Bart Decrem on the Linux Business

Anonymous Hero writes "Co-founder of Eazel and now vice president of Hancom Linux, Bart Decram gives his views on a whole lot of things related to desktop Linux in an interview at Linux and Main. He talks abour what went wrong with Eazel, why everyone should work together to build Microsoft Office filters, how anti-U.S. sentiment can be used to promote Linux throughout the world, and how he thinks KDE is 'butt-ugly.' Long read, but worth it."

Comments

Butt-ugly?

[Tom7]

I dunno, guys. I think linux users have a very strange aesthetic.

KDE (in KDEstep mode), to me, is one of the cleanest-looking window managers around. The icons are pixel-perfect, there's no distracting eye candy, and the window management doesn't get in the way of what actually matters -- the programs. (In this respect I think KDE learned some good things from Windows.)

There's no accounting for tastes, I guess, but we don't all feel this way. Keep it up, KDE!

Re:He'd better get used to KDE...

[fader]

I think this guy is a little shallow by determining his desktop on the types of icons and menu picture! You use a GUI to help you accomplish work faster... NOT to debate about how pretty the pictures are!

I don't know -- I agree with him for the most part. Every time a new version of KDE comes out, I switch to it for a week or two. I always like KDE, it always feels very together and fluid. But I always go back to GNOME. No matter how much time I spend poking through kde-look or classic.themes.org (you know, the one that actually has themes on it, unlike the new one), KDEs ugliness just nags at me. Eventually I get to the point where I avoid doing any work on the computer because it hurts my eyes to look at it.

I know there are people out there that like how KDE looks... great. But aesthetics does have a real effect on your attitude while using a computer. (Switch to all-Motif apps for a week and see how you feel ;) )