with Gnome, but I’m using a badass $3000 custom gaming computer.
They’re both good DEs with their pros and cons. I’m glad you found something you’re happy with! For me that’s Gnome but I’ve used Plasma 5 quite a bit two and it’s a close second for me. I don’t think there’s much use in bickering over which is “better”.
That’s why I’m calling it a playground fight. They’re both good, but right now I’m loving KDE. GNOME is really beautiful. I organized the taskbar in KDE to be similar to default GNOME, but with some extra stuff that I’m digging too.
+1 Plasma. However, I don’t dislike gnome. Gnome just doesn’t fit my personal taste of workflow and customizability. Other that that, gnome did a pretty good job on the look and feel department. I feel at home on Plasma (and almost at home on xfce)
Sokath, his eyes open.
I appreciate KDE for being a comprehensive toolbox that will let just about anyone craft the mouse-driven GUI of their dreams given enough time and effort. I appreciate GNOME for its bold and unified vision, which isn’t afraid to cull features or embrace innovation.
In what sense do you mean “faster” though? If you mean more performant, I haven’t experienced that – both desktops are extremely responsive.
This is purely anecdotal evidence, but on my 2013 ThinkPad X220 (dual-core i5, 12GB RAM) Plasma “feels” snappier and more responsive than GNOME.
I can also back that up! KDE feels way faster than Gnome (and especially Cinnamon) on older computers
Welcome to the KDE gang.
Both DE have different targets. Gnome takes a bit more time for development. They are both great projects.
You’re not entirely incorrect. But, KDE is better.
In your opinion.
I’d take Gnome anyday.
I can respect GNOME, it’s just not for me. There are a lot of other DE’s I really don’t get, for example: Xfce, Mate, Budgie, LXQt, any pure WM desktop in existence, the list goes on… But if people still develop them, I guess there is a market.
Well, for example, Xfce is very lightweight, so it works better for old hardware.
Xfce works better everywhere and with everything, however it falls to the same pitfall that KDE has, eventually you’ll require some libadwaita application, flatpak and whatnot and then you’ll end up with a Frankenstein system half Xfce half GNOME components and themes that don’t apply to all apps equally. :(
Gnome and KDE are both great for different reasons. One of the things that’s great about Linux as a whole is it gives people the ability to choose the stack they like most
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree with you. There are pieces of GNOME I wish I could bring into KDE, and vice versa.
I essentially did the same. Used GNOME for almost 10 years, then got my first try of KDE last year and don’t plan on going back either. GNOME has some really good points, I wouldn’t have used it so long if it didn’t, but I can actually use an honest to goodness theme on my desktop and customize without having extensions break on every update. Also, the UI in GTK is just too big and chunky for me, it’s like every window is designed for tablets or something. I don’t need a title bar that’s practically an entire inch tall. If you like GNOME, awesome, I will likely never say GNOME is bad, but I’m a KDE guy now.
EDIT: apparently I need to specify that the “entire inch tall” comment is exaggeration, because internet. My point being that GNOME’s UI is too big for my tastes.
title bar that’s practically an entire inch tall
… I think this is quite an exaggeration
You don’t know, they might be using a 70in TV as a monitor.
Yeeees, GTK looks awesome but I just cant see how apps like Plasma systemsessings, qBittorrent etc using Qt could work like that.
Gimp 3 alpha is pretty crazy, as GTK2 was very nice and usable, but already with GTK3 everything got huge, so now the buttons dont fit as well anymore.
Also I have to say GNOME would have some big issues for me.
- I dont want a top panel on a laptop, as it makes me look down more
- docks are weird as they waste screen space. Why not use a normal panel, everything there, at the bottom or side?
- not seeing all my open apps is weird, also not being able to open or close from the panel is weird
- I and I guess 99% of Desktop users dont need virtual Desktops. As they dont change the panel and more, I dont even use Workspaces on Plasma
- thus, normal window decorations are necessary
- hitboxes need to be in the upper corner and not some padded thing in the center. Every decoration failing this (looking at you Firefox & Thunderbird) just sucks
- UIs need to be compact when needed. Not everyone is a child and settings are not that simple.
Gnome has some nice apps like Loupe that are actually more secure. And it probably is way more stable. But KDE apps are so great, at least for usability! Could not live without Dolphin for example
Edit: incomplete scentence
Gimp 3 alpha is pretty crazy, as GTK2 was very nice and usable, but already with GTK3 everything got huge, so now the buttons dont fit as well anymore.
I reported that issue to gnome a while ago: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/issues/9907
Hopefully they will fix it one day because it means I wont be using gimp 3 otherwise.
Agree, on the point issue. 1440*900px is not low res haha, I have a HD screen in my other laptop.
Yes it just makes no sense.
not seeing all my open apps is weird, also not being able to open or close from the panel is weird
The extensions that enable this are so simple too. Its a real shame its not built into the settings out of the box, even if they want that to be the default. I wish they made extensions more discoverable too, since you kinda need to know they exist in order to go get them, and easier discoverability would help people solve tbose problems faster.
UIs need to be compact when needed. Not everyone is a child and settings are not that simple.
I really wish these things were built in settings. Thunderbird Supernova’s setting for this is a fantastic example of how much of a difference it makes. Yeah, it’s a bit spacious by default. But once you drop the spacing to medium or small based on your needs and dpi, it feels great. Opinionated design done well makes for great consistency and feel, but it also needs to have some room for adjustments without needing to install stuff.
Agree, if they had the flatpak extensionmanager installed by default that would be cool. But dash to panel is still much worse, way less tray icons fit there, the app menu may be inconsistent.
Also I have to say that the complete lack of .desktop entry modification makes distinguishing flatpaks from native apps, or creating entries with slightly changed parameters, appending arguments like “force X11” etc. very hard.
Nautilus may be solid but it lacks so many features and I still dont know how to deal with it. If you know how to add a real “delete” entry that would be great.
I also think the traditional decorations extension is gone? But I dont know.
Didnt know you could change the UI density, thats cool.
If you know how to add a real “delete” entry that would be great.
At least in nautilus 42 the preferences let you enable a permanent delete option in the right click menu, if that’s what you are looking for.
Gnome is great because of the large UI size. Like my 14" notebook has a roughly 2800x1600 screen resolution and it’s still pretty usable without any UI scaling. If the bars are an inch tall, you’re either using a huge TV or a screen from the garbage dump. Gnome really needs a modern system.
I think having options is the best part of Linux. I’ve used XFCE for years, but if I ever get tired of it there are plenty of great options.
I love both. I can’t decide on which to make my full daily. GNOME sleek. KDE is nostalgic and customizable. I have Fedora with GNOME and OpenSuse with KDE. OpenSuse has issues with some SD cards and some phone’s flash memory. GNOME can’t have desktop shortcuts, which I find annoying. I may just go back to Debian with KDE and GNOME and switch back and forth. I think that still possible. I haven’t tried that in a while.
Sleek is a great way to describe GNOME. It’s really pretty and slick, and I was sure happy with how it worked. Plus, with all my google accounts hooked into GNOME, Evolution just pulled all that info and gave me real easy access to my mail. I wish KMail did the same thing.
I never tied my accounts to anything, but that sounds awesome!
IMHO no desktop icons is the one major thing that stuck with me. I use KDE Plasma now, but the desktop folder might as well not exist.
I see the merit in it, but I see the desktop as a shortcut area for most used apps. Like the dock, but I can’t stand docks. I normally have 2-3 icons on the desktop. Terminal is by keyboard shortcut.
I like them both. GNOME’s desktop metaphor is nicer but it can be replicated on Plasma with a few shortcuts. Plasma has a few niceties not present in GNOME. GNOME is prettier. Dolphin is a better file manager than Nautilus. GNOME programs don’t have a way of rebinding keyboard shortcuts.
It just depends on what I consider more important at the time.
I think the KDE vs Gnome thing in general for a lot is familiarity, but I gotta say as a primarily Gnome user, I find Dolphin harder(or maybe less intuitive) to use. It’s not bad, and in a number of ways I would agree is absolutely superior to Nautilus, but for whatever reason, between the two, I generally would prefer Nautilus.
GNOME changed the way I used desktops. Dolphin changed the way I used file managers.
I always set Nautilus to use one-click behavior, but it doesn’t have handles like Dolphin does. And Dolphin has a built-in terminal. And other niceties. I like Nautilus too. I think both desktops have some good ideas and I like to bring some KDE ideas over to GNOME and vice versa.
But if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that GNOME is much better designed than macOS.
I do agree that GNOME is really beautiful. I spent time making the taskbar more like GNOME before commiting to using KDE.
I tried GNOME for all but three minutes until I found out that you could be scrolling along with your mouse wheel and oop, a slider suddenly appears under your cursor, steals focus, and now your mouse wheel is moving the slider before you can notice where it used to be.
What an awful default choice for UI/UX behavior.
That has never happened to me in the many years I’ve been using Gnome.
I used Gnome for half an hour when I noticed I can three-finger-swipe left/right to switch workspaces and swipe up/down to open and close the overview. I’ll never use anything else on my laptop!
That is not a UX choice, not default behaviour, and has not happened to me ever, after a decade+ of use.
