[Wylug-discuss] what is the difference?

[Anne Wilson]

On Tuesday 04 Sep 2007, Anne Wilson wrote:
> On Tuesday 04 Sep 2007, Scott Hodgson wrote:
> > I am a little perplexed as to the difference between the 3 main desktop
> > interface's
> >
> > What is the difference between KDE GNOME and XFCE, I thought it was the
> > display - as in xfce was like a mac, kde all at bottom of screen and
> > gnome at the top - but having looked at ubuntu, kubuntu and xubuntu they
> > all have the same layout.  could someone put me straight.  all the
> > websites I have seen is that it is the look and feel of it, but also
> > they say xfce is more performance based but they all look alike on the
> > 'buntu group.
>
> XFCE is lighter-weight than either of the other two, particularly relevant
> if you need to get every possible resource out of an otherwise-stretched
> system. As for KDE and GNOME, despite all prejudices, it is mostly down to
> personal preference.  I'm a KDE fan, loving the way just about everything
> is configurable, while others swear by GNOME and wouldn't touch anything
> related to KDE with a bargepole.
>
What I should have added is that it makes no difference in terms of whether 
you can run particular applications.  I use several gnome applications under 
kde, and it works perfectly well the other way around.  Some libraries are 
required for the 'other' desktop applications, but they take up little 
disk-space, and they only use other resources when they are called.  I've 
never heard of anyone running into trouble by mixing applications like that.

There are technical differences, but they mainly concern you if you intend 
coding for that particular desktop.

My general advice would be to install both and try both.  You'll have to be 
prepared to live with each for at least a week, I would think, as you have to 
get used to that desktop's foibles - and they both have some.  KDE is 
probably easiest for an ex-Windows user to get to grips with.  In terms of 
power, there's nothing in it.

Anne
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part.
Url : http://list.wylug.org.uk/pipermail/wylug-discuss/attachments/20070905/1f026c8c/attachment.bin