KDE or Gnome, More than just a matter of taste?

I prefer KDE because I can get everything done in 1 or 2 clicks. Gnome takes an extra click or two to find everything. Plus, i can customise the desktop in KDE the way I like it more easily. Also, a lot of GTK-based programs are clunky.

Those things make me largely prefer KDE.

Which is fine, but except for the 1 or 2 clicks your points are very subjective. And the 1 or 2 clicks may be specific to the applications and settings you use, and not applicable to any specific person.

So yes, KDE works for you. Gnome works for others. XFCE and LXDE work yet other groups. Desktop preference is an extremely subjective matter.

But I'm glad KDE works so well for you.

@perspectoff, interesting, that's excatly why I prefer GNOME.... because I can get everything done in 1 or 2 mouse clicks, don't have to use CTRL key combinations, can customise the desktop in GNOME the way I like it more easily..... Well actually as of KDE4.6 I still can't make the desktop work exactly the way I want. But good for you, I'm happy for you.

I'm one of those who like lots of visual and eyecandies, Gnome 2 can't do that, but I hope Gnome 3 will. Gnome 2 doesn't have Aero snap (that crippled Compiz hack doesn't count) and doesn't slideshow desktop backgrounds (unless you edit an xml which is time consuming). Although there are more stuff in the KDE system tray, I find it more useful, as well as all the preinstalled applets.

With that said skinning Gnome is easier and more consistent imo. Also I'm not fond of either the classic and newer KDE menu. So my point is I can't make up my mind.

From my experience of installing linux for people, they have a higher potential to messed up the KDE desktop layout than GNOME. Because in KDE, you can remove the panel completely, while in GNOME you must always have one panel.

I hope they implement this, instead of being able to right click and remove the "Main Menu" button right away, the user should first enter Editing mode.

Edit: Hot crap, Gnome 3 just released, let me install this thing and see how it is.

XFCE4, xkeybind, and a keyboard with 24 unassigned keys (more if you add in modifiers such as shift, alt, and meta). A label maker to keep me from forgetting where I put things and I'm done. I dont have to remove my hands from my keyboard to start pretty much anything, for as a final option there are drop down terminals too.

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