KDE 3.1 Alpha is out

[littleman]

Check out the screen shots [static.kdenews.org]

It looks to me that the KDE folks are trying to wow away would be XP and osX folks with gobs of eye candy.

On the functionality side, it looks like Konqueror is getting tabs, Konsole now has the ability to bookmark commands, and it now has VNC compatible framework.

Here's all the details [kde.org]

I installed KDE 3.02 a couple of days ago, it sure is a complete desktop. I have to say that it feels cushioned and soft. Like XP and osX, KDE reminds me of a 70's model Cadillac Coupe de Ville, it will get you where you want to go in luxury and style, but you are not going to feel the road, and it's weight is going to cost you in performance despite it's 500 cubic inch engine.

I suppose that's what people want these days -- lots of heavy chrome.

[4eyes]

I am still in a quandary as to which desktop to use.

Veering towards Gnome with Sawmill now (just want an easy life - not bothered about eye candy)

How easy is the install process?

Is it worth the pain just to check it out?

[john316]

<<I am still in a quandary as to which desktop to use.<<

I'm new to linux, but I have mine set up with root using gnome and user using kde.

Gnome is mucho faster, but kde is just so elegant.

[4eyes]

I find KDE just too much, a bit slower to load and a bit too 'busy' at the default install. Probably just too much clutter on the application menu and I can't remove the ones I don't need cos I don't know which ones I don't need yet:(

I will probably end up just using a windows manager without KDE or Gnome once I know a bit more.

I saw a really cool looking option called ROX - spent almost 4 hours trying to install it and failed - loads of dependency issues I couldn't resolve:( - anyone tried it?

Does the new KDE load any quicker/slower?

[littleman]

4eyes,
IMHO-
Using Mandrake I would just stick with the installed KDE. KDE3 is nice, but you are going to run into conflicts in the upgrade that could be a pain. KDE3 is a lot prettier than KDE2 and it might feel a bit faster, but it isn't really worth the headache if you aren't into the eye candy. 3.2 might be worth it if you like konqueror, tabs are nice.

I like ROX, but I don't really use it much. I use DFM in it's place, it has a some of the functionality (icons, a similar file manager, and shortcuts for mounting and unmounting), is easier to configure and is even lighter.

>I will probably end up just using a windows manager without KDE or Gnome once I know a bit more.

That is how I like it. If you like the windows style desktop you may want to do something like ICEwm plus ROX or DFM.

>spent almost 4 hours trying to install it and failed
I have to praise Debian in this respect, I am running the "unstable" version and it is very easy to install and remove applications. Going from KDE 2.2 to KDE 3.0.2 was painless.

>>Gnome is mucho faster, but kde is just so elegant.
I don't want to come across as if I think KDE sucks, because I think it is a beautiful looking and highly functional system. I also think KDE apps are very stable and well put together. It is just to big and sucks up too much ram for my taste. I might consider it an option if I had a 1 GHz processor and 300 megabytes of RAM.

[mack]

KDE 3.1 came with my SUSE linux install...very impressive :)

[littleman]

That has to be 3.0.1, 3.1 is still alpha.

[mack]

Yes littleman your are right.

I was getting ahead of myself thre :)