I did some searching, but my google fu is lacking - many threads about each but not much comparing them.

From what I could gather, Debian is better for the N800 because it has a better onscreen keyboard, but it's much of a muchness for the n810 except that iceweasel works better in Debian?

Does korganiser have working audio alarms and what's the debian equivalent, indeed what's the Debian PIM?

What are the important differences between Debian and KDE for a tablet user?

Zebee

Why not have Both?

(I couldn't resist).

Actually your question is a little weighted.... Debian is an Operating System... KDE is simply a window manager...

Debian allows access to all the software in the debian repositories... KDE on Maemo doesnt really add access to any extra apps except the KDE ones that Penguinbait ported...

Debian runs both Gnome..And KDE... along with IceWM; Window Maker; XFCE; and many others...

Hard to compare apples to oranges...

Makes sense and yet... Seems to me that for day to day use, then there's a difference.

Penguibait's KDE is the sum of its parts, as is Debian. (Linux is, after all, just a kernel). So in general use, as in speed and ease for the things people use the tablet for, is there a difference?

Debian has more parts, so you can run KDE and more than penguinbait has ported, but if you are mainly after PIM and some web, then is there an advantage to running Debian? IS Debian's main advantage more software, if so what are the things you give up to run that? What else do you get?

Screen use? touch screen ease? onscreen kb? Wifi and sound and so on? Are there wiki pages for each that have this info?

Choices, too many choices! I suppose all I can do is try both, but hasn't someone already done it?


Zebee

Well.. IMHO; but it's probably not what your after; when comparing window managers it really comes down to preference..

The Maemo KDE from penguinbait probably is a bit "easier" for the not-very-geeky user.. as it comes in a easy to install deb and launches within maemo... access to the same software as the main tablet. Qole has the Easy Debian deb's .. but then; while seemless to the user; you are running two X servers side by side.. and for the most part it's not noticeable; but there is a slight performance hit - especially when using it via the img files... and the Debian won't run the Maemo apps straight up..

I think as far as onscreen keyboard both are the same.. matchbox-keyboard or the other one whose name I can't place at the moment... neither are quite as nice as the maemo's built-in OSK; nor do they seemlessly fit around the apps like in the maemo side..

If all you are after is PIM.. and KDE's PIM software works for you.. then great; that should work fine. If you want a full laptop-like system in your pocket.. then try either the Easy Debian; or the Bootable Debian.. but atm the bootable debian isn't quite ready as far as Sound and Video goes..

I really think it comes down to: Debian gives you more software... KDE gives you a (IMHO) slightly better interface; and PIM software - than the maemo default stuff.