[PC-BSD Testing] Testing Digest, Vol 19, Issue 40

[Bill Leeper]

Thanks for including the links. They provide some interesting reading.  
As on who has been working on/with computers far longer than Kris has  
been alive I can state from experience that change, where computers  
are involved, is good. I have been able to watch the interface evolve  
over the years with many good changes and a few going off in the wrong  
direction. I have to say that this latest incarnation of PC-BSD has by  
far been the most interesting change in computing I have seen since I  
switched to a Mac not too long after OS X came along. (MS's downfall  
is going to be the fact that they are unable to commit to the huge  
changes they need to make to continue to be a viable solution). Ms is  
a perfect example of what happens when you don't change.

Anyway, I have found that if you try to understand the underlaying  
thought behind these changes you will realize that they really do make  
sense.

BTW, did I mention the first computer i worked on used vacuum  
tubes?   :-)


On Aug 27, 2008, at 12:46 PM, Ian Robinson wrote:

> On Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:00 PM,  Bill Leeper said:
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> I have to say that my initial impressions of KDE4 were not all that
>> good. But, after using it these past few weeks in the Alphas I must
>> admit that I have grown to like it and I do not intend to go back to
>> KDE3.5 now. I would suggest taking the time to learn how it works and
>> then a lot of the choices they made start to make sense. Sure it has
>> problems, but so did 3.5 with all its maturity. If you wait for the
>> perfect desktop before you switch you will have a very long  
>> wait.   :-)
>
> Well said Bill.
>
> KDE 4.x (aka "Plasma") is not without its naysayers, but revolutionary
> ideas are often subject to criticism and a passionate demand to return
> to the familiar and comfortable even if old and outdated ways of doing
> things.  So it was with the automobile, the airplane, and now the
> desktop interface.
>
> Will we choose to keep our feet anchored in past desktop technology,
> or will  we progress to new and more versatile methods that will allow
> the unveiling of even further development in desktop programming,
> usage, development, and integration?
>
> The vision statement for Plasma addresses these issues at
> http://plasma.kde.org/cms/1029
>
> You can read more at http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Plasma/TheWaysOfThePlasma 
> .
>
> There are a bunch of links to Plasma information, user interface
> research, user interface standards, etc.  at
> http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Plasma
>
> I'm with Kris and Bill.  I find KDE 4.x better than KDE 3.5.x.  KDE
> 4.x moves the desktop interface into a new paradigm and represents an
> evolution in desktop environments.  Of course it is different from
> what we are used to using.  Of course some of the old themes and
> programming is going to break.  Before jumping to conclusions, it is
> worthwhile to spend more time looking into it.  Before jumping to
> conclusions, it is worthwhile to spend time trying it out.  Let's give
> KDE 4.x a chance.
>
> Ian Robinson
> Salem, Ohio
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