I'm not to familiar with it, but KDE and Gnome are the two biggest desktop environments in Linux. As far as I know Gnome typically is the desktop of choice for default installs (or maybe just all the distros I use). Think of it like PS3 vs. X360. Just a bunch of fanboys with similar things constantly arguing over which is better when both are very capable items.

Here is a summary of the differences (which are all very minor other than layout in my limited opinion)

Generally, KDE focuses on offering as many features as possible with as many graphical ways as possible for configuring those features. Fans of KDE highlight the functionality it has. Critics of KDE say the menus are too confusing.

Gnome, on the other hand, opts for simplicity and often hides certain configurations in order to achieve that simplicity. Fans of Gnome think the simplicity of Gnome offers a cleanliness that allows the user to get stuff done. Critics of Gnome think it just lacks certain functionality.

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Anyways, for my most recent "linux experience" I came so close to using Ubuntu on my new HTPC, but then found out that netflix won't run on linux so I bought Windows 7. I may switch to linux for my current main home PC, but probably not until after it's been replaced by a new main Windows PC.

I got my mom to start using Ubuntu. She was getting angry at vista, and how slow it was working. She is happy with it. There wasn't any learning curve either because she is just as hindered in windows as she is in linux. In some ways even more so in windows. She also like compiz-fusion. :D

@Khuutra
Basically what nordlead said: Gnome and KDE come each with their slightly different approach in interfaces and attitude. The KDE camp is generally more about very powerful and configurable applications. The Gnome camp is generally more about offering less customization -or hiding it behind admin-level tools- and simpler experiences.

A lot of fanboy silliness ensues, sadly, but they both offer very valid environments.

You can totally use KDE applications such as Amarok in Ubuntu's Gnome, or install KDE and run Gnome apps such as rythmbox in it. The only downside (besides slight memory and HDD penalties, as I said) is that you might notice inconsistencies e.g. in button ordering (Gnome orders button Cancel-Ok a-la-Mac ; KDE orders them Ok-Cancel a-la-Windows) or in how other UI elements behave.

If you don't care about those littleendians vs bigendians disputes (you have bigger inconsistencies in windows between the media player, office and other applications) then you can totally forget the Gnome/KDE thing :) If you're an interface consistency freak, on the other hand, you might want to stick with applications of one camp only.

I use Gentoo and paludis as my package manager. It's a very versatile system but it's not that hard to mess it up royally. (To be fair you can do this with any distro.) If you're new to linux then setting up a Gentoo machine is liable to be a daunting task. I tried using their friendly install dvd on amd64 and it was riddled with bugs including missing packages. So I stick to source installs.

This!  Linux has made using Windows so much better and safer than it used to be... it brings a tear to my eye...

Everyone should have a live CD.  Ubuntu is great.

Wow. I didn't realize that there were such clear and different design ideologies running behind different distros!

I'm not surprised that it leads to stupidity and fanboyism, though. That's par for the course.

I have Windows 7 if I want to play games, and be extremely unproductive.

I launch into Ubuntu, default Gnome, to do work since there are so few distractions.

I launch into BackTrack4 to do awesome (LEGAL) stuff, it runs on KDE.

Gnome? KDE? To bulky!  

Fluxbox is the way to go!

@ Gnome vs. KDE debate: You can install anything in anything as long as you have the libraries (Gnome apps in KDE and vice versa).  Things such as K-torrent (the only torrent client I will EVER use in Linux) needs the KDE libraries to run and so forth.  Gnome is probably the easist to use for most beginners (which is why its defaulted in most beginner Distro's).  When I installed linux on my PS3, I just left Gnome installed, but on my laptop/desktop the only windowmanger I use is Fluxbox.

Anyone remmeber Lindows? Funny ass stuff.