Comments on: Does openSUSE need a default desktop?

By: bear454

bear454 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:08:13 +0000

I don't agree with the idea of making KDE the default desktop for openSUSE. One of openSUSE's greatest strengths is that multiple desktops are supported equally, and the *user's preference* weighs into the behavior of the distro. I don't like the choices that Windows and OSX make for me, as a user. I don't like a lot of the choices that Ubuntu makes, and that they bury advanced options. SuSE has always made it easy for me to craft a desktop that works for me, without making me jump through hoops. I wouldn't want to give that up. And, as a user who (currently) prefers gnome, I don't want to waste the time uninstalling KDE cruft that gets preinstalled by default. There was some discussion of changing the selection page to make it more usable, using screenshots, default application lists. I like that idea, a lot. But really, with the live discs and their accompanying installers, isn't this moot?

By: jmp

jmp — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:33:31 +0000

Yes, make KDE default it would simplify things a lot.
Defauting KDE does not mean that you cant install Gnome if you want.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:41:15 +0000

>> â€œFocussing on one DE automatically means less resources for the >> other DE, so Iâ€™d prefer a strong commitment to ONE DE.â€

> But then why not choosing Gnome over KDE? so all efforst from other > distros (i.e Fedora, Ubuntu) goes to openSuse as well?

It would even be ok to choose Gnome over KDE. As explained, I think the integration of openSuse into ONE desktop would be beneficial.

But then you have to think what users you want to attract. Will you produce one more Gnome distribution and loose the 60% KDE lovers of your userbase?

By: Juank

Juank — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:41:57 +0000

"Focussing on one DE automatically means less resources for the other DE, so Iâ€™d prefer a strong commitment to ONE DE."

But then why not choosing Gnome over KDE? so all efforst from other distros (i.e Fedora, Ubuntu) goes to openSuse as well?

I think Suse is making the difference by providing equal support to both DE which is great. Averybody, gnome fan or kde fan is wellcome to openSuse which means a larger number of contribuitors... KDE developers + Gnome developer > KDE/Gnome developers

By: easgs

easgs — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:21:21 +0000

I beleave that it is a good idea to make KDE the default openSUSE desktop, focus in make it solid rock and completely integrated in openSUSE, and leave the option to install gnome from the DVD if the user wants to after the installation, if the user knows the difference between the two desktops and he likes gnome, he will look for it, if not, he will be happy with KDE.

There is too the posibility to remove gnome from the installation media and use that disk space to include more software, and leave the option to install gnome via online repos, so the user always have the choice to install it.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:59:41 +0000

freedom of choice...
If freedom of choice is so important for you, why not let Suse developers work on better integration of all the other desktop environments (DE) available out there?
Because the developers work is missing in the integration of the *main* DE.
Ubuntu puts its effort in the Gnome DE, Microsoft works on its Windows DE but the openSuse project has so much manpower to spend - they just work on two main DEs.
Focussing on one DE automatically means less resources for the other DE, so I'd prefer a strong commitment to ONE DE.

By: Volker Kuhlmann

Volker Kuhlmann — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:38:35 +0000

Zonker: "And of course, thereâ€™s Kubuntu â€” which provides KDE as its default. So, how unique would we be again?" You're wrong here. There is no KDE for Ubuntu. There is only an afterthought provided as an excuse that even the Ubuntu people say is rubbish. I couldn't agree more, and I say that from experience. Kubuntu is rubbish. Monitor doesn't work - no tool to fix it. Network settings beyond DHCP can't be made - no tool to fix it. Give me openSUSE KDE 3 any time.

By: John

John — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:31:15 +0000

I agree with Jacob and I can see no technical reason for choosing a default as long as there are sufficient maintainers in the community to support a desktop. Indeed, developments like Studio should make this redundant. Let people continue to have the choice.

By: ineedme

ineedme — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:21:09 +0000

Maybe if we get a default desktop we can focus in a better experience.
I love what we have now but i always getting better and better

By: Zonker

Zonker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:32:30 +0000

Actually, I switch desktops pretty regularly. Have since I started using Linux in 1996, and expect I will continue to. I like both KDE and GNOME, and -- more importantly -- I like a lot of the contributors to each project.