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KDE Success in the Enterprise
Arandir writes "Is UNIX ready for the desktop? Display Works Inc. thinks it is! They adopted KDE as their official desktop environment over a year ago, and KDE::Enterprise is running an interview with IT manager Tim Brodie over their experiences. This is a very good interview that covers why KDE was chosen, user migration, and wish lists for KDE. Quote: "I now see KDE taking the lead in polish and professionalism on the desktop"."
Let's face it, for well over five years the KDE team has slaved away forging a complete and total desktop solution for not just linux, but the intire UNIX platform. No small feet, that. Along the way, they've had to make some hard choices. Abandon the closed-source QT license or petition to have QT opened? Work on the linux frame buffer potential, or expand their prescence over into the *BSD projects? While GNOME was making critical mis-steps such as following in the footsteps of Microsoft, and using their FSF clout to force Redhat to hemogenize the redhat/linux desktop; KDE kept their focus almost to the point of obsession. Quality, and Nothing but. So, I say Huzzah to KDE! Truly, the GNU worlds' greatest example of the american dream -realised!
that when he wants to develop an in-house program that isn't going to be distributed anywhere else, the GPL doesn't require him to release his sources to the public, so he didn't need to be really concerned about the licensing issue.
What time is it/will be over there? Check with my iPhone app!
It's hard to say anything bad about the latest release. Works great for me.
And I've set several first time LInux converts up on it and they not only like it, they have a fairly easy time adjusting from windows to Linux.
It's really a good thing.
Thanks KDE guys, you got a good thing going!
I personally find KDE to be better than Explorer for me. Of course windows on a whole is still far more user friendly when one considers program instillation, learning curve, and generally things working. However if one were to consider the desktop environment of windows compared to KDE I do find KDE to be superior.
Configurability: KDE hands down, the Control Center simply allows so much to be configured, my system is currently set up to respond precisely how I want it. Windows respond to mouse overs after the time I specified, right number of desktops with the correct visibility of other apps, themability also a big plus. Don't know if XP has themability or to what degree but I don't consider it a major function.
Look & Feel: Used to give it to Windows but now I think I like KDE better. Basically a function of familiarity of the system combined with actual looks, themability helps KDE here.
Usability: Both have a fairly comprehensive start menu. I'll discount the points I could give KDE for a greater amount of software initially since this isn't necessarily a long term effect as you'll fill both with software you need eventually. However I do prefer the KMenus method for listing large numbers of programs as a heirarchy, when Windows tries to list 3 full columns at once it's much too slow especially since you probably already know the location of the item you're looking for. Also KDE gets points for multiple desktops, yes I know that you can get programs for Windows to mimic that but it doesn't work as well, most notably it simply hide apps so that cycling through apps in one desktop gives you apps for all desktops. The file manager for windows is generally nicer but the combination of file manager and CLI built in for KDE should give it the advantage there but I'll call it a tie.
Either way overall I prefer KDE but after a certain level it comes down to familiarity. I used to use Windows alot and prefered that but recently I've almost entirely switched over to Linux, just found that the things I did alot were just as good and easy in Linux. Actually it's mostly multiple desktops that gets me. Frankly Gaim still isn't up to par with Trillian and Evolution isn't as nice as Eudora but the entire environment is nicer to work in. But either way that isn't directly pretaining to the Window Manager.
I stole this Sig
Why would that be? As the copyright holder, you can change the license any time you want. You can start it as GPL when it's in-house, and change the license later if you want to sell it outside of your company.
Not so with QT. Can't remeber the exact terms, but that procedure is explicitly forbidden. If you start it as a GPL project using QT, you can't just change license. You have to buy the QT license and develop a new app from scratch. I can't even begin to think about how ridiculous that must feel for the unfortunate programmer that receives the task, and to what extend copy-paste is allowed in such an endeavour.
Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
KDe is very popular in Europe. fix your Gnome file dialog and I will consider gnome too.
A couple of Slashdotters argued:I understand what you're saying, and I understand what Trolltech wants, but I don't understand how anyone thinks they got there.
GPL: You can distribute internally. Anyone who get the binary has the right to request (and receive) the source. Not a problem; that's all internal.
Qt commercial license: Some number of developers are licensed to build with the Qt framework and distribute the result with a non-free license.
So what prevents a shop from having a bunch of internal developers who only distribute their results internally, plus one licensed person who builds the "gold disk"?
P.S.: According to the URL above, you're supposed to: Seems to me the GPL gives you the right to do that. How does Trolltech expect to enforce the clause quoted above?
Stupid job ads, weird spam, occasional insight at
> All of that is available in Windows. Get TweakUI...
Microsoft Windows: making you redefine "available in" since 1995! *g*
> But with a little work [...] you can make Windows (XP) do
> everything that made you choose KDE over Windows.
Okay, two point here.
1) KDE does NOT require 'a little work'. It's already powerful and functionnal that way out of the box. No need for crutches of any kind.
2) Last I checked, the Windows GUI was still broken in deep ways. You can't move or resize an application window that is busy. Killing a dead explorer takes down the ENTIRE desktop. Sure, it respawns right away (if we can't make it stable, well let's sweep the unstability under the carpet, right?) -- leaving behind the application windows that are busy and not responding right at the time. Window folding still isn't there. Advanced features (virtual desktops et al) felt awfully awkward last time I checked, behaving mostly like a single desktop with some windows hidden -- compare with the seamless way it works in KDE.
Etc, etc.
There are a number of issues with Linux, a number of things that work more smoothly in Windows, but the desktop environment is no longer one. That battle is over, and Windows lost it majorly (mostly due to its own monolithic design, funnily enough). Get over it.
-- B.
This sig does in fact not have the property it claims not to have.