I’m relatively new to the linux space, I was introduced by the steam deck which uses kde, and it’s pretty similar to windows in terms of how it works so that’s the DE i’d be leaning towards when I eventually switch. I’ve never used gnome so i’m not sure if it’d be worth using I guess?

So I’m just looking for some input from the community, do you use Gnome or Plasma, why do you use it, and what’s kind of like a pros and cons kinda thing between the two?

    • richardisaguy@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 months ago

      after changing animation speed in KDE i have never managed to get back to gnome, holy cow does my computer feels responsive

  • verdigris@lemmy.ml
    193·
    2 months ago

    I use GNOME. KDE is nice in that it allows you to customize everything, but if I want that degree of control I’d rather use a fully customized window manager setup (sway is generally my go-to).

    GNOME is also designed to be used in a keyboard-centric workflow, which I prefer. It’s a nice comfy default for when I want the option to use my computer “lazily”, i.e. just kicking back mostly using the mouse to browse the web, but still has enough power-user functionality to make zipping around without touching the mouse feel good.

    I also just like their defaults a lot. If you start to install a bunch of third party extensions etc it starts to get messy and degrade the point of the whole unified vision, and at that point you’re better off with KDE IMO.

    It’s also worth noting that I don’t really like the default Mac OS UX – while I can see why people say “KDE is like Windows, GNOME is like Mac,” it’s really only a surface level comparison that mostly ends at “KDE uses a taskbar and GNOME has a dock”.

    • OmegaLemmy@discuss.online
      3·
      2 months ago

      Gnome is so much more different, the closest comparison would be android but android is frankly a downgrade of gnome for me with how slow and clunky it is even with touch controls funnily enough

  • BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    131·
    2 months ago

    I use KDE. It’s very powerful and flexible. While it can be windows like, you an also craft pretty much any GUI you like with it with relative ease. It can be Mac like or something unique, or even Gnome like if you really want that.

    It’s also intuitive and user friendly, with well made apps and a comprehensive settings menu.

    I’ve found KDE to be reliable and stable, as well as attractive and customisable.

    There are a lot of apps made for it - the only downside is software bloat if you install all of them. I’d start with the basics KDE desktop and add apps one by one rather than install the whole KDE app suite. Although the apps are usually excellent lots of the apps may not be useful to you personally . For example I don’t like installing the PIM suite (email, contacts etc) as I don’t use it - all that is online for me so I don’t need the native apps.

    I’m personally not a fan of Gnome. It’s got a single rigid GUI philosophy which you can now expand with extensions but I find they can be hit and miss on whether they work or are stable, and time consuming to set up how you want.

    So for gnome you either like it as is or you don’t, and if you dont like it then honestly I’d say don’t bother trying to make it be what you want - just use something more flexible.

    But regardless of what desktop you use, Apps will work on either or any of the others available.

        • _donnadie_@feddit.cl
          1·
          2 months ago

          Nah I’m more into the main distros, they tend to have better support. Debian, Fedora are my main OSs, with Debian being what I use with old hardware that I still want to use on a daily basis, and Fedora for anything that’s new and might require a more up to date kernel.

    • bpt11@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I didn’t know it existed till making this post, as someone that’s new those are just the only two I hear about.

  • toastal@lemmy.ml
    11·
    2 months ago

    KDE if these are my choices & by a long shot.

    I usually cobble together my own tiling setup. This has less bloat, but also a lot less integration.

  • HiddenLayer555@lemmy.mlEnglish
    10·
    2 months ago

    Plasma.

    As a Linux convert from Windows, IMO it’s really close in look and feel to Windows 7 or 10 but with none of the bullshit. You barely have to change your workflow if you’re already used to Windows.

  • Joelio@lemmy.ml
    10·
    2 months ago

    Kde, nothing against gnome, I just need to adjust KDE less to get what I want.

  • downhomechunk@midwest.socialEnglish
    9·
    2 months ago

    I was on xfce for a long time due to having low power hardware. I got a decent computer around the time kde plasma came out. I tried it and have stayed on it.

    I hate gnome with every fiber of my being.

  • Grangle1@lemm.ee
    9·
    2 months ago

    I’ve used GNOME in the past but currently use KDE Plasma. Both are good, but as for recommendations most Linux people I know of say for new users that if you’re coming from Windows start with Plasma and if you’re coming from Mac OS start with GNOME since those are the closer desktops to what you used before and will make things a bit easier. Depending on the distro you choose you may also have access to other desktops like Cinnamon, which I haven’t used but have heard is even easier than Plasma for new users coming from Windows. It’s not ready for daily use yet, but the upcoming Cosmic desktop may also be quite good for that.

  • Drewski@lemmy.sdf.org
    9·
    2 months ago

    KDE, coming from Windows it was the easiest to get used to for me. It has a lot of options and required some tweaking to get it the way I like, but once I did it was smooth sailing.

  • anothermember@lemmy.zip
    101·
    2 months ago

    Out-of-the-box GNOME, with no extensions or tweaks.

    I used to be a customise-everything kind of guy. But I’m not naturally efficient, so any workflow I designed for myself would always end up being inefficient. With GNOME I see it as a kind of off-the-shelf workflow that I can adapt to, something I wouldn’t have come up with myself but it makes me more efficient.

    • OmegaLemmy@discuss.online
      3·
      2 months ago

      Why do people downvote this?

      Default gnome is honestly a GOAT, face of Linux for me and it is far more convenient than any other workflow I used before in the past

      • anothermember@lemmy.zip
        2·
        2 months ago

        I totally get people saying things like “I couldn’t live with GNOME because it’s difficult to customise” because I used to be that guy. It took a significant shift in my mindset to come back to GNOME (having moved away from it previously when GNOME 3 was first released).