I just ran across KDE 4.4 Positive Spin over on Brain Dump – my first time seeing this blog. The author, Andy Crouch, makes a good point:
It’s interesting to see that even now, 2 years down the line people are still bringing up the KDE 4.0 release. Perhaps it’s me but I don’t (either as a user or developer) feel that KDE 4.0 was labelled a “Complete” or “User ready” release.
Long Memories
I was just discussing KDE with some other people, and it sure didn’t seem like 4.0 was two years ago! It’s funny how memory works, but those of us in the discussion that had tried 4.0 when it was released remembered it like it was just last week!
Part of my issue with 4.0 was I never saw anything that indicated .0 was an “alpha” or “developer-only” release, or anything like that. Needless to say I was very disappointed in KDE 4.0 – which led to a period of using XFCE (which I found quite satisfactory).
I did try each major release and somewhere around 4.2.somethingoranother I finally felt comfortable enough to get on a pure KDE desktop and live with the bumps. My main desktop is KDE now and I am perfectly happy with it.
Try to explain that KDE is working fine now-a-days though and I get skeptical headshakes. For whatever reason, some people are hesitant to give KDE another try.
On Promotion and Defense
Here’s Mr. Crouch again:
I do agree that with the author in the article above that we really need to push the message to users that may have left KDE since the 4.0 release. KDE 4.4 is a GREAT release which may 3.5 users, I think, will find not only usable but a great step forward.
I strongly agree with this. Please, please, drop the “only idiots thought that 4.0 was for end-users” and similar defenses. (The comments here are chock-full of this).
It may or may not be true, but a lot of people thought that — myself included – and it just needlessly antagonizes people!
KDE 4 right now is an awesome desktop and doesn’t need to retroactively justify the earlier releases.
Instead focus on a clear listing of the improvements and features, and maybe even engage in a little self-depreciation and poke a bit of fun at the 4.0 release along the way. Let people know what they are missing today if they decide not to give KDE another look.
Try to re-capture those that might have left KDE! Don’t burn calories calling them liars – they obviously at one point cared enough to give 4.0 a try, I bet they could be convinced to give 4.4 a try as well –hopefully with a different result!
#1 by Lex on April 9, 2010 - 3:15 pm
[blockquote]Part of my issue with 4.0 was I never saw anything that indicated .0 was an “alpha” or “developer-only” release, or anything like that. Needless to say I was very disappointed in KDE 4.0 – which led to a period of using XFCE (which I found quite satisfactory).[blockquote]
I am sorry, but it was very clearly stated on kde.org that 4.0 is unstable and not user ready. Also a quick google search would reveal MANY articles with people bitching how not ready 4.0 is. The fact that many distributions went ahead with 4.0 and didnt bother to mention that it's a development release simply shows which distributions care about the quality of their software and which ones do not.
[blockquote]I strongly agree with this. Please, please, drop the “only idiots thought that 4.0 was for end-users” and similar defenses. (The comments here are chock-full of this).[blockquote]
I agree, that statement is a generalization and does not hold true. How about this: MOSTLY idiots thought that 4.0 was for end users.
#2 by Jason on April 9, 2010 - 10:18 pm
Lex,
Well I think it's wasted effort, but I do think KDE has a PR problem in general anyway. Which saddens me, as KDE is my preferred desktop!
Instead of focusing on issues 2+ years ago, KDE supporters should be driving the discussion on the KDE of the present (and future).
Sometimes I am in discussion with people that let slip a fallacy, but you have to just let it go or you look too defensive/combative AND you distract from the overall main point.
Nerds are great at arguing out technicalities, not so great at PR. (Since one is primarily facts and one is primarily lies!)
#3 by Andy Crouch on April 11, 2010 - 8:17 pm
Many thanks for your comments.
My thinking with how KDE (and GNOME) are perceived boils down to the distributions. Should end users have to follow mailing lists and planet sites to find out whether the latest code is stable or not? No, I don't think they should. The distributions reap the work that any open source project produces (and yes before people rant at me I know they also contribute and sponsor work). The least they should do is try and provide new code before it is ready and more details about the packages they are releasing.
I am no ubuntu fan but perhaps the fact they are willing to no be pressured in to being bleeding edge should be a good example.
#4 by Jason on April 12, 2010 - 12:32 am
Andy,
Thank you for your comments!
I agree with you that most user perception is shaped by the distribution. I understand Kubuntu takes a lot of flak for what is perceived to be a less-than-optimal presentation of KDE to the end user.
I don't really have a big complaint with KDE in Kubuntu – that is my main desktop set up in fact – but I am always interested in a better experience.
If there is a distro that has a better KDE presentation, I'd certainly be glad to hear about it!
#5 by Lex on April 17, 2010 - 5:56 am
Jason,
You may want to try Arch Linux, as it comes completely bare boned and you install KDE without any 3rd party modifications. Be ready for a bit of tinkering with a couple of config files to install the base system (about 4 files in total).
#6 by Jason on April 17, 2010 - 8:45 am
Lex,
I tried Arch back in Dec. of 2008 and liked what I saw then. I will keep it in mind!
#7 by Denis on April 11, 2010 - 8:57 pm
Never understood why people after being dissapointed with KDE 4.x switch to Gnome or XFCE…. KDE 3.5.x is here still….. And is normal that in devekoping a new peace of soeftware, the software passes through a different fases, even when the software is marked stable, there is still room for improvement…. KDE is my choice and far more flexible that any other, still I use 3.5.x… Will switch to KDE 4 soon…
#8 by Jason on April 12, 2010 - 12:29 am
Denis,
Thank you for your comments!
In my personal case, I was on GNOME attempting to switch to KDE – at the time I was more of the "get something besides GNOME" mentality than "get KDE" mentality. It would never have struck me to switch to an older version of a DE.
So, at least in my case that's why KDE 3.5 didn't really enter into it – my first serious exposure to KDE was 4.0.