Whats the difference between GNOME and KDE?

[lord_havoc]

The title is pretty self explanitory... what is the difference?

[Twey]

GNOME vs. KDE is one of those Crusades that spring up every now and again. As such, a quick google for "gnome vs kde" turns up no end of results, some of whose conclusions are actually based in technical fact. I suggest you read at least two of them, since the chance that any one you pick will be strongly biased one way or the other is high.

[lord_havoc]

thanks! I am trying to decide whether I want Ubuntu or Kubuntu (Or Xubuntu even) because I am converting to Linux. And a friend of mine suggested Ubuntu or some variation.

I've heard you run Linux on your machine. Which do you suggest?

[lainlives]

i would recommend haveing both on your OS though because they are both good enviroments

[lord_havoc]

Both? I've heard of it but I've never dabbled into it. How would you switch between the two?

[lainlives]

Usually at logon, or some people logon into a terminal by default and start which one they choose when they need it.

[lord_havoc]

Do you need some kind of program or is it as easy as downloading the second distribution I want?

[lainlives]

you dont need a whole distro just the enviroments and one OS

[Twey]

Ubuntu is practically unique (and inadvisably so, in my opinion) in that it has a separate distribution for each desktop environment. In most distributions, switching between desktop environments is as simple as choosing one from a menu when you log in.

I've heard you run Linux on your machine. Which do you suggest?

Personally I despise GNOME. I find it tries to dumb down the interface to the point where there's very little actual functionality left. KDE feels much more powerful and flexible, and it's what I use most of the time.

[lord_havoc]

Yeah, I found out I actually know quite a bit of people who run Linux and almost all of them said to go with KDE. So when my computer comes in I'm putting that on it.