I've recently become a fan of KDE after watching a video about Arch with KDE Plasma, but I'm hesitant to dive into Arch because I've heard it's not the most beginner-friendly. I've come across several distributions like Kubuntu, Fedora, and Debian that also offer KDE versions, and I'm curious about the differences between them. Specifically, is Arch's KDE more customizable than Kubuntu's? How does the overall experience differ among these options? I'm currently using Windows (which I really dislike) and want to make the switch to a Linux-based OS. Any extra tips on what to consider when choosing a distro that runs KDE would be appreciated! Also, please ignore any grammar mistakes as I'm still refining my English!
4 Answers
Kubuntu should be a good choice for you. It's user-friendly and not too hard to change distributions later if you decide you want something else.
To put it simply, different distributions will ship different KDE versions. Arch will usually have the latest, whereas some of the non-LTS versions of Kubuntu have updates a bit slower. It's also true that Debian and LTS versions of Kubuntu can fall behind. If you are unsure, go for an LTS release of Kubuntu.
The version of KDE you get can vary by distro. For example, Arch and Fedora usually have the latest version, while Kubuntu’s non-LTS version might be slightly behind. With Debian, you can expect older but more stable software. If you're looking for the newest features, Fedora is a great option, especially if you're into gaming since it has up-to-date packages! Just keep in mind that this can occasionally come with bugs.
That sounds good! I like the idea of Fedora offering newer packages. Glad to hear it’s relatively stable too!
When you choose a distro, remember that all of them pack KDE but the experience can differ slightly due to the version of KDE and any custom settings the distro applies. Long-term support versions of Kubuntu, for instance, might feel outdated compared to Arch. If you're new, Kubuntu or Fedora would be solid choices. Debian can be more server-oriented and may not have the polish you'd want for a desktop experience.
Thanks for the clarification! I think I'll stick with the LTS version of Kubuntu then.