KDE 3.5.8 on Ubuntu

I have installed KDE 3.5.8 on my Ubuntu Server machine. When I say KDE, I am not referring to Kubuntu, but actual KDE, without any Kubuntu packages installed. This installation can be created by typing “sudo apt-get install kde kdm” into the command line in a Ubuntu Server installation.

The applications I have installed are all KDE-based, with the lone exception of Firefox. I have installed Firefox simply because Konqueror just will not do for a web browser. Konqueror does not work well with Google’s services, so obviously I had to find another option. As a side note on Firfox, the default theme is one different from that if you install it on Kubuntu; it is a plain, grey theme, yet it fits in quite well with the KDE default “Plastik” theme.

By installing just KDE, it becomes quickly apparent how powerful KDE really is. There are TONS of applications installed by default. The only applications that do not come installed is an office suite. I have installed KOffice 1.6.3. I hope that KOffice one day becomes good enough to come default with KDE. Perhaps KOffice 2.0 will change things. I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but hopefully I will soon, and I will give it a thorough review.

I have also installed KDevelop, another KDE-centric application, which includes many programs for programming KDE applications. Using KDevelop is similar to Eclipse, one of the largest Linux development applications available. Scripting languages are supported, so I found myself right at home using Python 2.5.

Another interesting program is another package manager I did not even know existed. It’s called KPackage. KPackage differs from other package managers like Adept and Synaptic in the way that 1) lists packages in groups, like “Lib,” “GNOME,” etc. and 2) One you click “Install” on a package, another dialog box opens with information on which packages will be installed, as well as other information about the package. Overall, I have to say that it is very nice package manager, and is easy to use as Synaptic or Adept. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so check out the below pictures for a good description of KPackage:

Using the default KDE for the past four days has been a very pleasant experience. Trying KDE without Kubuntu has revealed the true KDE, one that is very customizeable, as well as easy and pleasant to use. I have found KDE to be perfect for power users, and I know there are many better things to come. My only suggestion to the KDE folks is to make Konqeror a better web browser. Hopefully many compatibility issues with sites will be resolved in KDE v4, which will arrive in 12 days according to KDE’s KDE 4 countdown.

OOXML Debate: A different look

After all the recent Office Open XML (OOXML for short) and KDE vs. GNOME debates, I began to think about what would be the easiest way to avoid this situation of constant fighting, and keep focus on our main objective of “world domination.” Obviously, GNOME’s decision to include OOXML in one of their applications and KDE’s dismissal of the document format was sure to attract some attention. While KDE’s decision not to use OOXML was more practical than political, it was still used to show why GNOME’s the bad guy, and KDE is perfect. That debate, of course, was bound to happen, as it continues every day. I have been thinking, “There must be an easier way…”

One thing is unavoidable: OOXML will be used — and is being used. A version (sub-version?) is already in MS Office 2007, and users are now creating more and more of those documents. Whether or not home users will be using this format, which is titled “(Enter program here) Document” in the save menu in Office 2007, or the 2003 legacy formats, it is almost too early to tell.

So, my thought is, why not include the format as a separate download?

It could be a link somewhere on the GNOME site (or for that matter, Novell, since they have buddied up to MSFT).

This would enable those who want or need to have access to the file format would be able to get it at their leisure. I have a feeling that a lot of this debate and rhetoric coming from both sides could have been avoided — only if people didn’t jump the gun, both on the GNOME side with the implementation, as well as on the opposing side of the format running around calling for everyone to move to KDE. Keeping the format as a separate download could have prevented this whole situation, and kept everyone busy focused on building the the community and the system they use, instead of trying to divide it.

6 Month Report: UbuntuBox at Snellville Borders

It has officially been 6 months since I had first placed the UbuntuBox at the Snellville Borders.

Since the box’s placement, 153 CDs have been distributed!

Extreme Skydiving

I know this has nothing to do with computers, but:

This is cool.

(for planetgeorgia folks, click on my post title to see the video!)

Ubuntu vs. Leapord Review: My Thoughts

A review of Ubuntu Gutsy vs. Mac OS Leopard. You can find it here.

It’s a nice and fair review, which is something hard to come by. I have to say it’s one of the best I have seen.

But I do have one problem — mainly on the subject of usability:

First, the article places Linux usage as confusing, since KDE and GNOME offer such different interfaces.

That’s the point! The interfaces are different for a reason; to provide choice. If they were the same, they may as well be one project instead of two. People choose what works best for them. Besides, I thought this review was for Ubuntu, which features GNOME, and not KDE, which would be Kubuntu.

Next, the review suggests that the OpenSUSE versions of the K and GNOME menus are much easier to use than the default menus. While I have used both and they are indeed nice, I have to say that they are heavier and take longer for me to find what I need. At often times, they are not that configurable. Besides, the K menu may not come as a “slab” menu, it has all I need to get around. GNOME’s Applications, Places, System menus are about as simple and fast as it’s going to get, period. In my mind, the default KDE and GNOME are the easiest to use, but that’s just my opinion.

Ubuntu.com site visits

The graph below shows Ubuntu’s site count. The site count has grown considerably since last year:

Ubuntu’s site visits include a 603% increase in visitors when compared to November of last year. Ubuntu’s visits have slowed nearly 30 percent over the past month, now that Gutsy Gibbon has been released. Thanks for this chart goes to compete.com.

CNR beta: A Review

CNR beta: A Review

CNR has finally entered beta stage, and although I never plan on using Linspire/Freespire, I decided to give CNR a shot.

For those who do not know, CNR now supports multiple Linux distros, (Lin/Freespire, Ubuntu, and soon Fedora, Debian, and OpenSUSE). You can download a plugin that allows you to download and install applications on your computer. There are instructions available on the “download” page for CNR.

To begin, I signed up for a free account. The process was easy, almost like signing up for a forum profile. So, after confirming my account, I was in. CNR has gone through a major re-write, as it was previously included in the aging Linspire Five-o and Freespire 1.0. The navigation and installation is the same, but there are some major differences.

The first being the application availability — there are 37,000+ available packages!

CNR includes much of the software available from Ubuntu’s repositories, and many more as well, including commercial applications that you can buy.

Now for some screenshots:

This screenshot shows how the CNR process begins. I have already signed in, and have moused over the eclipse package. A transparent menu allows me to install directly or see more. I chose to double-click on the image to see more information:

Here you can see the product description, screenshot, and if you look below the screenshot on you own, you would find user reviews. The next screenshot shows how .cnr files are downloaded after I click “Install.” If you’ll notice on my taskbar at the top of my screen, you will see the bright green “CNR” button (the one w/ the random guy in mid-run). That is the CNR applet that can be started through Applications > System Tools > CNR.

As you can see, the download is opened with the CNR applet that I mentioned earlier. Now for a screenshot of the CNR applet in action, which occurs after I click “OK” on the above dialog:

The CNR program syncs-up with the CNR repositories. Next, it downloads the program:

After the download has finished, the program is installed:

After installing the program, I get a dialog box with the summary of my installation, as well as a check-box for whether or not I want an icon of the application placed on my desktop:

Comparison to Add/Remove

CNR allows you to place applications you want to install in a “Channel,” which is basically like selecting multiple applications at once. While this process is faster in Add/Remove, there are still more applications available through CNR. There is also a better description, plus user reviews and screenshots. You also get to see which applications are compatible with which system (note: at this point, Linspire/Freespire are based on Ubuntu, all of which are currently supported on CNR). I have found CNR takes longer than Add/Remove, however, the speed really is not much slower. Besides, there are 37,000+ applications and libraries available.

Conclusion

I have mentioned before on my blog that I have no plans to use Linspire/Freespire in the future due to the patent-protection deals made by Linspire and Microsoft. I’ll give credit where due, and I have to say that I am very impressed by CNR. With the support for multiple systems and the insane number of applications available, I can’t wait to see what comes out of the final version — after all, CNR is only in beta at this point.

See CNR here!