I am a newby to Linux and am in the process of installing the Gnome version (whatever that means). I have also downloaded the KDE4 version. After I have completed this installation is it worth installing KDE4 instead? I do not know what the difference is between them, is one for basic users like me and the KDE4 for more advanced users or what?
I really need to get away from Microsoft and have tried SimplyMepis but this one seems to be better for my use.
Thanks
Brian 
It all depends on what you like probably best to test both and see what you prefer.
Basically they are 2 of many window mangers.
Once you have both installed you can choose between then in the bottom left of the logon screen.
Make sure you don’t have auto login enabled
For more info
GNOME: The Free Software Desktop Project
K Desktop Environment - Be free
/Geoff
Neither really is for advanced or basic use.
They’re pretty much the taskbar / desktop you’re looking at bundled with some applications.
If you’re used to windows you might feel a bit more at home under Gnome then you do under KDE.
Can’t tell you which one suites you best as it’s all up to personal taste… you can actually install both (use the forum search).
Or you can just fiddle around with what you got and if you’re not happy with it you can try the other trough a reinstall or from a live-cd.
Hi, I use Gnome and find it very stable, and can be made quite pretty when you have played with fonts, colours and effects, however, you may find that KDE has more “eye-candy”.
Go for Gnome if you require a “rock Solid” desktop, KDE 3.5 for “sturdy eye-candy” and KDE 4 if do don’t mind that it is not perfectly solid.
As Geoffro says, if you have the disk space why not install Gnome and KDE then investigate both.
You will find that depending on the desktop chosen, differing default applications will be installed. E.g. For audio Gnome gives you Banshee, and KDE gives you Amarok.
As said before I use Gnome and I feel very comfortable with it, and like the way it looks, but I do sometimes think that KDE is prettier…
Thanks a lot. I will install KDE4 and have a look.
Thanks again
Brian
Here’s a nice little review of KDE 4.2, the current Beta version. 11.1 has some of the features backported.
Review of KDE 4.2 by an honest developer
If you go with KDE 4, I’d plan on moving to 4.2, as folk on mail lists seem happier with it, than with 4.1.3 which was missing functionality.
I have had a quick look at KDE4 and it and the Gnome version do not seem to allow me to play either mp3 files or divx(avi) files. Are there easily installable applications that will allow these formats? I am not very adept in handling source code or anything like that so it has to be fairly simply to do.
Thanks
Brian:)
You need to search for the thread on the forum for exact details. There is also an article on multimedia support in the opensuse docs site.
Basically, you need to add packman and vlc repos. In yast>software select repos and packman and install kaffeine and k3b. You also need the w32codecs.
the vlc download page has repository instuctions and a one-click install link:
hah,i was also puzzled with kde and gnome when i was installing my first linux system–opensuse 10.3 .
finally,i chose the gnome, instead of kde.
Actually, we should use both of them,so we will know which is better.
i choose,i like