I know this topic is beat to death, but I've used both and they have pros and cons, and I would like to see if I would be able to eliminate some of the cons to make my decision. (OS is ubuntu if that matters)

KDE Pros:
*Sexy
*Audio switching is awesome. I can set priority of the devices I have (3) and then it'll decide which one to use. I have to manually switch the volume button controls, but no biggie.
*Can automount my windows partition and use the same music folder as on that partition

KDE Cons:
*I can't stop scrolling from switching desktops. I use keyboard shortcuts for this. I got those set but I cannot disable the scrolling for the life of me

*Plasma doesn't seem too stable. It has crashed twice on me in about 8 hours of use.

*I can't setup all the keyboard shortcuts. I don't see the ctrl-alt-l one which I would like to remap to mod4-l (sorry, I'm so used to windows and I'd like to keep that consistent)

*I'm not a huge fan of the "start" menu setup compared to gnome. I can probably get used to this.

*The software manager crashed both times I tried to start it. Yea, I know how to use apt-get, but there are times i'd just like to use the software manager.


Gnome Pros:
*Stable. Never had something in it bug out, and I've probably got 100 hours of use on it.

*I like how easy it is to get to stuff in the menu.

*Quick/easy access programs, settings and directories.

*Keyboard Shortcuts. I've been able to modify all of them that I've wanted to.

*Fast. I've run MATLAB programs like 8 times faster than I used to on windows. Useful because I use MATLAB a lot. Haven't tried it on KDE, but KDE eats a lot more resources, so I'm sure the benefit wouldn't be as big.

Gnome Cons:
* Audio switching isn't nearly as automated as it is in KDE. I really like the KDE audio manager

* Changing my "music" location/automount. I haven't messed with that much, but how easy is that to do?

* Looks. I really just need to find a theme I like.


All of that said, I think there are just a few things I'd like to ask about. KDE's audio manager. Can that work in Gnome and how would I do that? Shortcuts and scrolling between desktops in KDE? And themes for Gnome? I haven't found a good guide that I can really make sense of adding them.

I'm switching from windows 7 because it hasn't been too stable for me (flash crashes the system, a few random BSODs) so stability is a huge important factor for me, which makes me lean towards Gnome.

Edit- KDE is verstion 4.7.1 Gnome is version 2.32 (I don't like gnome or gome shell version 3)

I have one detail to offer: check whether Ubuntu's KDE setup is as bad as it was a couple years ago. It had been remarkably bad all along when I switched (but I wasn't using KDE, this is from forums & such).

i agree with jhill, Ubuntu used to cater for Gnome a lot more than they did for kde. I tried Kubuntu a little while ago and they've improved. Ubuntu no longer uses Gnome. So have you installed Gnome yourself or are you using an old version of Ubuntu. Gnome has had some large changes, so are you referring to gnome2, or gnome3.

I'm running ubuntu 10.04 LTS because I like Gnome 2. I tried the newest, but I hated the interface, and even gnome shell wasn't that good.

In my experience, most desktops are at their best in a distro that offers them by default, because that will be the desktop that gets the most feedback and attention. Ubuntu is not interested in Gnome, and not very interested in KDE etc (compare the namber of users of Ubuntu and Kubuntu). OpenSuse is not interested in anything but KDE: basic tools for other desktops may be missing or broken. When I last tried to install Xfce in CentOS, the package was missing a vital file.

If you compare Mint with Gnome and Mepis with KDE, then you'll be seeing the best of each.

OpenSuse as whole is not interested now (from 12.2) in Gnome 2, but some members still do so http://lizards.opensuse.org/2011/12/...-is-available/
I use Gnome 2 with 11.4 and have no problem in it, but in KDE in beginning very often failed kwin.

If stability has priority, so try stable Debian instead Ubuntu. Ubuntu always was up cute-edge, but so only relatively stable.

You're having stability problems including random BSOD's, have you burned a memtest boot cd and let it run overnight?

Ok, no one has really answered your question yet, so i'll help fill you, but first, like it's already been discussed, Ubuntu did a horrible job of kde in the past, and i recommend upgrading to a newer version or switching to a different distro to get the true kde experience. I personally have a soft spot for Mepis, and recommend it if you have a nvidia card, but if not, maybe opensuse.
Now to Gnome2. Gnome 2 is no longer supported by the gnome team, so if you want to continue using it like me, you'll either have to use an old version or switch to 'mate'. Mate is a fork from the gnome project to my understanding, which continues to develop the previous gnome2 desktop. I'd post a link but i can't be bothered right now so ask your friend google if you want more info on this.

So to help you out.

(I booted up kde, just to get this right for you) right click the desktop, folderview settings, mouse actions, and click the minus sign on the vertical scroll 'switch desktop'.
I encountered this same issue with Ubuntu, 10.10, and there poor implement of kde, which is why i've suggested use the newest version 11.11, which i found pretty stable, or use a different distro.

keyboard shortcuts can be set by going to systemsettings, which is located in the kmenu under favorites; then going to 'shortcuts and gestures', and you may edit/create keyboard shortcuts to your hearts desire.

There is an alternative menu, you may have to install on Ubuntu, but comes with most distos implements of kde, called the lanelot menu. Lancelot can be adjusted so it shows four or less icon, one for applications, one for computer places, one for documents, and one for contacts.


I am currently running a theme called bluespace II, i think it looks very nice. In pros for kde, you said kde looks 'sexy', well i think gnome can be customized to look just as nice. On first impressions i can see where you're coming from, but what some people don't realise is that kde uses a window manager that supports compositing out of the box, which helps to make it look 'sexy', while in gnome, you have to replace the default window manager with one that does support composting to get equal effects.

Kde's audio manager? are you talking about Amarok? if so, then yes, but i'm unsure about the keyboard shortcuts.
scrolling between desktops in kde; what's the question?
for theming, here is two good websights, first one is for kde, the second gnome. I tried to cover as many points as i could, and although i'm using gnome right now, i have had more experience in kde and know my way around better, which is why i was able to answer more of them points then gnomes. This is important because the things i ignored, i am not saying that it can't be done, just that 'i' personally don't know how.
Hope i've helped.

I agree and, sadly, Ubuntu and Mint and even Knoppix seem to have gotten caught up in "being a brand", attempting to cater to all factions in order to win "popularity contest" market share.

I often employ gnome and it works fine for me