Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
I have used Linux as my main operating system for over a year now. I have tried various flavours over the years - OpenSuse and Mandriva, for example - before settling on Ubuntu. The reason for this choice was mainly based on the relative stability (in my limited experience at the time of making the choice), available support via many online forums, and ease of use for the average user. Unfortunately, I still have a need for some Windows applications, so, though I do use one or two in Wine, I also have Windows XP in a virtual machine on my main desktop. Most applications used on a daily basis are, however, native Linux. The main desktop machine, a self-build, runs Ubuntu; a second, lower spec, machine operates with Xubuntu; while the laptop used by my wife has the Ubuntu variant, Linux Mint.
Linux installs easily, and it can be argued that if the main use is going to be Internet, email, music, with a bit of office-like work, then a machine loaded with a flavour of Linux would be a better choice for most people than Windows. This does not, however, mean there are no problems.
Some of these problems centre around the thing that is often held up as a virtue - choice. Perhaps one of the biggest choices is the flavour of Linux to use - Debian-based with deb installable packages, or Red Hat with rpm packages. That isn't the end, though, as it is then necessary to choose the desktop to use. This is more than simply choosing the look - as many applications have been developed specifically for one desktop or the other. Usually, they will work in any Linux environment.
This leads on to the chosen applications. I've been trying Chrome, Chromium, and Opera. LibreOffice has taken the place of OpenOffice, and I have just started using Tweetdeck in Google Chrome. For photos, there is only one choice - Digikam. I have tried Shotwell, which is OK, but I won't use it until it is possible to order the photos the way Digikam does. Digikam works OK under Gnome and Unity, but undoubtedly works better under KDE, and is the main reason I have considered KDE as a desktop.
Banshee is the app used for music and podcasts, a Gnome application. This does everything needed. Neither Amarok nor Rhythmbox cover everything needed in the way Banshee does, so there is no real choice.
There are some other, more subtle differences between KDE and Gnome (when considering these differences, many comments made about Gnome also apply to Unity. It should also be noted that this is referring to Gnome 3.x). Gnome remembers the state of the num lock key, which is really useful as I frequently use the number key pad section of the keyboard. In my experience, KDE doesn't do this. Using a USB headset is also extremely easy under Gnome as you can easily switch between the speakers and headset with a couple of clicks of the mouse (this isn't even very easy in Windows, at least XP). While this may be possible in KDE, it isn't very easy or intuitive. Simply plugging the headset in doesn't work in my experience, the use of a USB headset is rather hit or miss, but excellent in Gnome and Unity.
It has to be admitted that KDE looks great, and would be preferred if only Gnome applications would respond as well in this environment as they do under Gnome, and the couple of significant niggles above were addressed. As it is, the only viable option for me is to go for Gnome or Unity, and switch to KDE when I think it might be preferable.
Linux is a great platform, and the various versions of Ubuntu are great implementations, but, if greater take-up is to be encouraged, there should be more consideration of the non-expert user - remember, users aren’t necessarily interested in tinkering under the bonnet. It would also benefit the cause if there was greater collaboration between the major desktops to ensure better cross-compatibility.