There’s been many updates to KDE4, and while spending another day with KDE4 yesterday, I was relieved to find many of the segfaults and KDE crash errors had been resolved. I was disappointed to not be able to find any way of saving my session for KDE4, other than it saving my previous session. I use Manually saved sessions because of convenience and consistency on all my workstations and servers. I was also still unable to lock my workstation.
It’s officially released, the Beta that is. Get your copy from : http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/8.04
It has been a month since I last wrote about Kubuntu, and there have been some promising updates. First, the update to Hardy Alpha 6 puts us one milestone closer to the first beta release. While today is supposed to be the Beta Release, I’m still awaiting for an announcement on the official home page. Currently there are two different LiveCD’s for HA6. One with KDE3.5 and another with KDE4.
I recently made the mistake of auto-selecting the wrong action when I inserted a new blank DVD while at the same time telling it to not prompt me again. It really caused havoc when creating multiple copies in k3b. Fortunately the IRC channel was very helpful and NickPresta answered my query. To change these kind of actions, you can launch kcontrol by using alt->f2, typing kcontrol, selecting peripherals and then the storage and media subcategory. Here, use the drop down to select the proper media type… notice the scroll list. Highlight the action you want to do automatically, and then click the toggle as AutoAction. It worked great for me.
I’ve recently learned that many issues related to suspend and hibernate are directly related to the video drivers. Even when not using the restricted drivers, often laptops still don’t correct handle suspend, hibernate, and resumes for both. I’ve written about my problems with suspend and hibernate in the past, and I’ve recently received help from the Dell Ubuntu Project and they’ve confirmed my bug report . Fortunately the provided an easy fix, even if it is unsupported. The Envy program correctly installs the most current version of the nVidia driver for my laptop and then suspend and hibernate worked after rebooting.
Now that I’ve gotten my SSH server installed and working properly, I’ve found a need for some tools to work with that secure shell. KDE again comes to my rescue, and allows me to browse my remote secure shell connection right from inside of Konqueror. This makes it a breeze to copy and paste documents and folders between remote systems on my network. For this to work, the KIOSlave handler for the “fish” protocol is called upon. You can browse these remote systems by using this format for the Location box:
fish://user@remotesystem
This really cuts down on the time of using the command line to work with large groups of files. You can also use the same format within Qt applications’ dialog boxes, making it easy to work with files directly from inside of applications.
Having battled with using KDE4 after a easy install in Kubuntu Gutsy Gibbon, I’ve discovered some of the shortcomings of the new desktop environment. I switched back to a KDE 3.5 session today, and what a relief! I figure I’ll continue to switch back and forth about every other day. This will let me continue to use a fully functioning workstation and still allow me to experiment with KDE4.
I’ve heard of others using Xen and somehow being able to use both simultaneously. I haven’t tried it yet, and I’m interested in hearing others opinions of their experience.
I first installed KDE4 yesterday, and I’ve been impressed with it. Not in the ways I expected, but at the same time disappointed and frustrated in other ways I was not ready for. Ctrl-F12 fortunately doesnt require three keys on the left hand for a normal US keyboard, but instead does require both hands, almost universally. It’s interesting now, because I’m beginning to see a shift in the interfaces of operating systems. It is very apparent comparing KDE and Vista, and it’s amazing how the interfaces parallel the user base. I see this reflected in the new Ctrl-F12 desktop with the widgets, and I expect to find it as the foundation for future interfaces. I’ve seen other programs like Yahoo widgets try to do something like this, but it was more of an encumbrance with the operating system. This instead seems more naturally integrated, of course because it is part of the OS. It would still be nice to be able to use Ctrl-Alt-Del to see what I would previously expect for the “Desktop”. Another disappointment, is the missing alt+f1that I’m so used to. It makes me reluctant to use the new spectacular Kickoff menu. Also significantly lacking is the ability for me to lock my terminal. Having my personal laptop around in my office is usually ok for me, but I’d like to be able to lock it when I’m not at my desk.
My greatest pleasant surprise of installing KDE, was the improved performance. The core system seems extremely refined, fast, and immediately responsive.
Sometimes it’s so frustrating that I almost want to give up and logout and switch to the KDE 3.5 session, but instead I hop on IRC in Konversation and look for help in one of the channels. So far, it’s been an experience. Somewhat of a struggle, but I think I’ll keep trying.
I have yet to upgrade to KDE4 in Kubuntu. I have spent sime time with it in the LiveCD though. So far, it’s been an experience. I like some of the new features in Konqueror. The new Kickoff menu almost obsoletes katapult, but doesn’t quite make it. It requires the use of keystrokes with keys having a greater distance than katapult. I can usually hit alt+space on most any keyboard with one thumb, so I don’t find Kickoff as accessible as it could be. Moreover, you also have to press enter to complete the search.
It seems to me many of the most important updates are kind of behind the scenes. New API’s like Phonon will provide enhanced interoperability for the future. This generally points to the direction of KDE4 really laying an incredible foundation for forthcoming development.
I’m going to test the kubuntu package of it in an installed virtual machine. I’m not ready for any big problems with either of my workstations, so I’ll be holding off on that until i make sure most of my apps will work.
I’d also like to do it without editing my sources list.
While preparing some disks for my friends, I noticed that Hardy Heron Alpha 3 is available for download.