My conversion to KDE

[Zero Prime]

I have been using Linux based OSs for a while now. I started with Ubuntu Gnome after reading an article in Maximum PC. That was in the XP days. I started reading the Ubuntu Forums and saw this great controversy between Gnome and KDE. I decided to try KDE 3.5 I think it was. Wow, ti me it sucked, back to Gnome. Then KDE 4.0 came out, slooooooowwwwwww. Back to Gnome. Now with this new controversy with Unity and Gnome shell I decided to try them both. That was a waste of time in my life. Well, since I've already been using Mint for a while, I decided to try this new Mint 10 KDE. WOW!!!!!! KDE got it right, and then the update to 4.6.2, even sweeter after performing the shutdown fix. My only complaint was trying to use the additional drivers to get my AMD/ATI HD drivers and the Broadcom drivers. After a search I learned that this KDE Wallet thing sucks. After disabling it, I got restricted driver goodness. Think you KDE for finally getting it right, and in the nick of time with Gnome getting it sooo wrong.

[dequire]

I have a feeling that Gnome Shell / Unity will bring a lot of new (and some old-timers) back to KDE

[rec9140]

I have been using Linux based OSs for a while now. I started with Ubuntu G[censored] after reading an article in Maximum PC. That was in the [absolutely CENSORED OS] days. I started reading the Ubuntu Forums and saw this great controversy between G[censored] and KDE. I decided to try KDE 3.5 I think it was. Wow, ti me it sucked, back to G[censored]. Then KDE 4.0 came out, slooooooowwwwwww. Back to G[censored] Now with this new controversy with[even more censored useless DE's]l I decided to try them both. That was a waste of time in my life. Well, since I've already been using Mint for a while, I decided to try this new Mint 10 KDE. WOW!!!!!! KDE got it right, and then the update to 4.6.2, even sweeter after performing the shutdown fix. Think you KDE for finally getting it right, and in the nick of time with G[censpred] getting it sooo wrong.

Heads up I despise a certain DE and if your not willing to debate/heated discussion on a difference of opinion... then move along.... hit the foe button and ignore away!

Good to see you've finally seen the errors of your past ways! Welcome to the RIGHT SIDE OF THE FENCE!

Don't fear the K. Dragon and Gear! ! ! Dragons and Penguins are a good thing!

I hate KDE 4.x in a lot of ways .... but even KDE 4.x is still HEADS AND SHOULDERS ABOVE any other DE, regardless of my despisement of things in KDE4.x and certain decisions... I will still choose KDE 4.x over that other cruft any day any time!

Most of this is PERSONAL choice of EACH USER... and while I agree that its personal choice to a point there are other issues for some things. Like the infestation that is present in a certain DE....and its creators nothing but an ** shill and wannabe... hire him already ** ... that whole thing with n***** didn't work out the way you hoped did it monoboi! monkeyboi may still help you out with your dream.... just get out of Linux already! PLEASE!

Well I've WAITED TWO YEARS for KDE to clean up from the KDE 4.0.0 mess, KDE 4.6.x has finally ALMOST GOTTEN BACK to 3.5.10 level... I am basically considering 4.6.2 to be 4.0.0.! Thats what KDE should do, reset to 4.0.0 and go from there! Unfortunately certain persons at the top of the KDE food chain are CLUELESS to those pesky PITA people, USERS! I am squarely looking at you ASEGIO!

As for that other infested DE.. NO THANKS! NO WAY NO HOW NOT EVEN CLOSE! Its even more screwed up from the start...I mean come on really ? ? You can't even get the kicker bar in the right spot by default! Or even the window buttons by default! WRONG WRONG WRONG! Kicker goes on the bottom, and the buttons on the right!

I am most likely after 2.5 months of testing going to commit to KMint 10 Julia... for actual use on my MAIN DESKTOP AND LAPTOP for home and work. I still HAVE HUGE ISSUES with the stupidity of decisions made in KDE 4.x that I have no way to restore, like that stupid idiotic crappy cashew in the upper right! I use FOLDER VIEW aka REAL DESKTOP! And contrary to what you asert ASEGIO YES IT CAN BE NUKED! Its NOT A CODE ISSUE! I am looking at patch to the "I hate the cashew" for 4.6.x to see if it applies and works for Desktop users as well. I don't use widgets or plasmoids aka wasteful useless! I don't need that stupid ugly thing there! Thankfully its current incarnation is enough to be ignored 99% of the time. As I've said in my other post I spend more time disabling and reverting things than actually installing stuff related to KDE ie: Restore Konqi to browser and File manager... dolphins are tuna slaughter damage and good riddance!

As for slow KDE 4.0.0... never seen that.. stability and feature changes or lack of features was the big issue(s) for me... Most of things I can not restore via Konqi or find another way to do sans the fish bait!

Slow never! Other issues you bet... still are... and these are not going any where soon if ever...

My only complaint was trying to use the additional drivers to get my AMD/[crApTI] HD drivers and the Broadcom drivers. After a search I learned that this KDE Wallet thing sucks. After disabling it, I got restricted driver goodness.

Well I only ONLY use AMD processors when ever possible, the only time I don't is when I was forced into lesser products and thats any thing other than AMD and nVidia! Unfortunately AMD even getting into the Atom space is screwing it up, as I don't want any crApTI graphics... AMD you should've bought nVidia! So for my one project I am forced to use Atom... I just wish the OMAP and others would get up to speed with floating point support.....

What is the issue with KWallet? ? ? I use it no issues... I use it with OEM nVidia drivers and AMD on my laptop, and desktop. All AMD and nVidia. Yes, it will bring up the need to enter the password when wireless connects... SO? ? ? I want security! Thats why I am on Linux! I require a password to get access to my system(s) and I like KWallet! I don't want any auto logins of any sort.. just ask the poor souls at my agency who missguidedly leave login "post it's" in the work space and desks and that includes under the keyboards, in the open unlocked drawers etc... I come along remove them, and change/remove the credentials. 3 strikes and your HISTORY! There's the door! Its now agency policy thanks to me... No I am not the NSA or CIA, but I am not going to make it any easier than it needs to be.

I really don't see the big deal ... . . I guess just like DE's this is a religious experience and choice...KWallet rocks and works for me.

I am playing with the upstream Beta 1 now and removing things like gstreamer backend for the better XINE (KDE recommended and desired 2nd choice is the VLC, NOT gstreamer!) putting back Konqi! ! REALLY! SERIOUSLY!? ? Turn in your KDE membership upstream ! ! THATS HERESY! ! nope I don't use rekonq! KMail missing... NO I DO NOT WANT the f[profit motive] codecs and no I don't really care what the current BS is with this mess... host the distro outside the US! I will continue to download and install the required libs and codecs to play my media regardless of the wishes of certain "industry thugs!" Thats why I use KMint... and why a KDebMint will have a LOT OF WORK to be KMinty worthy... just about every audio application will need to be re-compiled to support MP3!

[lmintnewb]

Seems one of linux's strengths is freedom of choice and working with peoples individual tastes. I'm learning to luv it and Mint is now dear to ma heart.

Just me ... but I'm not an eye candy person. Even if this comp didn't only have 512mb/RAM. I'd still take functionality over appearance any day. Once I get up to speed on the CLI ... Will be using it often over GUI's.

Until then though ... xfce is my preference. But that's just me ... Gotta luv all the options a person has with Linux huh ?

[Zero Prime]

Kwallet would not allow me to download and install the broadcom drivers. This turned out to be a common issue. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have been able to find the problem. It was suggested to disable the wallet, and that worked. Wallet gone, Additional Hardware works, I'm happy with that:) As for the ATI/Nvidia debate, I had both, never once had a problem installing drivers for ATI, Nvidia was kind of a pain. Got them installed though. ATI however always worked a lot better for me. Go figure, I've heard many say that Nvidia is better on Linux, but I've had opposing experiences.


Most importantly, Linux Mint 10 KDE rocks!!

[rec9140]

Just me ... but I'm not an eye candy person. Even if this comp didn't only have 512mb/RAM. I'd still take functionality over appearance any day. Once I get up to speed on the CLI ... Will be using it often over GUI's.

I am not either, its all turned off sans one thing... transparency and only becuase certain KDE decisions force this issue... B52 to kill ants.

KDE 3.5.10 did this with a couple of clicks for the Kicker and Konsole... no wasteful "effects." Nope have to deal with the this whole mess with the effects etc... if I wanted spinny wobbly then I would do that... its cute for about 1/100000000000000000000000000000000000000th of a nanosecond... maybe it entices a few over from some other OS.. but overall not really doing much...

I've got a least 5-10 shells open at any given moment for SSH's, etc... some ways its easier, some times the GUI is easier...

Until then though ... xfce is my preference. But that's just me ... Gotta luv all the options a person has with Linux huh ?

Other "LIGHTWEIGHT" DE's have their place XFCE, LXDE, etc... all have their place... especially on lower resource machines.... in the everyday average user space there is only ONE DE, KDE. The other should take its stinky foot and close up!


Choice is good, KDE, XFCE, LXDE etc... but one choice is just a mess and hopefully their upcoming suicide will kill it off! Their biggest benefactor is about to turn off the eyeballs, another bad move, but they have a history of still picking the wrong horse after the race is over! I think certain company in about year will no longer even be in the DESKTOP Linux arena. They clearly are headed a different direction, thats the only reason and way their decisions make any sort of sense.

Kwallet would not allow me to download and install the broadcom drivers. This turned out to be a common issue. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have been able to find the problem. It was suggested to disable the wallet, and that worked. Wallet gone, Additional Hardware works, I'm happy with that:)

Well that would never fly with me.. if its a laptop it would be going right back to where it came from or the trash, if its a desktop that broadcom card would hit the trash.

KWallet is a must have. Sounds related to having the Connection Secrets set to use encrypted v. plain text and how this interacts with the drivers and KWallet...

As for the crApTI/Nvidia debate, I had both, never once had a problem installing drivers for crApTI, Nvidia was kind of a pain. Got them installed though. crApTI however always worked a lot better for me. Go figure, I've heard many say that Nvidia is better on Linux, but I've had opposing experiences.

I was pretty video card agnostic for the most... I don't "play" on my computers, so the needs to do things are not there...the big thing with me is multiple monitor support. At one point in time a certain companies All In Wonder cards allowed some very neat tricks like getting CGA, EGA on HGA monitors etc.. Basically you could connect up all those old mono monitors and get current graphics programs to run on them. Well fast forward to a few years later and the nightmare I had with getting their cards to work with a certain "blessed" OS... $99 video card to the trash... purchased nVidia.. DONE! Throw in their bone headed move on cutting support of at the time it was cut 1 YEAR OLD cards on Linux, and that was it. nVidia has done similar, but not with cards as current as another company. I think its bone headed on both counts by both... I won't touch graphics from any other firm now...

[Zero Prime]

Ah, so your used to old things and have yet to see the light of the new. It's ok. Many people are like that. Once the sour taste is in the mouth, the mouth doesn't want to try the ripened fruit. ATI has excellent multi monitor support. I can easily connect this laptop to my hdtv through the HDMI port and use both the main monitor and the TV as a secondary monitor, plus watch movies in full HD. I love my ATI card.

[rec9140]

Ah, so your used to old things and have yet to see the light of the new. It's ok. Many people are like that.

This is the problem with Linux of late, forsaking the past for "new shiny." One of the best things about Linux has been the ability to support lots of hardware and run a full X DE on hardware that was incapable of running even a 3.1 version of another alleged GUI. I used KDE 3.x.x something on hardware that would choke 95/98 GUI.. It ran rings around it.. that was what was the start of the migration to full time Linux. Something as stupid as being able to support a OPL3 sound card on that box, and then I ran into another sound card problem with Creative Live... Creative couldn't "create" a decent driver for that other OS that wouldn't hiss and skip... Linux ran it fine! The end hath cometh!

My personal use computers are all 100% self built. I overbuild and then will do some upgrades here and there, and then do a new build. I will keep one from 5-10 years. It then gets moved to some other task or canibalized for parts like DVD, CD... unless of course it was from a component failure.

Then everything is black now! UM NO! I want my nice beige box please! URRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! If I want black it better be black and orange and say PDP8e on it!

Once the sour taste is in the mouth, the mouth doesn't want to try the ripened fruit. crApTI has excellent multi monitor support.

Most all do, but as you said.. I will not give them a second chance, ever. They blew it with me, I keep score and I don't forget.

I can easily connect this laptop to my hdtv through the HDMI port and use both the main monitor and the TV as a secondary monitor, plus watch movies in full HD. I love my card.

I don't do those things... a device for the task and a task for the device... DVD player to TV, done.

[owend]

Reading with interest. I'm a Mint devotee (only OS since Mint 8, although I dabble with others as dual-boot, latest SuSE 11.4, or in VirtualBox), currently Mint 10 Gnome. I've tried KDE, up to 4.0 I think, in various distros over the years, but I was never as much at ease as I am (currently) with Gnome. So many people are keen on KDE though, especially 4.6.2 according to various forums (fora?), maybe I've missed something with the latest incarnation.

So a challenge: what advantage will I see moving from my current Gnome 2.32.0 to KDE 4.6.2? I'm not an eye-candy junkie, I'm an intermediate skill level, use mostly for browsing, email, WPing (OpenOffice) and Googleearth.

Following on, is it worth getting KDE 4.6.2 and installing on my current Mint 10 setup, or would I be better to wait for mint 11 KDE?!!

Lastly, isn't it great that Linux offers so many flavours of distro, and DEs for people to use/enthuse/flame/promote? If you don't like one, at least there IS an alternative!

Seriously, I would like to know why I should dabble in KDE again.

[rec9140]

So many people are keen on KDE though, especially 4.6.2 according to various forums (fora?), maybe I've missed something with the latest incarnation. So a challenge: what advantage will I see moving from my current G[censored] 2.32.0 to KDE 4.6.2? I'm not an eye-candy junkie, I'm an intermediate skill level, use mostly for browsing, email, WPing (OpenOffice) and Googleearth.

KDE allows you to get to things that take a bunch of effort to configure in some other DE's.. Simply menu | System Settings| x and have at it

Other DE's require a SEPARATE config utility. Really?

I despise "eye candy" aka what I call "spinny wobbly" WASTED PROGRAMMING.. yawn... so over it... big whoop... I use one and only one effect only because in KDE 4 its now an effect versus being an simple option. Transparency. I like the kicker to have the wall papper for its back ground, and Konsole to show the wallpaper when its open, although this currently is not correct it shows the window underneath, not the wall paper as it should.

KDE does what an X DE is supposed to do... very extendable with service menus to get things you need on the menus if you want. Looks clean and crisp after you find a theme that doesn't look like its died from a lack of oxygen...

Another certain DE looks like it was designed by 2 year olds, or me, or TOTALLY UNTALENTED people with no artistic ability. I couldn't draw a stick figure if you spotted me the sticks! I also have huge issues with the content of things in that other DE, and its philosophy of "We know better, and you can't do that!" Theres plenty of that paint to go around including in KDE4.. but not to the level of lack of usability.

I am a KDE die hard... I've been in and out and around it from KDE2 and heavily since KDE 3.x.x.... 4.x seriously put a huge hit in my KDE appeal... but 4.6.x has almost gotten back to the level of 3.5.10... I seriously don't know how any one puts up with that other DE. Its just plain and simply turns me off in a huge and disgusting way on so many levels. Even in the face of the huge issues I have with things in KDE 4. I would not even consider that other DE.. I looked at others... none still measure up to KDE.

I would never foist that upon some one I want to convert to Linux... I've put people in front of it and they are clicking try to get the menu to come up and nothings happening! Why? They go to the lower left start clicking... nadda! The most common reaction is " Why is that thing up there!?!" Just cause the sheeeple from another OS have been brainwashed to accept it up there doesn't make it right. ITS WRONG! If you want OS X then buy a crapple already or call it buntuX or wait thats an anagram or palindrome or what ever of Xubuntu or somethin

Linux in general has proven that is a far superior OS in its ability to do things that take huge levels of machinations to accomplish. BUT with that power comes a dark side that a lot of that power is hidden away and only a few know about unless your deeply involved in some way with some of these area. Case in point... I never knew about ALSA plugins... by using ALSA plugins I am able to do some thing with a few lines of code that requires hardware, gnashing and other grief on another OS... Who knew!? ?

The fact that Linux in general can be doing about 50 things at once that would bring another OS to its knees... Like I said in another thread the fact that some AMD K6-2 processor could run KDE 3.x.x an run rings around another OS versions 9x/XP is hilarious... I'd be remote'd in via SSH, XDMCP etc.. doing things that other OS's would only dream of. Then throw in that I don't need to have 6000 different CPU hogging security programs...

I tried KDE.. tried others.. KDE felt right.. .others didn't measure up. Its as simple as that... in a lot of ways.

[mastablasta]

So a challenge: what advantage will I see moving from my current Gnome 2.32.0 to KDE 4.6.2? I'm not an eye-candy junkie, I'm an intermediate skill level, use mostly for browsing, email, WPing (OpenOffice) and Googleearth.

you should give it a try. it's sort of a lot like Windows. Some effects are actually usefull. for example the one when you have more windows open it will show a preview of what is on that window on mouseover (i think windows does this now as well). which reminds me that i still need to turn off a few effects.

The biggets difference is that if oyu want to do a bit more fine settings in Gnome you need to usually resort to Terminal while in KDE it's just there and again it works in simialr way as windows. You have system settings (aka control panel) where it's really easy to find what you need. And it is also very customizable.

Another feature that i find usefull is Widgets. Since i am not into comand line i like it that i can just right click on desktop and stick some wheather applet there or time for various time zones. Since the clock is big i can see it from far away when i watch TV or when i pass by.

Depend what kind of things you like. I tried it and found it quite nice and polished so i replaced Gnome with it. I kept Gnome in another maschine as it consumes less resources. to me it now feels a bit more fresh, a bit more what i would expect from a system in 2011.

A not completelly true and a bit old but still good comparison: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kdegnome

----

@rec9140

If you were ranting about that small thingy in the top right corner on desktop, i believe in one of the settings you can easilly turn it off or move it elsewhere. Though i see no big deal if it is there. doesn't bother me at all.

[rec9140]

you should give it a try. it's sort of a lot like W[censored]. Some effects are actually usefull. for example the one when you have more windows open it will show a preview of what is on that window on mouseover (i think windows does this now as well). which reminds me that i still need to turn off a few effects.

Well like everything else thats a personal choice, and I disagree ... BIG SURPISE! That is one of the first things I found annoying as anything... I don't need to see a preview. Seems to be a wannabe option from some place else... ad

Again all this is really personal choice, and I only find one useful. transparency, and its still not done right...

The biggets difference is that if oyu want to do a bit more fine settings in Gcensored] you need to usually resort to Terminal while in KDE it's just there and again it works in simialr way as w[censored]. You have system settings (aka control panel) where it's really easy to find what you need. And it is also very customizable.

Which is done intentioanlly in that other DE... by design! Ridiculous! Settings should be easily accesible with out involving outside programs or utilities. If you can script them via CLI etc.. thats fine... but the average X user should be able go to a menu and change them.

I kept G[censored] in another maschine as it consumes less resources. to me it now feels a bit more fresh, a bit more what i would expect from a system in 2011.

Add in the compiz thats BUILT IN TO Kwin and the compare resources.

A not completelly true and a bit old but still good comparison: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kdegnome

LIke the cat! Cool!

Interesting read... but its obviously slanted from a certain perspective... what he sees as a problem or interference I don't see.. I would rather have those multitude of choices on menus even if I don't know what most if any of them do! Better than having to run some other program or programs to do it...

Something of recent I was digging to find what would turn it off... and I found it... and its not very intuitive to find or name... BUT I would rather have the option to search around in System Settings to find it than some other system like another DE.

If you were ranting about that small thingy in the top right corner on desktop, i believe in one of the settings you can easilly turn it off or move it elsewhere. Though i see no big deal if it is there. doesn't bother me at all.

the upper right corner cashew is NOT possible to disable via the "Lock Widgets" option. That removes it from the Kicker, but not the upper right... KDE is ACTIVELY BUCKING this and making it difficult to remove... When I get the chance I have a diff patch to apply to the I hate the Cashew from KDE-Look that supposedly works on 4.6.x and will see if it works and also applies to normal view aka Folder View... That thing is useless for those of us who don't give two flying hoots about widgets activities or anything else that thing is supposed to do... BE GONE! Wheres my nut cracker..... I hate real cashews anyway!