On Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:40:29 +0200
Istvan Gabor
... In the last ~2 years I could resist to participate in such KDE3 vs KDE4 battles but now I can't help posting a message.
Here is the list on what I could not do in KDE 4 when I last tested it (I have to confess it was at least 6-12 months ago; I got bored that there was no progress regarding the issues below and gave up trying):
- There is no manual panel hiding at the users will
Nope. There is only "Auto-hide" or "Always visible", but ... option "Windows can cover" may do what manual hide did, make whole desktop area available to application windows. They act like there is not panel at all.
- The fonts in the panel clock can not be set independently; for example I want the time shown in big fonts and the date in small fonts
No settings for that in digital clock, but if you give more room to clock, by widening panel, it does exactly what you want automatically.
- I can not see mounted USB, CD/DVD, etc devices on the desktop
You can if you add Device Notifier widget to the desktop. Default is to be hidden in a system tray and pop up notifier panel when device is available.
- I can't see the borders between panel elements (as classic view in KDE3)
Not by default, but ... You can add it when you activate Panel Settings :) Also, I did not explore different themes that may have such element by default.
- Setting up the panel is way too cumbersome compared to KDE3's simple ways (eg adding, removing, moving a panel item)
It is also not simple to forget that panel is not locked and mess it. (It happened to me.)
- Can't set exact hight of the panel (in pixels or other units)
You can use KRuler, put it next to the panel and set width or hight as you wish. Although, I'm not sure in what use case one needs to set panel size manually? (Obviously I didn't need that.)
- KDE4 Konsole font 'misc console' looked awful, practically useless
For me default option "Smooth fonts" is disaster for majority of fonts. Turned it off and selection of usable fonts is bigger then not so good looking, but they all are readable. You find it in: Konsole - top panel menu Settings - Configure Current Profile In a popup window go to the tab Appearance. At the bottom uncheck "Smooth fonts". I'm afraid that this setting is something that depends on graphics hardware and drivers, so people with different hardware can see different results. I don't think that openSUSE can set default that works for majority without wide participation of people.
- There is/was no kdeprint program (KDE print manager) or equivalent (cups print manager is not a real replacement)
Printing is complex topic. I'm wondering what level of printing functionality is covered with "KDE printing manager"? For instance HP offers exactly that functionality with "HPLIP Status Service" with much more details then independent vendor like KDE can provide. That is no different to any OS where hardware vendors take care of their support software (and if they don't then we are left in a dark).
- KDE4 control center is a mess compared to that of KDE3; user and system options mixed frequently
Things are changing. Also, this is tree view of Configure desktop: http://en.opensuse.org/File:Systemsettings-service-manager.png You can see in default and tree view that System functions are separated. Also, I would not appreciate to have same function in two places, and the only difference would be that second require root password. One button to set up system for all users is better option.
- KDE4 specific: Could not get rid of the annoying figure in the upper right corner (called cashew?)
Well, I don't see problem in the image that has functionality, and can be covered by other desktop items. It should be in next section - personal taste.
- My personal taste: KDE4 themes/styles far less attractive than KDE3 themes/styles, and is not possible to make them look like KDE3 themes.
Well, themes. Not something that I change often. One that is working fine on certain computer will stay until next installation. Also, there is plenty online, just as with KDE3.
- KDE4 was slow compared to KDE3, much slower (I have only 0.5-1GB RAMs in my systems)
How much RAM you need depends on your use case and architecture you are using. More RAM you give, it will cache more data, use more memory and run faster. That is not bound to particular desktop, it is how programs work. Firefox or LibreOffice can run in 60MB, but with more they will be overall faster. I tested on 32 bit down to 128 MB and without large applications it worked. With 512 MB it was good, allowing large applications to run smoothly. With 64 bit it will ask for more RAM, or run slower, but that is not a desktop problem, it is, in general, software problem :)
- Logging out from KDE4 took ~20 seconds vs 2 seconds in KDE3
Without knowing what was running, it is hard to tell. Numbers and application names are crucial here.
- I could not configure a second desktop for TV out in KDE4.
That is driver problem. I didn't have any problems with a second screen, and probably there will be no problems with TV.
And a comment: the question "What can't you do in KDE4 that you can in KDE3" is inappropriate. Practically everything can be done in every desktop/window manager if you know the right tools. Even in DOS or in terminal. The right question would be which desktop manager is more comfortable to use or fits better the user's personal taste.
It is not all about taste. It depends on what you use computer for. If you need some application that is designed to use all RAM and CPU cycles it can get, and your computer can't provide at least specified minimum, then it will be slow independent of desktop in use. (I managed to bog down Core2 Quad with 8GB RAM, giving Blender a bit more detailed mesh then hardware can handle. There was nothing wrong with KDE; the same would happen in any desktop.)
Greetings,
Istvan
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org