Ubuntu KDE

[dawynn]

>From a KDE lover that wants a Ubuntu-KDE option:

First: It's been a few years since I tried anything RPM.  I started on
Redhat, then tried Mandrake (because of its love of KDE).  The problem
I had with the RPM-based distributions was RPM itself.  It didn't
protect me enough.  I would expect to be able to update to the next
"distribution" by updating each of my currently installed packages. 
Such updating usually left my system broken in the RPM world.

Then I discovered Debian.  I have *never* run into the update problem
with Debian.  As long as I don't try to force any dependencies,
everything stays working.  I've updated various pieces many times on my
system and never had a problem.  So, the whole .deb thing is a good
thing.

I wanted a recent KDE, so I switched from stable to testing in Debian. 
But things are constantly changing in testing.  When I started looking
into Ubuntu, I thought it would be nice to keep relatively current,
while still staying relatively stable.  Thus, the six-months between
releases *really* appeals to me.  I had used KDE consistently for some
time, but was willing to give GNOME a shot.

And GNOME came up a disappointment.  I guess it was the whole problem
of Ubuntu claiming to use what "just works" and underlying that with a
broken window manager.

Here's a few things I would expect in a window manager that "just
works":

1) A comprehensible, easily updatable menu system.  GNOME easily let me
add and delete entries.  But in order to move an entry from one folder
to another, I had to enter a special command into Nautilus (not any
browser, just Nautilus).  Note that the GNOME menu issues are clearly
documented in several forums, not just the Ubuntu forums.  KDE has a
special tool just for updating the menus.  Yay, KDE!

2) Like Internet Explorer, there should be a single tool that works as
both a Web Browser, and a File Manager.  Nautilus makes a good file
manager, but doesn't work at all as a web browser.  Mozilla makes a
superior bloated web browser, but a poor file manager (and was not able
to be used to update the menus).  Yay, Konqueror!

3) How about cusomizability?  Superkaramba for KDE.  ??? for GNOME??? 
Nuff said.  Yay, superkaramba!

That being said, I'm not saying that Ubuntu would best work if switched
from GNOME to KDE.  But I would suggest that GNOME was a poor choice for
a window manager when it's menu system seems so disjointed.  I have not
found any specific issues with KDE, even though so many seem to be
vehemently against it.  The only reason I've seen people suggest so far
is -- KDE uses configuration files.  Um -- doesn't every window manager?
For all I'm concerned, it would be cool for a distribution to use a
completely different default window manager (maybe, IceWM?) -- as long
as the thing works (and the menus can be updated easily).

Both KDE and GNOME can run each other's programs, so compatibility with
certain must-have tools, like Synaptic, Gnucash, Kdevelop, etc is not a
problem -- they'll run in both systems.

The other thing is -- my system is already set up.  I would like a way
to migrate easily to whatever distribution I'm going to use next.  I
can migrate from Debian to Ubuntu, just my changing my Apt Sources
list.  I could do that with Knoppix, but Knoppix openly admits that
once its installed on a hard-drive, it's basically a Debian system. 
Mepis doesn't advertise it's Apt Sources listing.  So, in order to move
to Mepis, I would have to ruin my current setup and reinstall linux.

The original question on this thread was not whether we wanted Ubuntu
bogged down with KDE, but whether any KDE users would like to see the
spirit of Ubuntu put into a new distribution that had goals similar to
Ubuntu, but using KDE instead of GNOME.  I would be all for such a
project.  

In the meantime, the Ubuntu people have promised that they are working
with KDE people to try to bring KDE to the main package base.  No, this
wouldn't need to mess up a GNOME setup.  Imagine a ubuntu-gnome-desktop
and a ubuntu-kde-destop.  Users could choose one or the other, both, or
neither as they needed.  For that matter, there could just as easily be
a ubuntu-icewm-desktop, etc.  Although I would like to see such a
thing, I fear that trying to create such diversity in Ubuntu would
break the spirit of the project.

For now, I'm waiting to see what Debian will do to break its process of
increasingly longer stable release cycles.

Cheers!


-- 
dawynn