Linux

I want a simple desktop with small elements to maximize real estate for windows.

While using a top AND bottom bar on the screen. Thats exactly my humour. I am specific about that, because its what confuses me the most about many gnome distros when they so that. The vertical space is the most important one, don't waste it with additional bars.

I stopped using gnome after they removed the ability to edit the menu without going through a bunch of hoops. Their idea of removing complexity involved removing choice and customization. KDE has had superior multi monitor support for a long time.

ublic market⏲ center

This literally just looks like gnome with extra steps…

I love the "Windows Just No" Button :D

I'm the opposite, after plasma I went gnome

Better than any plasma experience I tried to craft myself – and it's the default setting – so I have no reason to come back. But I still could switch, as long as cosmic is good

I recognize many of the deficiencies of Gnome but on balance I still like using it.

I never migrated from Windows or Mac desktop. I got into Linux before WIndows 95 came out and although I had used Mac and Amiga desktops I never owned one myself. I have used tiling wms and plain wms with no desktop environment and I can find my way around on Windows 11 or Mac but I don't like either as much as Gnome. KDE generally has a better foundation thanks largely to qt but I never enjoyed using KDE. Not surprised it is very popular with the new influx of Windows refugees. To me KDE always had a slightly dated Windows look and feel to it. It is still a very solid choice ofcourse.

Gnome hate became fashionable when they moved forward from Gnome 2 and some people never shut up about it. We get it. Your favorite band aren't teenagers anymore and decided to make an album you don't like. It is ancient history. Just use something else guys. Plasma is pretty damn good so use it. Whats the point of a free OS if you can't accept people want the freedom to develop and enjoy different computing experiences.

I used to switch between plasma and gnome but that stopped with plasma 6. It was so good that it just became my primary. Now gnome feels bad when I try it. Everything looks bad there. No proper fractional scaling support, no hdr support etc etc.

I just switched from GNOME to Plasma in the past week, after a long time on gnome, and Plasma 6 is great. The only thing I miss so far is viewing all my windows on the desktop when I push the meta key - alt-tab seems clunky in comparison.

Any suggestions there?

I want a simple desktop with small elements to maximize real estate for windows.

Maybe a tiling (or optionally-tiling) window manager would be a good choice then? No elements! :)

I also recently switched back to Plasma cause Gnome somehow had issues managing open Windows. GTA Vice City launched and ran in Plasma but only gave a black screen in Gnome.
I tend to use Plasma on desktops and Gnome on laptops, and like them both.

GNOME lost the plot when they abandoned the 2.x design philosophy.

Looks really good. Which Dock application is that?

KDE: With too much power comes too much responsibility. 😉

Welcome to the club!

For me it feels more like Windows 7 instead.

I tried gnome for a bit. I really liked the workflow. But the over simplification of the interface just killed me.

I got tired of it. And took the things I like from gnome and implemented them in plasma. (Swipe for virtual desktops for example)

That looks amazing! Can you tell je how you did it? Everytime i start to tweak with the taskbar/dock/statusbar it comes out chonky and doesnt work. All i want i the same look as you have, but ive never come close!

I'm not a KDE user, is it possible to have the upper bar all the way up without showing the wallpaper above?

How did you get those panel on bottom?