Idea #2542: Replacement of Gnome as main supported GUI with KDE, XFCE or you name it

-207

Written by eugenesan the 2 Mar 08 at 18:28. Category: Others.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New

Description

Now days I don't see any advantages for Gnome.
On the other hand XFCE is much, really much , "lighter" and includes all functionality Gnome provides.
While KDE has very-very rich functionality while it's footprint is simply lower. And I am still not talking about KDE4 :-) which seems to be even more polished in footprint, architecture and look-and-fill.

For all Gnome advocates:
Yes once, Gnome was tiny DE. And person who willed to use simple taskbar and few buttons, would prefer Gnome.
But today it's not like that anymore. Gnome is still same "thin-client like" environment and simply far-far outdated by it's functionality and eats more resources then you ever dreamed of. Only one software product (the latest from famous blue-screen makers :-)) behaves similarly.

I am pretty sure Canonical developers has to re-invent the wheel every single day, while core technologies for their needs are just ready and waiting for the to use, and irony here that they are also maintained and located on same repository.

Can anyone provide me with reasonable explanation why Gnome is main stream in Ubuntu?
Can't Canonical just post a poll for that?
There are tons of code that waisted and duplicated when several DE are trying to sync functionality, is that rational?

Note:
I want to ask for forgivness in advance, from hard working Gnome developers who's feelings I might hurt.
I am developer my self, and I know the feeling when your creation has to die, but I believe that time, of natural causes.

P.S.
Strike me with your opinions, I'll be happy to discover new things or maybe even change my mind.

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Duplicates

Idea #423: KDE as default DE (-92 votes)

[Report a duplicate and merge its votes to this idea]

Comments

georgie wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 18:40

I just disagree. I hate KDE and love Gnome.
This is a very subjective idea.

Thanks to Canonical we all have a choice! That's why, I think, it's a populair Linux-distro.

arodier wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 18:52

I hate KDE too

KDE is the perfect example of egocentric programming : made by geeks, for geeks.

I love Gnome.

eugenesan wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 19:06

georgie: I am really ok with your opinion.
Without different opinions we would still use use perfo-cards :-).

But can you be more specific?
I am just a guy who wish to add more rationality and want to understand the nature of that DE phenomena.

And about the choice, you are absolutely right!
But Canonical should provide equal functionality to all DEs.
For example, it's really a shame and looks bad when compiz is still not integrated in any DE but Gnome!!!

travist120 wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 19:28

Kde's interface with any application has got to be the krappiest. They are trying to do too much! I've seen many people complain that Gnome is outdated, or that it is a resource hog. Have you ever tried installing kde on a brand new laptop?! Let me tell you, it is terrible! In my experience, KDE has the worst support for WiFi, screen drivers, and printers. I think that gnome is nice, and isn't trying to do too much with one DE (ie. Swiss army knife of kde) I love gnome, it has been there with me through the good times and the bad. Xfce is excellent too, but I think that because it is very reminescent of gnome. Besides that, gnome will get better at resources, just like kde.

eugenesan wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 19:54

KDE and Gnome are targeted to different groups of users.
Like georgie already mentioned, it's all about the choice.
Probably I am the one who likes those multi-bladed Swiss-Knifes.

About WiFi and some other features you are absolutely right. But about Printers, Screen and other drivers related functionality, I do not agree. All DE shares same subsystems to operate those features.

About footprint, somehow I have different experience. I was deploying Linux SDK on top of *buntu and performed dozens of installations on different hardware and virtual machines. And I must say that Gnome based installations performed badly on fairy good machines that where running freely XP and KDE based distributions. With installations on top of Virtual Machines with limited RAM the pictures was even worse, Gnome DE became simply uncontrollable. I didn't investigate the issue then and just moved to KDE/XFCE based installations as default.
But, I must say that Gutsy/Gnome performs pretty well on new dual-core machines with at least 1GB of RAM. I know that BogoMips and MB are cheap today but I prefer them to do real work and not to feed those hungry Gnome processes.

LuisAugusto wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 00:41

I would really like to see what will happen when KDE 4.2 is released.

For what I can see, KDE should be a lot better, I don´t see Ubuntu changing to KDE, and I actually like UBuntu default GNOME Desktop, but I wonder if GNOME will be available to hold the competition, maybe will start seeing some distro moving Ubuntu from Linux top.

KDE has a lot more future, with things like Plasma, Phonon, Nepomuk and Solid. For example GFVS will be used for KDE too. KDE is a lot more modular, so it has my vote for the future.

For now, I´m quite happy with Ubuntu with a GNOME Desktop.

Graf wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 02:49

You've got your own distro. Stop trying to make everyone else switch.

If you kluve KDE then kuse kubuntu.
Seriously.

(I don't incidentally, use Gnome btw. ButI'm fine with people who do. Find your happy place where that's OK with you and you'll live a happier, longer life.)

mexlinux wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 17:33

You can see an unbiased comparison here:
http://bbnuke.com/kdevsgnome

tbrminsanity wrote on the 6 Mar 08 at 15:37

I think that the the point of having the different distros. If you like KDE then use Kubuntu, if you like XFCE then use Xubuntu. Ubuntu was originally based of Debian which is a Gnome based OS and as such it uses Gnome by default.

ebrahim wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 16:42

Make KDE the default.
Gnome tries to be idiot-friendly.

wolfwitch wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 15:29

Why?!

Gnome is considered the more user-friendly of the desktop systems, and Ubuntu's goal (I believe) is to create an easy-to-use desktop Linux for the masses. So- Gnome fits into their goal perfectly.

They have KDE and other versions available for those that want them. This seems completely pointless.

DrHalan wrote on the 11 Nov 08 at 19:02

Hm i don't reallylike KDE either

Phonon for example is just something like a meta-api to be able to replace other APIs like GStreamer easier.

Also i think that gtk misses some features but there are already plans about gtk3 and gnome3 and i put all my hope in it ;)

Whatever i still prefer the apps and also the look of GNOME.

LuisAugusto wrote on the 19 Nov 08 at 19:19

Ubuntu won't do this, if you like KDE/XFCE or any other GUI more just go and use other distro which suits your needs.

That said, Ubuntu could benefit a lot more from KDE 4 series, but meh.

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