Linux Format forums

James100

Hi

I have just been scrolling through some of the comments that were made by some members in association with the current poll, "Your most-used desktop." It got me wondering about what is it that attracts different users to different desktops, so I would love to hear from anyone who cares to answer.

I am not asking about why you do not like a particular desktop, nor do I want to have discussions about which is best, or worst. And heaven forbid the last thing I am interested in is having flame wars between fan boys (or girls). I am also not asking for your opinion to help me choose a desktop. I am simply curious about what it is that attracts you to your current desktop.

For myself, I have only been using linux for a few weeks. So far I have tried out four distros with Gnome, one with KDE and two with XFCE. At this stage my preference is leaning towards KDE. There are three main reasons for this:

(a) I hate to admit this but KDE feels a lot like the XP desktop that I have been using for years. Call me weak, and that I should cut the Microsoft apron strings, but I do feel more comfortable using KDE

(b) I am an incurable meddler who loves to tweak knobs, adjust settings to see what will happen, peak inside locked doors, etc. The numerous settings in KDE brings out the worst in me...and I love it.

(c) Finally, anyone who has ever seen my desk would know that I am incredibly disorganised; I actually find it difficult to work in an environment that is not cluttered to some degree. KDE somehow seems to succour this part of me (as does Xfce to some degree). I could no more clutter up the Gnome desktop that I could stomp through my mother's kitchen with muddy boots.

My choice may change in time; or with use I may learn to appreciate KDE for more substantial reasons than I have given above. For now I would love to hear the reasons why other members like the desktop of their choice.
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3 GHz Pentium D
4 GByte DDR2 RAM
1 TByte HDD
128 MByte Nvidia Quadro
I am currently using Debian 5.0 and Mint 10

towy71

Well I have piling system in the room my wife calls "the tip" I only have three or four computers in it at a time Wink

the others I try to hide in various cupboards Wink

Gnome is the one that I use because it just works Rolling Eyes

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still looking for that door into summer

Rhakios

KDE is only like using XP if you don't use most of the features of KDE. On the small number of occasions I have been obliged to use XP (or Vista come to that) I feel like I've had one hand chopped off.
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Bye, Rhakios

johnhudson · LXF regular Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:37 pm Posts: 767

KDE4.2 because my first distro came with KDE and 4.2 because it is now stable enough for daily use (i.e. about as stable as KDE was in 2000)

Dutch_Master · LXF regular Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:49 am Posts: 2354

Gnome, cause I like it Smile

Yes, I did try KDE, but it's just not for me Confused

wyliecoyoteuk · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject:

KDE 3.5, 4.2, Gnome, XFCE, JWM, Fluxbox.

Waddaya mean which one?

Very Happy

Actually, I mostly prefer KDE, but I do have a soft spot for XFCE.
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towy71 · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

If we're allowed soft spots, I have one for LXDE Wink

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still looking for that door into summer

RedWillow · LXF regular Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 2:05 pm Posts: 716

James100

A big thanks to those who have responded so far. If anyone else would like to share what their favourite desktop is, and more importantly to me, what attracts you to that desktop, please feel free to add your comments. Input from new users is also invited. I am a noob myself, and would like to know what you think.

Rhakios, although I have only been using linux for a few weeks, and I still have a lot to learn, from my short exposure to KDE I agree with your comments. I certainly did not mean to imply that KDE is an XP Pro clone; KDE is clearly the more sophisticated and mature desktop of the two. What I meant was that of the three desktops that I have used, I found KDE to be the easiest to adapt to, and I think that is because it is more similar to XP Pro than the other two. I cannot comment on Vista as I have only used it for about an hour on a friends laptop, however, I will have to get used to it soon as my network at work is converting over to Vista later this year. Also, my comments are based on KDE 4.1, as that is the only KDE version that I have used. I am still waiting for an LF DVD with a 4.2 KDE distro <hint to moderators> as I am not suffiently confident at this stage of compliling one myself.

To be honest, there are still some things that I could do easily in XP Pro that I have difficulty doing on any Linux Desktop, but I put that down to my inexpereince, not to a lack of linux functionality. However, I have also learnt to do a few things in KDE (and in all fairness also some things in Gnome and Xfce) that I would never have attempted in XP Pro. As I have now committed myself to 100% Linux use (at home that is, I have no choice other than to use MS at work), I am looking forward to learning more about it and to become more proficient in using it.

Towy71, of course soft spots are allowed. Our reasons for liking one desktop over another do not have to be totally dominated by logic. Sometimes we like something just because we do.

Red Willow, I am glad that I am divorced otherwise my ex-wife would say that I am not allowed to play with you anymore. Twisted Evil

WylieCoyoteUK, as someone who has used so many different desktops, would you perhaps like to rank the ones you have used, using any ranking system that you wish.
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3 GHz Pentium D
4 GByte DDR2 RAM
1 TByte HDD
128 MByte Nvidia Quadro
I am currently using Debian 5.0 and Mint 10

ajgreeny

Gnome for its simplicity and the fact that it works so well, and for me, is a lot quicker than KDE. However, I have customised it a lot so it looks more like a "standard" desktop, with only one (bottom) taskbar/panel. I like to use the screen space I have on my 17" monitor to the best, so why have two panels when you can easily fit everything on one.
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Ubuntu 10.04 user, and loving it!

Grimnir512

I use GNOME mainly because it was the first one I used when I started using Linux. I like it's simplicity; the application menu is uncluttered; the title bars look nice; and Nautilus is absolutely awesome! =]

I tried to use KDE4 and was horrified at how ugly it was. I do like XFCE, though.

gn2 · LXF regular Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:34 pm Posts: 135

I use Gnome because it just works and I prefer it, although I use quite a few K applications in preference to their G counterparts.

Rhakios

Marrea · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

Why am I using my current desktop?

Oh dear, my answer has to be "I use <nameofdesktop> because it was the default desktop installed with the distro." Rolling Eyes

I run quite a few distros at any one time and I am afraid I just go along with whatever the default is. So I quite happily use Gnome, KDE, Xfce and LXDE.

Just goes to show how terribly undiscerning I must be. Sad

wyliecoyoteuk · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:55 pm Post subject:

i can't rank them really.
I have used many GUIs in the last 20 years or so Linux, Mac, windows. Amiga, GEM, and others.

Whatever is there when I switch a computer on, really.

My personal bias is for KDE3.5, but I use whatever I get.

At the end of the day, it is preference.

Mind you, I still hate the ribbon interface in office 2007- it is such a mess, and so awkward!
(12 clicks to scan a document from a scanner! give me a break!)
_________________
The sig between the asterisks is so cool that only REALLY COOL people can even see it!

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