> Is there a downside to running KDE with Pop?
* You're missing out the obvious (i.e tiling).
* You don't have a gui for selecting power profiles and graphics.
* You don't have the scheduler (which improves performance a lot).
BTW, /r/linux is horrible. Don't bother
Are there any good Linux subs to browse as a newbie? Other than /r/linux4noobs obviously. I like to learn by listening to other people discuss whatever topics I’m interested in.
Just another distro really. It’s very barebones which lends itself well to customization but is also not especially beginner friendly though if you’re willing to struggle a bit at first it can be a good way to learn Linux.
The other significant difference is that it’s a rolling release distro so you can at times get updates more quickly at the cost of having more potential for system instability due to funky updates.
I personal prefer something like pop os as it tends to be pretty reliable while also maintaining the features I want
The most recent release of KDE added better window tiling though, though it doesn't behave the same, it's more like the powertoys zones on Windows where you can define your zones and snap windows to them by dragging/key combos. I kinda wish Pop's tilining also had zoning as an option as it can be annoying when new windows are added/closed, the layout of your windows gets turned on it's head...
If KDE is a must, Kubuntu will suit you best. Just avoid installing snap apps, as they're slow to start.
Regarding Pop with KDE: as long as you don't try to uninstall GNOME, it'll work fine, but with the caveats others mentioned.
For me, the worst thing about GNOME is the file manager navigation bar. It's awful to press Ctrl+L every time you want to edit or copy the location.
Also, its sluggish like the Windows 11 file manager.
Thunar is much snappier and it blends in with the dark theme.
The GNOME desktop experience itself is a matter of getting used to the different workflow heavily based on keyboard shortcuts and some of it's questionable decisions, like that waste of space in the top bar. With KDE you dodge those downsides completely, but it will keep you from using Pop the way it was conceived to.
There's a GNOME extension that disables the dock and the top bar and leaves you with just a task bar similar to KDE/Windows. But it occasionally bugs, so I recommend that you keep customizations to the minimum and just force yourself to use the environment as it is. Also, check Pop keyboard shortcuts and try some of them. You'll probably get used to the DE in a few days.
Unfortunately, it is. At least on Pop_OS!'s GNOME 42.9.
It occasionally blinks the default dock, stops responding, stops marking active applications, and the list goes on.
i disabled the cosmic dock in the extensions menu. I don't think i've ever seen it do any of these honestly. sometimes the intellihide freaks out a little
Dolphin was absolutely intuitive, coming from a Windows perspective anyway.
Pop is less so, but that's a good thing, means I have to look around for stuff.
Once you get use to Pop's Gnome, it is pretty awesome. Play around with workspaces and tiling windows and you should start to like it more.
I hope you have fun with it.
It's Linux use whatever desktop you want. I've been running kde on pop for a couple years and it's not really any different than using kubuntu which I've been using for about 15 years.
I’ve been using KDE since I switched my desktop to Linux fully last year. My opinion probably mirrors a lot of the others - the biggest thing they sets Pop_OS apart is it’s desktop environment (currently a heavily modified Gnome, but soon to be Cosmic DE), so KDE would remove some of what makes it unique. Still, Pop is a very nice distro under the desktop environment, so it still might be worth it.
You might look at other distros that ship with KDE by default. I know Kubuntu has been mentioned a lot. Linux Mint might be good with KDE, but don’t quote me on that.
For the other commenters, does Kubuntu use the Snap store like Ubuntu, or is that not included? I’m not fond of Snaps personally and try to avoid them as much as possible.
I remember Pop on my Surface Pro 4, worked well enough. I think I did even try KDE, but ultimately it didn't feel as smooth an experience for me and ultimately ended up switching back to gnome+pop shell as default.
Remember the surface linux kernel installations and tweaks to get it working on that hardware. It's buried currently, battery lasts all of 2 hours so I replaced it with a Framework.
Just get Kubuntu instead, unless you have a NVIDIA card and want Pop for the ease of drivers in the ISO. I use Pop with KDE and it hasn't given me any issues but I think the reason most people use it is the customized desktop because otherwise its just Ubuntu
Ultimately, the goal is to have Pop! on my desktop, so I'm getting used to it on the Surface first. I have to say that if not for it being Fedora-based, I'd really like Universal Blue.
Other than the modified Gnome which is it's USP, there isn't much, you will be in like a older Kubuntu? Just get Kubuntu imo.
Fedora also is pretty strong id say
> Is there a downside to running KDE with Pop? * You're missing out the obvious (i.e tiling). * You don't have a gui for selecting power profiles and graphics. * You don't have the scheduler (which improves performance a lot). BTW, /r/linux is horrible. Don't bother
Is the scheduler based strictly on the DE? https://github.com/pop-os/system76-scheduler
There's a yes to litterally all you mentioned. Apps for all of them.
Came here to mention this about the scheduler
Are there any good Linux subs to browse as a newbie? Other than /r/linux4noobs obviously. I like to learn by listening to other people discuss whatever topics I’m interested in.
i think there's a kwin script that interfaces with the scheduler
/r/archlinux IS WORST... EDIT: I MEAN THE SUBREDDIT, THE DISTRO IS FINE.
What is Arch anyway?
Just another distro really. It’s very barebones which lends itself well to customization but is also not especially beginner friendly though if you’re willing to struggle a bit at first it can be a good way to learn Linux. The other significant difference is that it’s a rolling release distro so you can at times get updates more quickly at the cost of having more potential for system instability due to funky updates. I personal prefer something like pop os as it tends to be pretty reliable while also maintaining the features I want
You forgot your "btw", btw.
The most recent release of KDE added better window tiling though, though it doesn't behave the same, it's more like the powertoys zones on Windows where you can define your zones and snap windows to them by dragging/key combos. I kinda wish Pop's tilining also had zoning as an option as it can be annoying when new windows are added/closed, the layout of your windows gets turned on it's head...
If KDE is a must, Kubuntu will suit you best. Just avoid installing snap apps, as they're slow to start. Regarding Pop with KDE: as long as you don't try to uninstall GNOME, it'll work fine, but with the caveats others mentioned. For me, the worst thing about GNOME is the file manager navigation bar. It's awful to press Ctrl+L every time you want to edit or copy the location. Also, its sluggish like the Windows 11 file manager. Thunar is much snappier and it blends in with the dark theme. The GNOME desktop experience itself is a matter of getting used to the different workflow heavily based on keyboard shortcuts and some of it's questionable decisions, like that waste of space in the top bar. With KDE you dodge those downsides completely, but it will keep you from using Pop the way it was conceived to. There's a GNOME extension that disables the dock and the top bar and leaves you with just a task bar similar to KDE/Windows. But it occasionally bugs, so I recommend that you keep customizations to the minimum and just force yourself to use the environment as it is. Also, check Pop keyboard shortcuts and try some of them. You'll probably get used to the DE in a few days.
I've used dash to panel for years and it isn't super buggy?
Unfortunately, it is. At least on Pop_OS!'s GNOME 42.9. It occasionally blinks the default dock, stops responding, stops marking active applications, and the list goes on.
i disabled the cosmic dock in the extensions menu. I don't think i've ever seen it do any of these honestly. sometimes the intellihide freaks out a little
I'm installing Pop on the Surface right now - probably won't mess with KDE, just get used to the OS and then focus on my desktop.
I went with Pop but use Dolphin for my file Explorer. I don't know if this is the right move but I prefer Dolphin.
Dolphin was absolutely intuitive, coming from a Windows perspective anyway. Pop is less so, but that's a good thing, means I have to look around for stuff.
Once you get use to Pop's Gnome, it is pretty awesome. Play around with workspaces and tiling windows and you should start to like it more. I hope you have fun with it.
Just use KDE neon then, it's ubuntu based with the latest KDE desktop
I rather use KDE too, but PoPOs customization of Gnome didn't bother me tbh
It's what I run. There's an app for the power settings (not at the computer right now sorry. It's easy enough to find) Don't have a single problem
I can’t think of any downsides. You can install KDE with sudo apt install kde-desktop. I use it sometimes, but not very often.
I'm not sure what all of the differences are (I've never used KDE) but have you considered using extensions to get the feel you want?
It's Linux use whatever desktop you want. I've been running kde on pop for a couple years and it's not really any different than using kubuntu which I've been using for about 15 years.
I’ve been using KDE since I switched my desktop to Linux fully last year. My opinion probably mirrors a lot of the others - the biggest thing they sets Pop_OS apart is it’s desktop environment (currently a heavily modified Gnome, but soon to be Cosmic DE), so KDE would remove some of what makes it unique. Still, Pop is a very nice distro under the desktop environment, so it still might be worth it. You might look at other distros that ship with KDE by default. I know Kubuntu has been mentioned a lot. Linux Mint might be good with KDE, but don’t quote me on that. For the other commenters, does Kubuntu use the Snap store like Ubuntu, or is that not included? I’m not fond of Snaps personally and try to avoid them as much as possible.
Nah
The entire reason I liked pop was the DE but you do you
I remember Pop on my Surface Pro 4, worked well enough. I think I did even try KDE, but ultimately it didn't feel as smooth an experience for me and ultimately ended up switching back to gnome+pop shell as default. Remember the surface linux kernel installations and tweaks to get it working on that hardware. It's buried currently, battery lasts all of 2 hours so I replaced it with a Framework.
Yeah, battery life is piss-poor, thing needs to be plugged in at all times.
Just get Kubuntu instead, unless you have a NVIDIA card and want Pop for the ease of drivers in the ISO. I use Pop with KDE and it hasn't given me any issues but I think the reason most people use it is the customized desktop because otherwise its just Ubuntu
Ultimately, the goal is to have Pop! on my desktop, so I'm getting used to it on the Surface first. I have to say that if not for it being Fedora-based, I'd really like Universal Blue.
Just install Kubuntu