ubuntu-desktop vs. kubuntu-desktop vs. xubuntu-desktop vs. lubuntu-desktop vs. unity

rsciw · 09-01-2010, 11:43 AM

KDE since SuSE 6.4, think it was KDE2 back then, fairly new.
Used Gnome on CentOS 5 for a month, then got rid of it and replaced my DM choice with KDE3, whereas on my Debian and Ubuntu machines I'm using the latest KDE 4 version that's in the repositories (debian squeeze & ubuntu lucid)

Also tried LXDE and XFCE for a while, but not fond of them either

fragos · 09-01-2010, 12:08 PM

It seems to me that a persons selection of desktop environment is more personal and subjective than objective. Most decisions are subjective and then justified objectively.

kevin-d · 09-02-2010, 07:05 AM

Xubuntu just looks much nicer than more modern Kubuntu and Ubuntu. For the last two variants, nobody bothered to port old themes which looked better (compare with 100+ _diverse_ themes collection in Xubuntu). They thought only about modern effects and graphical features instead of actual aesthetics. It's a pity.

And in addition to the above, XFCE in Xubuntu is of course much faster than Gnome (Ubuntu), even though it has all features I personally require.

AllGamer · 05-13-2011, 09:20 AM

I still can't make up my mind which DE to keep for full time use. I like them all.

But these are the basic guidelines I follow.

On beefy machine the stock ubuntu-desktop seems best
On not so beefy machines then go with xubuntu
and on really old machines like 486 lubuntu is best

I used to be a KDE fan, and i'm still do, however i find all those animations and heavy graphic usage way too busy for my liking.

However KDE is a great showoff to put Windows Vista/7 users to shame