"While the industry is distracted by the ongoing tussle between Microsoft and OpenOffice.org over document formats, the KDE project is quietly preparing the next generation of its own office suite, KOffice, for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. KOffice 2.0, to be released sometime in the first half of 2008, will be cross platform like many other applications in the KDE suite built with the Qt4 GUI toolkit."
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Member since:2006-01-02
I agree. Tapping users and developers on Windows can help increase the quality and exposure of the KDE components. The proponents of Linux can then sell their kernel as a drop-in replacement behind the Qt API layer.
Having KDE and KOffice on Windows can also help to sell more commercial licenses for Qt, which would allow Trolltech to expand its efforts and have more power to help OSS.
I've always liked the K side of the fence better than the other one because it's a better-made product on the inside. This is likely because it is developed without too much corporate influence and politicking. It's more of a "true" open-source product, it seems.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2007-08-22
I agree.
It is really nice to have programs that run on multiple platforms. Why? Because some people will want to use the software but be unable to leave the platform, while others need a little time to transition and having the software on both platforms helps.
That's really part of the strength of F/OSS - you can run a lot of software on both Windows and Linux, Mac, or nearly any Unix. This makes F/OSS software a great platform for being able to transition between platforms. If you like Windows, fine you can use it. If you want to go to Linux or Mac, great we can help you get there.
Member since:2005-07-06
The new music notation feature for KOffice 2.0 was developed by a Mac developer under Mac OS X.
KHTML also attracted Mac developers (Apple itself). KHTML/WebKit improved a lot thanks to its development on Mac OS X (eg its Acid2 support).
Thanks to Mac developers KDE/KOffice gained important features. Now imagine a horde of Windows developers doing additional work KDE/KOffice.
Member since:2007-01-29
Member since:2005-07-06
I think this can be translated to "Microsoft Thinking" vs. "Open Thinking".
You have those two the wrong way around. The Microsoft thinking is to get developers to port applications to Windows in order to get users to stay there.
I love the fact that I will be able to run KDE apps on Windows, BSD and Linux because I have to run Windows at work and, on occasion, at home too.
If all the good applications are ported to Windows, what incentive does your work environment have to switching away from Windows? None. That's what people just don't get about this.
Edited 2007-10-10 10:50
Member since:2006-01-14
I'm not going to attempt to pass this off as some sort of fact that I can prove, because I can't. But, I truly believe the number one reason people can't, don't or won't switch to Linux from Windows is the applications.
I think the better question is, "If all of the good applications are ported to Windows, what's to stop someone from moving away from Windows? None. That's what people like you don't get about this."
Member since:
2006-01-14
[qouted from article]
People involved in the Linux and open source communities have often expressed conflicting views on whether free software on Windows benefits, or detracts from, the adoption of free operating systems, particularly on the desktop.
Kugler believes it is "hard to say" one way or another if KOffice 2.0 on Windows and Mac OS X will benefit KDE on Linux.
"For some, there is definitely less incentive to switch to free platforms, which is a pity," he said.
[/qouted from article]
I think this can be translated to "Microsoft Thinking" vs. "Open Thinking". The more open, the more adoption and therefore, the less platform dependent one becomes. How can that be bad? I love the fact that I will be able to run KDE apps on Windows, BSD and Linux because I have to run Windows at work and, on occasion, at home too.
Edited 2007-10-09 13:05