Switching Desktops

Ubuntu™ users may think that their favorite GNOME applications will not run under Kubuntu™; this is not the case. Much work has been done to ensure compatibility between GNOME and KDE™. All GNOME applications will run under KDE™, and vice versa.

While the KDE™ desktop is different from GNOME, all GNOME applications will be integrated into the KDE™ menu system.

Users wanting to try Kubuntu™ may be concerned that KDE™ will become their only desktop once it is installed. This is not so. While there are good reasons for KDE™ to be the desktop of choice, both desktop session types can be run after installing Kubuntu™. Furthermore, during the installation, there is a choice between using the GNOME™ Display Manager (GDM) or the KDE™ Display Manager (KDM) as the login manager. Either display manager will work equally well.

After installation, either GNOME or KDE™ session types can be run, so users are free to try either, switching based on personal preference. The only noticeable difference is the artwork displayed before login.

To install Kubuntu™'s Plasma Desktop, the kubuntu-desktop package must be installed. To install Ubuntu™'s GNOME desktop, the ubuntu-desktop package is required.