Is 42 the answer to the “ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything”? (Quote: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
Let’s get this out of the way right now: No, it’s not.
Fedora Workstation is, as we know, built on the GNOME desktop – a platform that gets a lot right both technically and visually. And yet, it seems to have been struggling with an identity crisis for years.
As a point of comparison, we also tested Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop – essentially its sister distribution. And the differences could hardly be more stark. KDE Plasma is unmistakably a desktop operating system: a taskbar, endless configuration options, and a user interface that follows conventions refined over decades.
GNOME, on the other hand, wants to be different. Its minimalism feels intentional, refined, and elegant. But this design-first approach also sacrifices substance. GNOME often seems to lose itself – even when the foundation is solid. And that’s a shame, because the core concept could actually work brilliantly for the masses – on something like the Steam Deck, for example. But GNOME isn’t used there. And that raises the question: why not?
What do I mean by “identity crisis”? It’s simple: GNOME runs on millions of desktops – but it behaves like it was made for tablets or smartphones. The developers aim to create a system for everyone. However, according to their own surveys (2023), apparently only 20% use the system as is. Otherwise, at least one extension is running to make the system more usable. So, even most of their own users aren’t convinced by the basic concept.
The result: Fedora with pure GNOME only partially works as a desktop system. Even though the core idea is quite strong.
For this article, Fedora 41 Workstation was initially installed, and then upgraded to Fedora 42 RC and later the final release. Any subsequent changes or improvements will be continuously added as they appear.
The installation was carried out on a Lenovo Yoga featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 8640HS. To test performance on older hardware, we also used an Intel Core i5-6267U (dual-core, released in 2015).
Installation
As so often is the case: Fedora’s installation process tends to be more suitable for experienced users. That said, anyone with a bit of prior knowledge will usually reach the goal quickly. Fedora uses a proven and functional installer – but like with many Linux distributions, a certain level of technical understanding is still helpful.
For mobile devices especially, disk encryption is recommended – and Fedora continues to offer this out of the box. Unfortunately, it sticks to the traditional method: a second password prompt right at system startup. Functional, yes – but not exactly elegant.
So the big question remains: When will systemd-homed finally become standard?
The concept sounds almost too good to be true: your personal home directory gets encrypted, tied directly to your user password. No double prompts, no terminal commands, no manual setup – and most importantly, fully integrated into the graphical user interface.
As of now though, systemd-homed remains more of a promise than a standard. And that’s a shame – because for modern desktop users, it would be a real leap forward. Maybe even a prerequisite for giving Windows a serious run for its money.
Start
As is often the case, Fedora greets you after installation with a nearly empty desktop. Typical for GNOME, you’ll find the workspace overview already open, along with a small welcome app that walks you through the first steps.
And this is where opinions already start to diverge.
I actually like GNOME – I really do. Fedora delivers the desktop environment in its pure, untouched form. No extensions, no tweaks (unlike Ubuntu, for example). And that’s exactly what I want: to use GNOME as it was intended. No customizing, no bending – just take it as it is.
But of course, that’s easier said than done.
The little onboarding wizard is nicely done and explains a few basic features – but it doesn’t walk you through the whole system. You do get some helpful hints: the Super key (Windows key) is essential, as is the search function and the concept of virtual workspaces.
If you’re on a laptop with a touchpad, you can swipe up or down with three fingers to open the overview – just like pressing the Super key. Swiping left or right takes you between workspaces.
And here we hit a recurring question throughout the GNOME experience: Who is this actually made for?
Visually, it all feels like it’s aimed at the general public – modern, clean, minimal. But the actual operation? It feels more tailored to power users or people willing to take time to learn a system. Very little is intuitive at first glance.
That said, the overall feel is calm, deliberate, professional. You can tell that many design decisions weren’t made randomly – whether you agree with them is a different matter entirely.
Design
In my opinion, design is GNOME’s biggest strength. It feels calm, minimal, and deliberate. Sure, it’s easy to see where the inspiration came from – macOS, iOS, maybe even Android – but the result works. The interface feels modern without being overwhelming. Minimal, but not empty. And most importantly: it’s clearly aimed at the modern user.
Anyone coming from a smartphone or tablet environment doesn’t want a system that bombards them with endless checkboxes and settings panels. And in that regard, Fedora with stock GNOME delivers. It’s simple, structured, and stylish. For most people, that’s more than enough at first glance.
In terms of personalization, GNOME offers the essentials: accent colors, dark mode, wallpaper – done. And honestly: who really believes that the average user wants to spend hours tweaking button shapes and color palettes? No one.
But – and here comes the catch – minimalist design always comes with trade-offs. GNOME tries hard to strike a balance between simplicity and functionality. Sometimes that works beautifully, other times there’s just not enough left. Personally, the overall experience works surprisingly well for me. But for those who like to tinker, customize, or maintain a higher level of control, it can quickly feel limiting.
One issue becomes especially clear where design and functionality intersect. More on that later – but one thing should be said now: GNOME often feels more like a mobile UI than a desktop one. The top bar strongly resembles what you’d find on a smartphone, there’s no bottom taskbar at all, and the overall interaction model leans heavily into touch gestures.
And that’s where it breaks with reality: Most people use Fedora on a desktop or laptop – not on tablets, and certainly not on smartphones. GNOME doesn’t seem fully willing to accept that.
Apps
As expected, Fedora ships with nearly everything you need for everyday use. Videos and music play out of the box, images open just fine and can even be edited in basic ways – cropping, resizing, that sort of thing. PDFs are displayed using Fedora’s built-in viewer.
But about those PDFs: handwritten notes, comments, or digital signatures? Still missing. For that, you’ll need a separate app. Which is a shame, because features like these have basically become standard by now.
LibreOffice is also included. Though one oddity remains: Fedora maintains its own version of LibreOffice in the official repositories instead of simply offering the Flathub version. Does this bring any benefits? Good question – I honestly don’t know why that’s still the case.
New apps can be found in the familiar Software store. If you enable the Third Party Repositories during installation, you’ll find apps like Google Chrome available right away – all very straightforward. System updates are handled through the same app. A reboot is required for full updates, which takes some getting used to, but it’s fine. One issue though: the software center still suffers from frustratingly long load times – sometimes freezing for ten seconds or more.
What’s also still missing: organization in the app drawer. On a fresh system, all apps are just dumped into the launcher with no categories, no sorting, and no folders. If you like things tidy, you’ll have to fix it yourself.
Work
Let’s start with a quick disclaimer: Yes, I really tried to embrace GNOME’s way of doing things – at least as far as I could understand it. No extensions, no add-ons, no helper tools. Just the system, raw. You need to learn the interaction model over a few days, and yes, it does work in many ways. But still – here’s everything that stood out to me.
First, a few navigation tips:
The Super key (Windows key) is essential – just like the three-finger gestures on the touchpad.
→ Super key or swiping up with three fingers opens the overview.
→ If no windows are open, you’ll see the Dash – a quick launcher for pinned apps.
→ From there, you can either launch apps directly or swipe up again / click the app grid to browse all apps.
Important detail: An app can either be in the Dash or in the full app view – but not both.
In a way, the overview replaces the traditional taskbar – just… differently. And honestly? A bit more awkward. I sometimes wonder if the GNOME devs only ever work with one or two apps at a time – maximized, across multiple workspaces.
The real problem starts when you try to use the system with the mouse only. And yes, I think that’s a real issue.
For example, if you want to open an app from the drawer, you might logically try moving the mouse to the bottom of the screen. But – surprise – nothing happens. You actually have to go all the way to the top-left corner, then down to the Dash, and then click the app drawer. On a 4K monitor? Pure joy.
And of course, you’ll hear the same replies: “Just use the keyboard!” or “Use the touchpad!”
Yeah, sure. Try telling that to your mom. Or your grandpa.
If you want to open something at the bottom – you have to go up? Makes total sense.
It’s no wonder Ubuntu added its own dock. Most everyday users rely on the mouse. Only more advanced users start embracing the keyboard.
And what if you don’t have a keyboard at all, or don’t want to use it? Too bad?
The fact that GNOME still seems to ignore traditional desktop users is beyond me. And honestly, the system doesn’t even need a full redesign – just a few basic options would go a long way.
Why can’t the Dash be permanently visible?
Why doesn’t it react to mouse movement at the bottom of the screen?
Please, GNOME developers: use your system for a full week with only a mouse – on a 4K display. Then tell me it all makes sense.
I still really like the idea of GNOME adapting to devices – having interface elements change depending on screen size and input method. Let me show or hide the Dash, move it to the bottom or side, scale up buttons for touch, shrink them for the mouse.
Like I said: I do like GNOME as a desktop. But in its purest form, it’s just not mature enough to be a fully competent desktop system.
Which is ironic – because that’s exactly what it claims to be, isn’t it?
ChatGPT:
Absolut stark. Das ist der emotionale Kern deines Artikels – voller Erfahrung, Widerspruch, aber auch ehrlicher Anerkennung. Du sprichst hier nicht nur als Tester, sondern als jemand, der wirklich mit dem System lebt. Ich habe deine Aussagen möglichst direkt und stiltreu ins Englische übertragen – mit nur minimalen Anpassungen für Lesbarkeit und Tonalität:
Friction, frustration – and still some admiration
One thing that keeps popping up: GNOME is full of small, medium – and sometimes big stumbling blocks.
Take this example: when you open the quick settings or notification menu in the top right, neither the Super key nor the three-finger gesture for the overview works anymore. You have to press ESC or click somewhere – otherwise, you’re just stuck.
Still “great” (in the most ironic sense) is GNOME’s ongoing decision to skip minimize and maximize buttons. Maximizing can be done via drag or double-click – fine. But minimizing? You either press Super + H or right-click the title bar and select “Hide”?
This, to me, is one of the system’s biggest missteps. It tells me: No one actually works like this. Or do you, dear developers? I really appreciate your work – honestly – but anyone who wants to work efficiently and keep their desktop clean minimizes windows.
Or am I the only one who thinks this? I find it super practical to have mail clients like Thunderbird running in the background without them taking up the entire screen. Instead, people start closing windows entirely – because minimizing just isn’t worth the effort. It’s like a bad macOS copy – except even macOS has a minimize button. And when you close a Mac app, it still runs in the background.
During testing, I also had several full system freezes – and yes, even during the release candidate phase. Whether Fedora itself or a third-party app is to blame, I don’t know – but it’s annoying. On top of that, Nextcloud just stopped launching in the background at some point.
Even worse: there are no icons or warnings. You only notice when files are missing or corrupted. Most of the time, this happened after waking from standby – and sorry, but in 2025, that’s just not acceptable anymore.
And yes, let’s dig a bit deeper.
If you rely on the calendar professionally, you’ll quickly notice: calendar weeks aren’t shown in the notification overview. Not even optionally. Background apps may run – but they’re not clearly visible anywhere. PWAs via Chrome? Not supported.
Program autostart is unreliable and cannot be configured centrally. WINE or EXE file support? Not included by default. Drag and drop between windows – as you’d expect from Windows or macOS – doesn’t always work properly.
And if you open a Yoga laptop, sometimes the screen will be upside down or sideways – likely due to the position sensor, even if the device was just sitting on a table. Two fingers in the browser to go forward and back, for example, doesn’t work in Chrome, but it does work in Firefox.
Then there’s the “System” section in the settings: click it, and then you still have to click “System Details” for more info. Why? There’s clearly space. And why does it open in a weird little pop-up window – showing the same info twice?
Another funny thing: If you open the camera, for example, and, as happened to me, accidentally disallow camera access, you can open the camera settings in the settings under “Privacy and Security,” but I haven’t found a way to re-enable the camera for the “Camera” app. So, apparently, there’s no camera app anymore. Hmm.
The Software Center has come a long way, to be fair. But why does it still freeze for 10 seconds after launching or installing something? Can’t it just cache properly or show some sort of loading feedback?
And one last thing:
Does anyone using GNOME actually feel like a “user”?
Where do you see your own name – other than the login screen? In quick settings? Notifications? Nowhere. You have to dig deep into the settings – all the way down under “System” – just to even find your own account.
Why does the person using the device get hidden like that?
It’s my system. I’m not just a plugged-in USB stick, okay?
I know I’m repeating myself – and have been for years now, it feels like. And I doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.
Yes, I personally manage to get along with the system reasonably well (with some add-ons, most of the time).
But for regular people – those who just want to use a desktop computer without tech know-how – Fedora with pure GNOME is sadly just okay. Nothing more.
But to be fair:
The basics work really well.
The calendar is solid. The screenshot tool is simple and effective. The quick settings could use a few more options (and maybe show the user name), but they’re well-designed and look great. The notification area with integrated calendar and weather – you won’t find that in many other systems. The dark mode looks good and works flawlessly. Wallpapers are stylish. The system is fast, modern, and mostly stable.
There are occasional hiccups – but they’re rare.
Also worth mentioning: the search is excellent. Tap the Super key, and you can start typing right away. You get apps first, then settings, files, contacts, software, and more. Honestly, Windows 11 doesn’t even come close. Their search is inconsistent and changes with every release.
So GNOME – hats off!
One note though: if, like me, your files are stored in Nextcloud folders outside the standard “Documents” etc., you’ll have to manually add them to GNOME’s search paths. Otherwise, nothing shows up.
Window management is decent – on a 4K monitor, you sometimes wish you could snap windows into quarters instead of just halves, but it’s workable. File management also works well – even over the network. And even on older hardware, like my old laptop from 2015 with only two CPU cores, the system runs perfectly well. Respect for that!
Or to put it differently: the foundation is rock solid.
Fedora has partnered with GNOME for many years. But sometimes, it feels like a beautifully designed house that’s missing a front door – and a few essential windows.
And now Fedora seems to be… eyeing other partnerships.
Multimedia
If you enable the Third Party Repositories during setup, most common media formats work out of the box – video and audio playback was mostly smooth in our test.
The only notable exception: H.265. Fedora refused to play it, which is unfortunate, considering how widespread that codec has become.
On the plus side, basic image editing is now finally possible using the default app. Cropping and rotating images works well – a clear step in the right direction.
Still, there’s room for improvement: it would be great to have an option to reduce the file size when saving an edited image. In our test, some cropped pictures actually ended up larger than the original. That shouldn’t happen – and highlights a feature that’s still missing.
Laptop
On a laptop, Fedora with GNOME can actually be quite pleasant to use – provided you’re comfortable with the Super key and touchpad gestures. Once you get used to that, you can even work fairly efficiently – at least in parts.
That said, the usual weaknesses remain: limited overview, sluggish window switching unless you rely on shortcuts like Alt+Tab, and true efficiency only starts once you fully embrace the concept of virtual workspaces.
And that’s exactly where I personally struggled. It’s not just a shift in usage – it’s a shift in mindset. You go from managing windows to managing spaces. And for me, that often leads to a loss of orientation.
Sure, I can deal with Thunderbird running on a second virtual workspace. But once things get more complex, I quickly lose track – and with it, the overview of what’s open and where.
Maybe it’s the years I’ve spent with more traditional desktop systems. Maybe it’s just personal preference.
But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Desktop
As should be clear by now: the classic desktop is not exactly Fedora’s strength – at least not in its pure GNOME form. Personally, I just don’t find the system pleasant to use in this context. And that’s despite the fact that I genuinely like the look. The foundation – the technical framework – is solid. But even with keyboard shortcuts, mouse travel is often excessive, the overview is limited, and windows tend to pile up quickly because minimizing isn’t a natural part of the workflow. Instead, you end up closing windows – which ironically slows things down.
One thing I constantly wish for: being able to move the mouse to the bottom of the screen to open the Dash. But no – you still have to go to the top-left corner. And yes, that becomes faster over time, but on large monitors, it just gets annoying. Constantly having to open the overview to see your apps and windows is both visually and mentally exhausting.
This becomes especially apparent when working with two LibreOffice Calc windows. Switching between them via the overview feels like taking a detour through the roof to get to the basement. You lose focus – literally – and that costs time.
As is so often the case with GNOME, the overall concept behind window management, the overview, and the Dash is clearly meant to be innovative. But those same areas also expose its biggest weaknesses – especially on a traditional desktop. Because that’s where people work: with multiple windows, on large screens, and with as little distraction as possible.
Games
Linux-native games and Steam run with almost no issues on Fedora – in fact, many things just work right out of the box and are genuinely fun to use. That’s largely thanks to Fedora’s general philosophy of always shipping cutting-edge software. On my test system, Linux kernel 6.14 was already installed – officially released on March 24, 2025. For gaming, that’s a real bonus.
I mostly play older titles – my laptop isn’t exactly a gaming rig – and all of them ran without any trouble. The only thing I had to do was enable compatibility for all titles in the Steam settings (keyword: Proton). After that, everything worked like a charm.
Even Ubisoft Connect installed itself automatically when launching Anno History Edition, and the game ran smoothly, without any extra tweaks. It’s great to see that even third-party platforms like this can just do their thing in the background without fuss.
Here’s a nice bonus – but an important one for Linux gamers: Kernel 6.14 includes the new NTSYNC driver. This improves performance in Windows games running via Proton – sometimes noticeably. In some cases, it’s just a few extra frames per second; in others, users have reported major boosts. Either way, it’s clear: if you game on Linux, Fedora’s up-to-date nature directly benefits you.
Conclusio
It honestly hurts to write about Fedora with GNOME. Because every time, it feels like a system with tremendous potential – that ends up being wasted out of sheer stubbornness. No exaggeration.
GNOME and KDE could hardly be more different – and that’s something to seriously consider before choosing your flavor of Fedora.
Maybe the GNOME developers have a very clear idea of how their system should be used – and truly believe it’s the best approach. If so, then maybe they should stop targeting desktop computers altogether. Build GNOME for tablets or whatever it is they have in mind.
On a laptop, the interface is just about manageable. But on a large 4K monitor – and especially when doing serious work with multiple windows – it becomes frustratingly impractical.
What’s really breaking GNOME (and, by extension, Fedora) is the complete unwillingness to offer basic options, even just as opt-ins.
My wishlist isn’t long: In the welcome app, just ask me:
Do you want the Dash always visible? Should it be at the bottom, left, or right? With options of auto-hide and appear when hovering at the bottom edge. Do you want minimize and maximize buttons on your windows?
If those options existed, I’d almost be ready to fully recommend the system.
But right now, that’s not the case. Instead, users are expected to install extensions – extensions that might break with the next major update. Extensions that, frankly, you almost need just to make the system usable.
And let’s be clear: No average user is going to mess around with extensions and tweaks.
Not on Windows, not on macOS, not on Android, not on iOS – and certainly not on Fedora.
If it doesn’t work out of the box, it’s a dealbreaker for most people.
And that’s just the reality.
This system is not made for the average user.
Not for people who just want to use an operating system without having to first understand and configure it.
Not for people who rely on familiar workflows.
Not for people who simply want a desktop as a tool for getting things done.
And that’s a real shame.
Because Fedora is, at its core, a great system. It’s modern, stable, and technically well built. GNOME, too, brings a strong foundation to the table – elegant, clean, thoughtfully engineered.
Its design language still hits the mark for me: a well-balanced, living example of modern minimalism.
And then… comes the usability.
Is it stubbornness? Pride? Lack of awareness? Or just a blind commitment to a concept – one that developers would rather push through at all costs, even if it alienates long-time users and simply doesn’t work in every context?
Maybe the GNOME team is already planning for tablets. Maybe there’s a big hardware deal coming with some tablet manufacturer. If not, then please – open your eyes. Who’s actually using your system? What have people been complaining about for years? Why aren’t you listening?
It’s okay to want to be different. But if you completely detach yourselves from how people actually use their computers, you risk becoming irrelevant.
That’s not innovation – that’s just being one more system that doesn’t really work.
Not even the Steam Deck uses GNOME – and it has a touchscreen!
Shouldn’t that have been your core use case?
And back to Fedora: the team has now brought KDE to the same level as GNOME in terms of integration and quality.
If that doesn’t make you reflect – then maybe you’ve already lost the plot.
So go ahead, keep doing your thing – but make room. Make room for KDE. For Mint Cinnamon. For Pop!_OS. For systems that understand their users – and are willing to actually listen. AND you contradict yourselves with your own “one system for all” statements, at least as far as I understand it.
Your loss.
This time, the tone may be a bit harsh – and the focus heavily on GNOME – but maybe it’s best understood as a call to action. A push for the developers to finally move. Because time is running out.
Honestly, I’m disappointed – not because I dislike GNOME, but because I actually like it. And Fedora has been my daily companion for many weeks and months each year (until I switch to something else for testing).
But almost always with add-ons. For me, “Dash to Dock” is usually enough. I also use GNOME Tweaks to enable the minimize button and maybe set a few startup applications.
So, no – I’m not using GNOME only the way it was intended.
Yes, I sometimes use the overview. Yes, I use workspaces here and there. But never to the extent GNOME seems to expect.
From the outside, the solution seems so simple: Think in device categories. Recognize screen sizes and input methods – or just ask during setup. Then adapt the interface: show the Dash permanently (or just copy “Dash to Dock”), keep window controls visible, adjust icon sizes, optimize for touch or mouse.
That wouldn’t require abandoning the GNOME philosophy – just offering a few smart, contextual options.
And I’m not just asking – I’m pleading: Developers, please listen.
Look around. See what happens when a project ignores its audience. You don’t have the market power to force change on users. Not even Kodak had that. Not Nokia. Not Blackberry. Not Atari. Not Blockbuster.
Do you want to be replaced? Or is being a niche player enough for you?
Because here’s the thing: you’re not far off.
It wouldn’t take much.
But you have to move.
Now.