I've just installed a fresh copy of Ubuntu 20.04 because I wanted the 5 year support. However I'm not a big Gnome fan. I prefer KDE. If I install KDE and purge Gnome, will I technically have Kubuntu and my 5 year support drop to 3? Thanks.
Asked
Active
Viewed 124 times
1
-
1Changing the DE does not affect support. You can use any DE of your choice. – David Mar 16 '22 at 16:10
2 Answers
3
If you choose to use KDE instead of GNOME, LTS support will not be disabled. This is true with using all other desktop environments. If you delete GNOME Desktop Environment completely (GDM3 and such would be deleted, probably to be replaced by LightDM or another display manager) LTS support will still not be disabled. LTS support is connected with your Ubuntu version, not GNOME. GNOME is simply the default window manager. Also, there is a big difference between Ubuntu running KDE and Kubuntu. Kubuntu 20.04's LTS support is available through 2023 whereas Ubuntu with KDE has LTS support through 2025, just like Ubuntu 20.04 running GNOME. For more information regarding this, see LTS support for Kubuntu vs Ubuntu
Also, installing KDE will not change Ubuntu to Kubuntu. It will still be Ubuntu, just using the KDE Plasma desktop environment.
One more thing: According to https://linuxhint.com/kubuntu-vs-ubuntu/#:~:text=The%20significant%20difference%20between%20Kubuntu,doesn't%20look%20like%20Windows., the main difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu is the GUI. Kubuntu is supposed to look like Windows. It also says that Kubuntu is faster than Windows. Kubuntu was designed to be more easily customized and can easily switch between interfaces. Ubuntu, on the other hand, is not nearly as easy to customize (and is focused on running software (freeware/third party) seamlessly along with the ease/convenience of the user, unlike Kubuntu which is oriented with look and customization instead of convenience). Just changing the DE on Ubuntu will keep the Ubuntu settings and will not use the settings that Kubuntu uses by default.
Logan
- 472
-
1This would be a better answer if it clarified the difference between Ubuntu running KDE and Kubuntu -- which does have shorter support. – Zeiss Ikon Mar 16 '22 at 16:51
-
1
-
1
-
-
1Long answers that don't assume readers know what you do and therefore include explanation of why this is an/the answer are better. Specifically in this case, explaining why Ubuntu + KDE is not the same as Kubuntu makes the answer better. – Zeiss Ikon Mar 17 '22 at 16:10
-
2+1 Great answer @Jeff! GNOME is not a Window Manager (WM). it's a Desktop Environment (DE). In the newer versions of GNOME "Mutter" is the default Windows Manager and "GDM" (GNOME Display Manager) is the default display manager. Perhaps [edit] your answer and correct these terms ;-). – Error404 Mar 20 '22 at 10:09
-
I can fix that... I always get confused with the two for some reason. Thanks for clearing that up. – Logan Mar 21 '22 at 14:11
0
Changing the DE does not affect support. You can use any DE of your choice.
David
- 2,101
- 13
- 16
- 25
-
But Kubuntu has less support than Gnome? Must be due to other tools included in that flavor? – Zeiss Ikon Mar 16 '22 at 16:14
-
-
What's not clear is how Kubuntu differs from Ubuntu with KDE installed and Gnome purged. – Zeiss Ikon Mar 16 '22 at 16:23
-
1Again you are just looking at the DE there are many differences in the OS not just the DE. Do a Google search and compare the 2 different OS. – David Mar 16 '22 at 16:30
-
1My point is, this would be a better answer if you clarify that. Otherwise, you're just assuming the asker knows what you know -- and if they did, why would they ask at all? In fact, as a one-liner, this answer is in danger of deletion. – Zeiss Ikon Mar 16 '22 at 16:35
-
1Thanks All. I appreciate the comments and explanations. I was mistakenly thinking Kubuntu was simply Ubuntu shipped with KDE. With that thought in mind I figured deleting Gnome and adding KDE would convert my Ubuntu into Kubuntu and therefore limiting my support to 3 years (2023). Thanks Again. – Ace Blackwell Mar 16 '22 at 18:27