I recently read a report about Linux as a competetive desktop enviormnent to the new Windows Vista and when OS X makes its Intel debut, and in order for Linux to be successful on the desktop, the open source community is going to have to focus on and standardize one desktop enviornment for this battle.

So, if it comes down to that, which would you choose?

i think it would be a bad idea to set out and try and beat microshaft, or any other company for that matter.
Linux is about giving people the right to options, just look at how configurable kde is for example.

both KDE and gnome blow. *box, wmi, ion3, ctwm, are teh r0x0rz

Neither KDE or GNome both are resource hogs. I will stick with either IceWM or Xfce.

It is all about Freedom. Who cares about Microsoft?

Hooey. Pure, simple, hooey. The people who advocate Linux focusing on a single desktop, or a single distro, are so immersed in Windows-think that they haven't even begun to understand that Linux isn't Windows, and trying to force it to be Windows is a major, major mistake. This essay by oneandoneis2, one of the LQO members, hits the nail on the head.

Pure Windows thinking. The Linux community doesn't need to focus on any one desktop environment or compete with Redmond in any way. One of the primary strengths of Linux is the vast variety of tools available to meet any user's particular needs.

Why do people insist that Linux needs to become another Windows?

Developers in the OSS world focus on what they like, not what other people think they should.

if i really have to choose , i will advocate for kde ...

I like KDE for its easy customizability, but I prefer the look of gnome in the end I choose KDE its just nicer to use but I am not to keen on its rather cartoon-like looks.

I think you all missed the point.

There will always be distros like Slack and WMs like IceWM (which I use personally) and fluxbox that we can all use. The point is that if linux is going to make in the corporate world as a desktop workstation it has to have some standardized programs and naturally one of those has to be a strong WM. Commercial distros are an asset to we old school linux geeks because naturally as it progresses across corporate desktops, more stable apps will be available for it.

Just wait, when OS X is released for x86, I bet at least 20% of unix/linux desktop users will migrate because it is a nice, powerful, clean OS.

And BTW, that essay you referred me to is EXCELLENT.

There is one thing you need to understand: Linux is not trying to take market share. If people want to use it, great. It will be there. If they don't, great. They don't need to. If people would rather use OSX, great! You get the point?

So commercial Linux companies don't want to take any marketshare?

Makes since, I want my business to be unsuccessful too.

OK, there are two things being confused here, use and development. If a company adopts Linux for the desktop, odds are they are going to pick either KDE or Gnome, since either of those are a minimal jump for a Windows user to make. Corporations like standards since it keeps things simple. Well, simpiler anyway.

The commercial distros will naturally focus on whatever desktop sells the best, and that may drive some level of improvement on that desktop. However, that absolutely, positively does NOT translate into pressure on the development side to abandon all other desktops. That is one of the beauties of OSS. Even if a desktop like Fluxbox (which they will pry from my cold, dead processor) doesn't find huge commercial success, it will still continue to be developed because the developers want to and the people who do use it support it. If you look at the progression of KDE or Gnome over the last few years, you'll see they've made some incredible strides. I doubt that being the center of attention would have improved that in the least.

theres one thing that i would like to point out , namely , in a "commercial"(not necessarily must be a for-profit setting actually) settings , those from the "top" or those who have to answer with obligation/responsibility , what they would like is just setting up many computer systems for the users(of all kinds) in their enviroment to use for their *8 to 5* work or job , these users are not encourage to do any other things with their computers , actually we can try to "use" a computer in a public library , it wont "works" at all if we never try *very hard* , as the saying goes what everybody are using in their work place , we will use it at our homes , so if i have to choose , i will choose kde(or gnome) , while gnome(either kde) and maybe together with xfce will be in the *Plus* package , and this *Plus* package will very much be the windows towards the real *nix of all kinds , linux , bsd or even solaris , in their homes ofcourse ...