Hello everyone, as a newbie, I just came into contact with linux and plan to choose a linux version that suits me, I don’t know whether to choose Fedora Workstation or Fedora KDE Plasma I am afraid that KDE Plasma This system will lack something compared to Fedora Workstation, or lack of support, can someone guide me
KDE and the Gnome Desktop are on the same level as they are both Editions since F42. The question of support should not matter to much.
What I do observe since the announcement of this move (KDE being an Edition) is, an increased demand of support for KDE, while the users being able to help, not increased so much.
You have to ask your selves which priorities you set. Feel free to download both ISO files and test them both on you machine, to see which fits better to you and what works out of the box. If you like the “Start Menu” approach from Microsoft more you probably will try the KDE version first, while being open to learn something new the Gnome desktop might be the way to go.
I do prefer Gnome as it is, since longer a priority in Fedora Linux. I started with the Mate desktop because of older Hardware and got fast used to it. As this version is also based on the older version of Gnome, the logical step forward to gnome 4x was obvious.
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GNOME. (and enough extra words to make this look like a full comment 
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GNOME is often described as more macOS-like, and isn’t quite as customizable as KDE, but it’s also known for having a more polished and consistent UI.
KDE is known for being highly customizable, more familiar-feeling for Windows converts. and often faster to adopt new technology, but with a slight reputation for being less stable or polished, though that reputation has improved over the last couple of years.
But if you’re really not sure, you can also try them both on live USBs and see which you prefer. I knew within 30 seconds that GNOME wasn’t for me, and I’ve been very happy with KDE. But I also understand why people do like GNOME.
That’s a vast question and it depends on your personal needs and preferences, some like GNOME, some KDE, some Cinnamon or Budgie, etc. You can watch many DEs on Youtube to see how they look and pick one to try with. Despite of default packages you can have multiple DEs installed and choose which one to log in with. Choose Workstation and tweak different DEs to your needs.
The good thing is:
You know, Gnome is a “desktop environment” where you place applications that use the GTK toolkit for their interface. Plasma is a “desktop environment” where you place applications that are made with the QT toolkit.
You can install GTK applications over Plasma and QT applications over Gnome, so for example if you are on Plasma and you miss a simple backup tool you can install “Dejadup” (GTK software) or you are on Gnome and you need a video editor you can install Kdenlive (QT software).You don’t like KMail? You can install Thunderbird.
So from the practical point if view you won’t miss anything either way, you have access the whole collection of “linux” applications.
About “support”, with “linux” traditionally you are expected to help yourself buy searching the Internet. That is because almost all the issues are not related to Fedora (or another distribution), they happen across the whole “ecosystem”, so you may find a workaround anywhere. Fedora being VERY updated, it happens that you may encounter some issue before most other “linux” users. So IF you cannot find any working solution, you ask this forum.
KDE Plasma follows the “traditional desktop” design. It looks more like Windows. Plasma and QT applications are very very configurable and expose lots of options.
Gnome is more like “touchscreen” design and you aren’t supposed to change anything, same more or less goes for GTK applications. The only way to pick one is to work with both for some time and then see which suits you better.
I would NOT advise to pick a different “environment” but Gnome or Plasma unless you have some specific need. That is because those “environments” are either “legacy” or they struggle with lack of manpower for development. I would also NOT reccommend to install differnet DEs together, it is possible but then you populate your menus with tools from all those DEs and it makes unecessary confusion. It would be better IMO to install several separated instances of Fedora and boot with one when you want to work on that DE.
I’ve been quite satisfied while using the cinnamon spin during the past decade. Neither NVidia nor Wayland are important for my use case. However, you might wish to dabble with more than once distro before committing to a specific one.
why would you not recommended other DEs but only Gnome or Plasma? I’m not here to argue but I disagree with your arguments for lack of manpower for development, I’ve been using Gnome, Cinnamon, Budgie for quite a while through different distros, and Cinnamon or Budgie is well developed still. Just to add either Budgie or Cinnamon also work with Wayland now but Cinnamon is better with X11 yet, wayland is still experimental.
I did not mean to start a religion war, I thought it is just obvious. Cinnamon is made for Mint and its development is intended for Mint “philosophy” and needs. Budgie was made for Solus, same. Now, yes, anybody can contribute those projects but besides the general idea of “redoing Gnome”, in Fedora those are “spins”, meaning somebody puts together the needed packages in “vanilla” state, while in Mint and Solus those are the “flagship edition”, pretty much as Fedora Workstation.
Lets say the same thing in another way.
The fact that Fedora Workstation exists in its form and it is promoted the way it is promoted means new users should be directed to either Gnome or KDE. By design.
If somebody asks me about Cinnamon I would not direct her/him to Fedora, I would say Mint instead, for the very same reason.
I understand what you’re saying but also one thing we can agree there’s nothing perfect, for example I used Cinnamon DE on many distros even including Arch Linux and Fedora Silverblue now and it works well in both cases. But for example Files Manager from Gnome for some reason doesn’t show thumbnails for many users, the topic is here so is it a flaw? I’d say yes because after installing Thunar it solved that issue for me and all thumbnails are generated in this file manager, I also posted my solution about it in the topic. So my point that nothing is perfect and even Gnome or KDE has their flaws.
Nothing is perfect, yes.
But the “flagship” editions are where most of the thinking and testing is done.
Fedora in my opinion is the best Gnome available.
Probably it will be also the best KDE Plasma available.
That is a big deal, whoever wants to use Gnome or Plasma can be directed to Fedora for the best experience possible, which is very important for newcomers.
Is Fedora the best Cinnamon available?
I doubt it.
So what is the point to direct new users to Fedora Cinnamon?
Speaking of “spins”, I think the only ones that make real sense are those that don’t have a real alternative, meaning there isn’t any distribution (I am aware of) that provides Sway as “flagship” offering. But with Cinnamon there is Mint. For XFCE I would point to Debian because anything else is more or less bells and whistles.
If you are connected with a university or business, there may be other linux users who are willing to help new users. Many towns have active Linux user groups, and some run events where particpants install linux with in-person help available. Many linux issues can be solved in minutes by an experienced user looking over your shoulder. It helps if your linux distro and GUI environment is similar to what other users in your area have.
Both editions (Workstation and KDE) and a lot of the spins have live iso’s where you can take look at the desktop before you install it.
As a reply from “an ordinary Fedora user” with a little over one year using Fedora (about fifteen years overall using various Linux distros), my experience with the Fedora support community, especially right here on Fedora Discussion, is that support and help are available quickly, and from friendly people, regardless of which Fedora edition you choose.
So the choice of Gnome vs Plasma vs Cinnamon vs Budgie vs XFCE etc etc is purely one of your preferences. The community is here for you either way.
Also, Gnome apps work in Plasma, and KDE apps work in Gnome. You really aren’t limiting yourself by choosing any desktop environment.
I think people overanalyze this decision. Try a few Live Boot sessions, pick one, and live with it for a few months. Find problems, find solutions.
Have fun!
From the Fedora 42 release blog post:
“I know the naming is a bit confusing, with GNOME-powered “Workstation” using a generic label while KDE Plasma Desktop has the tech right in the name. We’ll get that figured out eventually. If you don’t know where to start, don’t panic. Pick one and see how it goes. They’re both excellent desktop environments with great upstream communities, and the same Fedora system underneath it all.”
They’re exactly the same, just different paint jobs. It’s entirely a question of personal preference. You won’t know until you try one!
@dsadasd
Hey!
There is a fresh video available with brief explanation of different DEs (it might be doubtful tho..).
In my case I was using GNOME, but after Plasma 6 release switched to try it and now I love it.
However, I can’t recommend which one to choose, it’s really personal.
So, in your case just prepare 2 live ISOs and try them both!
For users who are associated with a large organization such as a university, it is often best to ask around and see what colleagues are using. Sometimes the organization imposes requirements that may need tweaking distribution defaults. Some problems are easily solved by a more experienced user looking over the shoulder of the user experiencing the problem.
Windows like environment and lot of customization - Fedora KDE Plasma
Mac-OS like environment and less of customization - Fedora Workstation
@dsadasd could you please give a live sign. This Topic is open since 6 days, and all participants just give input without knowing what your real needs are.
Just in case you are a AI bot, we do not want to feed you 
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Heh, I’ve been second-guessing posts lately, but it’s wild how AI has humans having to captcha other humans