What are GNOME, KDE and Xfce desktop environments, what are the differences and how d

[kjohansen]

The difference is really more of a personal preference. GNOME and KDE are a little heavier than Xfce.

The basic ubuntu uses GNOME. kubuntu uses KDE, xubuntu uses Xfce.

You can download them by using the commands:



sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop


you can have all three on one computer if you have the space. you will end up with some messy menus with repeated apps, and removing them isnt as clear cut as installing them.

This tutorial is for getting back to pure gnome:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/puregnome

[Bruce M.]

Also, when would you use each one? I really don't understand this Linux stuff very much!
:(:(

Hi John,

Welcome to Ubuntu!

I guess the best way to explain it would be the way it was explained to me in the beginning.

Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/) - GNOME (http://www.gnome.org/); is the middle of the raod - the main "Ubuntu" that runs on most machines.

Kubuntu (http://www.kubuntu.org/) - KDE (http://www.kde.org/): the power horse. Need more computing power to run it, but I would guess most of todays computers can handle it just fine. Also said to be highly configurable.

Xubuntu (http://www.xubuntu.org/) - Xfce4 (http://www.xfce.org/): is the light version of Ubuntu, ran very nicely on my P-III @ 800Mhz whereas GNOME was slow.

GNOME, KDE and Xfce are basically the "desktop" - what controls your backgrounds, icons, and your display.

I've never used KDE so I can't speak for that but when you boot up, Xfce is very fast to be loaded and running, GNOME a little slower to load and get running and I would assume KDE more so.

If they were cars: Xfce4 - VW, GNOME - Chevy, KDE - BMW
They will all get you where you are going, with different degrees of comfort, and gas mileage and speed. :)

That should get you started.
Bruce