So what do you prefer?

I started with gnome, but I personally like KDE better.

I prefer the nicer looking one that works better and a little faster.

i prefer neither (altho i do have the gnome libs and some gnome stuff, just because i needed it to install some programs i think are best)

I prefer KDE, especially since gnome is totally screwed up on my system.

I use Gnome because KDE is not ok for me.....

I suggest you use both for a while and then choose what you think is best for you. I use both, GNOME used to be default on my machine, but for what I do, KDE apps seem to be doing a better job than their GNOME equivalents hence the move to KDE as default in my case.

I used both but now moved to fluxbox. Its waaaaaaaaaaaaay faster than the other two.

I don't use either (FVWM rules!), but when I play solitaire, reversi, or minesweeper etc, I use the KDE games

I think both have their separate merits. Gnome is intent on setting the bar for usability, and KDE is wants to be simply user friendly (or thereabouts, don't flame me). Sadly, both systems have some really good hits and some blatant misses (I've yet to see any Gnome review mention that it will use the hated-but-practical win-keys, and I've yet to see ANY system that makes proper use of the 5 "magic pixels".) Luckily, all these systems are open and in constant evolution, so if you ask again I hope the answer will be way more positive in all respects. (/rant )

Oh, and personally, currently, I use KDE (because it works better on my system, but anyway I use a bunch of Gnome applications).

Okay, I know what you mean by these - I got them working on my WM thanks to xev, which is more than they ever did under windows. But...

What on Earth are these??

i really perfer gnome, however instead of starting a flame war about windows decrations, i think you should try both of them out. I perfer gnome because imo it is cleaner then kda, altho kde is very good for newer people with alot of configuration GUIs. I am using fluxbox now, and i like it.

In my opinion try them all and then reformat or go download some live cds and test em out that way.

I started off using GNOME when I first installed Linux for the first time, it was just the first option lol. Then I moved over to KDE and I used that for a while, but now I'm back with Gnome, I just find it a lot nicer to use.

I like the rally canny knack of being able to choose, each and every time you boot. I love the choice, I hate constraints. There should not be one better than the other. Just the one you choose. Don't get bogged down in the nonsense, they and other desktops do the job, try them all, go back to one, then try them all again!!!

Oh no I'm off on one .....I like KDE, but then ........ KDE or gnome........ ok I'll have both, just because I can

I started with KDE, then I tried Gnome but I just didn't like how it looked for some reason. Kind of clunky I guess. So then it was back to KDE as default. For what I do, the KDE apps are just about perfect.