|
On tuesday 29th of July, the so long awaited version of KDE 4.1 has been released. I have been using the 4.0 version since its first release for KUbuntu, hence I have immediately made the upgrade. Installation was as easy as the following instructions (taken from http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kde-4.1): - Add deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-members-kde4/ubuntu hardy main to your /etc/apt/sources.list.
- If you already have the kubuntu-kde4-desktop packages installed, simply type sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade and answer the questions in which you are prompted. If you do not have kubuntu-kde4-desktop installed, simply type sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install kubuntu-kde4-desktop and answer the questions. Both of these options are to be typed at the command prompt.
I have found some difficulties in installing KUbuntu due to a conflict with an old package. The quickest way to resolv (for me) was to uninstall KDE 4.0 and reinstall the 4.1 version. After having resolved this little problem, for me installation was only a matter of time. As soon as KUbuntu has finished downloading and installing all the package I have immediately switched desktop.
First impression Even if KDE 4.0 (which I have tried for many days btw) was something amazing, the 4.1 version seems even better. The login process with the glow effects applied to the icons and to the background is very nice. A picture is worth a thousand words so, here it is my Desktop with some plasmoids and some gadgets from google. KDE 4.1 - Desktop with plasmoids and Google gadgets After the first startup KDE 4.1 will load an empty desktop with the "Folder view" plasmoid showing the Desktop. It is worhwhile to customize the desktop a little bit. First of all, enabling the 3D Desktop Effects renders the use of the system more funny. Desktop effects can be enabled in the System Settings (in the application launcher). 3D effects can be customized: there are many alternatives you can chose among (for example, there are many effects to switch windows with the ALT + TAB keystroke - you can see one in the picture below). KDE 4.1 - Switch desktop effect Get used to KDE 4.1 KDE 4.1 (the version 4 in general) is very different from the 3.5 version. I have been using for a few weeks and, after the first days, get used to it is not so difficult. Anyhow there are some things that require major attention. First of all, it took me a lot of time to find out how to increase the size of the desktop panel. I have looked in the System Settings and in other places without success. Then I realized it is much more easy: chosing to add a plasmoid to the desktop panel, there is the possibility to increase its size. KDE 4.1 - Modify panel layout Another thing that was necessary for me was the "Show Desktop" plasmoid on the Desktop panel. This plasmoid lets the user have immediate access to the Desktop. It works exactly the same way as the "Show Desktop" icon in KDE 3.5 which I use most of the time. In KDE 4.1 there is a similar plasmoid which shows the Plasma dashboard. It is similar to the "Show Desktop" but instead of showing the empty desktop it shows all the plasmoids on the desktop. In this way you can use them (for example to add a note) and then switch back to the app you were using before. Some things that need to be improved in KDE 4.1 (according to me) I think that the KDE development team has done a fantastic job with this version, but something needs to be improved more. First of all, sometimes when I load the desktop all the plasmoids (in the desktop and in the panel) start as unlocked (even if in the previous session they have been locked).The background of the icons in the system tray is not always transparent: this produces an anti-aesthetic visual effect. Of course these are some other issues. For example the plasmoid (as well as the theme) installer doesn't seem to work properly. The installer simply notifies that the plasmoid has been installed correctly but, as a matter of fact, it is not among those available to be used. Moreover, some plasma components are, for now, more beautiful to be seen rather than useful. For example, it could be a good idea to be able to customize the "Folder View" aspect, having for example the possibility to chose among the icons/list/detailed view, or having the possibility to reduce or increase the icons size. The notes plasmoid lets you edit a note at once. If you want more notes on the desktop you have to load more plasmoids. Even if the 3.5 alternative (Knode) was not so graphically impressive, I think it was more useful, as it enables the user to more easily deal with lots of notes. Another aspect is the fact that not all the keyboard shortcuts are available. For example I was used to modify the system volume using the command on my laptop which was correctly configured by KUbuntu with KDE 3.5.9. In KDE 4.1 I had to manually configure it. Adding to this all the powersaving function (suspensio, hybernation) are no more confiugred in KDE 4.1. This is quite annoying if you are using (as I do) a notebook. Maybe among all these marginal aspects, one thing that disturbed me a little bit was the 4.1 version of the kdepim suite. I have played with it only for a few hours just to realize that moving all my email messages (about 3.2 Gb, e-mail accounts and identities is not that simple. I think that for now I will be using Kontact 3.5 in KDE 4.1: i need to test the 4.1 version of kontact a bit more. Final thoughts Among all the other aspects, the thing that conviced me to use KDE 4.1 since the very beginning is its speed. Maybe it is not real, but the desktop seems more quick and rensponsive compared to the 3.5 version. Of course it is young and there are some things that could be improved somewhere, but I think that KDE 4.1 is just a good starting point and I relly look forward to see what will be available in a future 4.2, 4.3 or better 4.5. |
