Vendors working to parlay the server room successes of Linux into a spot on the mainstream corporate desktop have a powerful ally in KDE Project developers, who’ve been hard at work extending the performance, polish and functionality of KDE. Read the mini-review at eWeek. Update: Ammai just published their own review about KDE 3.1 under Knoppix.
KDE 3.1 Mini-Review at eWeek
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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And some people were complaining about the lack of good config tools such as configuring X, which is excellent BTW
I noticed on their site that they dont offer precompiled binaries for red hat 8. shame.
I agree that KDE’s interface to the configuration options needs to be streamlined. In fact, every aspect of KDE’s interface needs to be streamlined. Thanks to the configurable toolbars, a lot of this can be done by the user, but the default should be BeOS/Mac-like, with a single sparse toolbar, not Office-like, with multiple cluttered toolbars. Context menus should only have a few items on them. However, outright hiding the configuration options from advanced users, ala GNOME, is wrong. Personally, I use almost every single config option in Kontrol center. I do not appreciate having to dig around in gconf to access GNOMEs (more limited) config options. An “advanced” mode, like the one KFontInstaller has would be great.
Oh, BTW, KDE *does* have a good X configuration tool. You can access it from control center, or manually by launching “kxconfig.” In fact, KDE has an excellent font installer, samba client configurator, and kernel configurator as well. The only things really missing (that a normal user would need) is a network configurator.
The KDE project does not make any binaries. The KDE website only hosts binaries provided by distributors. That’s why the available binaries changes with each KDE release. If you want official RedHat RPMs, bug RedHat. Otherwise, install APT4RPM, and point yourself to: http://kde-redhat.sourceforge.net/
Yes, Redhat has to provide binaries, but sad anyway, and I’m still waiting as well. Compiling from source has some ‘issues’ with not having that awesome font-rendering.
So, is it that Mandrake doesn’t have mdk-RPMs yet as well?
Try this URL:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=4892
I am writting a mini-review for KDE 3.1 today, I might publish it tomorrow.
.. i can imagine it already :oP
If you want Mandrake RPMS point yourself to PCLinuxOnline. Texstar has his RPMS ready
[quote]Compiling from source has some ‘issues’ with not having that awesome font-rendering. [/quote]
Not if you rtfm
Mine is built from source, and it looks *stunning*.
Better to wait for RPMS. Not being a linux guru (figuratively), I know that compiling from source can bring its own headaches later (this and that not installed though it is)…
Piete i want to think you are joking around for my sanity, well in no f*@%& manual has the hack that you have to make to enable xft while compilig qt3.1 for RH8 i had to search the web put together some tips and look to the sources to make qt detect the fontconfig and xft for redhat 8.0.
first put the flags for configure are:
/usr/local/qt/configure -qt-gif -thread -I/usr/include/Xft2 (this is the path where xft is in RH8) -xft
before running configure you have to edit this archive:
$QTDIR/config.tests/x11/xfreetype.test
line 40 to: LIBS=”Xft2″
line 55 to: LIBXFT=”-l$F -lfreetype -lfontconfig”
then run configure with the flags i mentioned and your qt and kde3.1 will have AA.
Compile qt (long compile) arts, kdelibs and kdebase and you have a base kde3.1 with AA thats all.
I installed KDE3.1 on my Debian Woody a few days ago. It improved a lot, faster speed (the feeling) compared to the previous version. The application that I’ve tried also much better.
However since Woody not the latest GCC I still can’t imagine how much the speed improvement it get. Is there anybody got it running under UNSTABLE Debian with the latest GCC compilation? How is it?
… Woody not the latest …
should be
… Woody was not compiled using the latest GCC…
– The “multiple desktop buttons” can of course be removed from the panel (right click handle left to it or left click the little arrow in the handle and select “Remove”).
– If an application has no description besides its name what kind of program it is, then this is a bug and should be reported to the program author. Kaspaliste in this case is a 3rd party application and not part of KDE 3.1 or developed at kde.org, so don’t report to http://bugs.kde.org 🙂
I don’t get, how can people like the new KDE Keramic. I believe the new KDE Keramic style is highly unprofessional. They should create something professional such as the default Windows look with normal sized buttons and window contents. What is the point of having glowing oversized buttons. It’s pathetic!
Compare these two screen shots:
http://www.sourceedit.com/sshots.asp
with
http://ammai.com/images/reviews/snapshot8.png
Which style will you choose? They should create a professional style, a business oriented style just like the Windows interface. It may be boring but it is clean and professional. You can flame me all you like but I don’t like the new new KDE style. I prefer the previous one, it looks way more professional. Yes, I can always change it and I will.
Keramic is a very original and well made style. I don’t find it unprofessional, but even if I’m wrong here there isn’t a better style for KDE currently so not much can be done about it. Keramic is the only style I know that is good enough to be the default.
>> Which style will you choose? They should create a
>> professional style, a business oriented style just like the Windows interface.
open the kde-controllcenter ([Alt]+[F2] “kcontrol”) -> “Look & Fell” -> “Style”
Select e.g. “KDE default” (flat) or “HichColor default”
Press the “Apply” button.
It doesn’t look exactly like the MS-Windows-GUI (fortunately) but I think you would like it.
I don’t like Keramic eather … it looks as unproffesional as the modern WinXP-theme.
You can also change the window-decoration if you want:
open kde-controllcenter ([Alt]+[F2] “kcontrol”) -> “Look & Fell” -> “Window Decoration”
Press “Apply” to test.
>> What is the point of having glowing oversized buttons. It’s pathetic!
right click on a toolbar, “Icon Size”
Or kontrolcenter (“kcontrol”) -> “Look & Fell” -> “Icons” -> “Advanced”
>Keramic is a very original and well made style. I don’t find it >unprofessional, but even if I’m wrong here there isn’t a better style for >KDE currently so not much can be done about it. Keramic is the only >style I know that is good enough to be the default.
and hiperformance liquid is?
:))) Thanks everyone I get your point
Select e.g. “KDE default” (flat) or “HichColor default”
Yes I agree. I love that one. I always use that one when I am on KDE. It’s very nice.
More professional look, maybe like this
http://www.kdevelop.org/graphics/pic_corner/gideon-3.0.png
I realy like this look, but I prefere the Glow window decoration.
http://www.kdevelop.org/graphics/pic_corner/gideon-3.0.png
Yeah that’s it! HighColor Default. Now this is “the” one that should be default. It is very nice.
>> Now this is “the” one that should be default. It is very nice.
that’s _Your_ taste. But I consider the first impression of linux-newbies an important factor.
As many newbies com from XP they will feel at home on a “klicki-bunt” Keramic theme – love at first sight
While the more experienced users go to kcontrol and switch the look to the one they prefere – its so damn easy.
I don’t know anything about ergonomics but I think the “HighColor Default” or even “KDE-default” (flat) is more eye-friendly.
I’m running 3.1 and Debian SID (since it is mostly in sid now), and I must say it is by far a great improvement over 3.0.4 (the prevous latest version I could find in deb form for sid)! and definately better then 2.2.2 that was in SID.
>I believe the new KDE Keramic style is highly unprofessional. >They should create something professional such as the default >Windows look with normal sized buttons and window contents.
Yes, because the oversized and bright controls that XP ships with by default don’t look at all “Fisher Price-esque”.
KDE already ships with “QT Windows” L&F built in. Personally, I think Keramik (Keramik with a ‘k’!) looks really nifty (though I changed it a little to get rid of the toolbar gradients). However, KPersonalizer should start up the first time you log in, so you can pick whatever style floats your boat.
> I am writting a mini-review for KDE 3.1 today, I might publish it tomorrow.
Still looking forward to it.