The openSUSE choice

[The Doctor]

The newest release of openSUSE will default to the KDE desktop environment.

However, users will have the option during installation to install the Gnome desktop environment.  This is a fantastic idea!

Give users the choice of which desktop they want to use.  This type of innovative thinking is what makes Linux so much better than either Windows or Mac.  And also demonstrates the Linux community's devotion to the end user rather than the share holders.

When the need for profit is taken out of the equation, creativity takes over.
 

[likemindead]

I've long thought that it'd be really cool if Ubuntu had asked during install whether you wanted to go with ubuntu-desktop (GNOME), kubuntu-desktop (KDE), or xubuntu-desktop (Xfce). They already offer three separate distros (sorta...) so why not just release the one distro with a desktop environment install option? Glad to see the SUSE folks are doing something right.

[mccracken]

[unixgeek]

The simple answer why Ubuntu has different flavors instead of the ability to choose the desktop envrionment is that Gnome, KDE, and XFCE aren't going to fit on one CD. The OpenSuse media is a DVD.

Some enterprising LUG member could probably create such a DVD for Ubuntu. Just a thought

[likemindead]

Ah, yes.

I guess I'd envisioned a "download & install your preferred desktop environment" option.

;-)

[mccracken]

[The Doctor]

openSUSE 12.3 Milestone 2 Has KDE 4.10

Highlights of openSUSE 12.3 Milestone 2:

• Linux kernel 3.6;
• KDE 4.10 Beta 2;
• GNOME 3.6.3;
• LibreOffice 3.6.3;
• Claws Mail 3.9;
• GNOME PackageKit 3.6.1;
• Mono 3;
• LLVM/Clang 3.2 RC2;
• QEMU 1.3.0;
• GNU C library 2.17;
• libzypp 12.5;
• DBUS 1.6.8.