GNOME or KDE?
 

I am at a crossroads. I downloaded all six discs of OpenSUSE 10.2, and I am installing it. But now the screen gives me a choice, GNOME, or KDE. I have used GNOME with Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy, but I have used KDE once or twice (I have the Kubuntu Live CD). Is KDE easy enough to start using regularly? Or should I just stick with GNOME? Respond fast as I would like to continue the installation.

you can install both, and log out og gnome to give KDE a spin & visa versa. both are quite user friendly and each have advantages, whether one is better than the other is nil and a subjective opinion...

Flip a coin. Seriously, just pick one and you can always switch later. If there is a default choice, go with that.

flipped a coin
 

I flipped a coin, and got KDE. I'll see how this works out for me. Thax for response.

kde has a better graphical interface.

uh-there are some people that would debate that. I personally don't like huge icons, and when you try to make them small, its way to small. KDE also runs slower. Its shiny, but not ideal for all computers or users as it can have slower response time. You could also check out XCFE and then install Fluxbox if you want everything really fast.

heres a consensus for everyone: Xfce 4!!!
it is 100% compatible with Gnome yet its bloat-free.
google up what customized Xfce desktops look like and you will like it.
*EDIT*
a few older screenshots of my system:
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5...enshot2yk2.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/51/screenshottu6.jpg
ignore the stupid dialogue LOL!!!

Use KDE if you have a lot of memory (512DDR2+), Although its a better graphical interface than anything ive ever seen (inc vista), it leaks like a dam, it has some problems with memory leak. Although not sure about the new realeas :)

My take on this. Just use whichever you like or the one that works best for you. I prefer KDE, but regularly use GNOME and XFCE. I don't see much difference in terms of performance or memory usage between recent versions of KDE and GNOME.

On my machine KDE is not slower than gnome. Icons are perfect when resized. Ok the design is still to be polished. It also have some inovative things that make you work really faster.
After tweaking it, it is not a memory hog and leaks nothing.

I'm sorry but... show me one memory leak.

On the other side Gnome, right click on a file , open with and go to /usr/bin. My machine hangs for 1 minute.
Close it.
Reopen it, it hangs again for 1 minute. Poor optimization...

Now let me try on KDE.
1second.
Because it's optimized.. asynchronous display it's called...
Reopen it
1second
It probably also uses something that good developper use:
cache
and it's why it takes more unused memory.

Usuability:
All these gnome window that loose the place where you were before.. All the windows that you can't resize or maximize. Reminds me another OS and its WM..

Bring some facts if you want to advice people...

enlightenment :)

hell in everyway but shiny as ever :)