The KDE desktop environment is going cross-platform with support for the Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. In addition to porting the core KDE libraries and applications, developers are also porting popular KDE-based software like the Amarok audio player and the KOffice productivity suite.
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Member since:2006-12-28
I think I speak for many when asking 'what are you waffling about?'
Seriously, if you have a point to make you could try by actually explaining what it is your trying to say.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you have a hart felt and probably even valid point, it's just really hard to figure out what that possible could be.
Member since:2007-02-17
I say that because I believe that anyone that falls for the GNU/Linux charade are pretty much followers, little robots, like Moonies in a way.
Every OS has many parts, many components. Just because the GNU libraries were used in Linux, they were also many other contributors to its development, not just GNU.
WTF??
GNU has nothing at all to do with Linux.
Linux is a kernel.
http://kernel.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel
GNU is a whole range of utilities that make up a significant portion of the OS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Project
http://www.gnu.org/
This is GNU software:
http://directory.fsf.org/GNU/
(Note: there is no claim at all to the Linux kernel being made here).
GNU software makes up approximately 28% of a typical GNU/Linux distribution. The Linux kernel itself is about 3%
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
GNU has its own kernel (but no-one uses it much):
http://directory.fsf.org/project/hurd/
There is also such a thing as GNU/Solaris:
http://www.nexenta.org/os
... the point is you can make up a working GNU system without the Linux kernel and still have something useful, but Linux without GNU is nothing.
Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion, I suppose.
Here is an opposing one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy
Sadly, a kernel by itself gets you nowhere. To get a working system you need a shell, compilers, a library etc. These are separate parts and may be under a stricter (or even looser) copyright. Most of the tools used with linux are GNU software and are under the GNU copyleft. These tools aren't in the distribution - ask me (or GNU) for more info.
You yourself said: "Every OS has many parts, many components." I agree. I would also point out that in any GNU/linux distribution, the biggest single piece by a long way is the GNU software that is included.
And now for the truly corny bit (which at least has the one redeeming feature that it shows the relative sizes of things):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gnu-and-penguin-color.png
Edited 2008-01-24 12:08 UTC
Member since:2006-12-16
wtf? The FSF was successful before Linux was a twinkle in Linus' eye. That's for starters.
FSF people no more jump from bridges than Apple or Microsoft customers/users do. It's in the human nature to copy others. So, how do you lay the blame for that solely at the feet of the FSF?
It's ungrateful bastards like you who bash the FSF that really make me irate. I'll say the same to you, as I say to others - if you don't like the FSF, remove any FSF originated software from your system and go and find a nice replacement. Have fun.
This new ex Windows brigade that has hit Linux in the past few years is the worst thing to happen to Linux imho. The Linux community could have well and truly done without you lot.
Dave
Member since:2007-03-29
However, these almost certainly weren't kRandomUtility and kYetAnotherTetrisClone.
The killer apps, which usually win new believers over are those like Firefox, Thunderbird + Lightning, OpenOffice, GNU Emacs, Scribus (which depends on Qt, but not on KDE).
I cannot think of any KDE based application that would be impressive enough to be used for proselytizing Windows users. Maybe I've missed something, as I am mostly using GNOME or IceWM.
Member since:2005-10-13
I think Amarok is by far the most impressive KDE app that could pull in new users. However, a lot of people are tied to iTunes or Windows Media through DRM.
K3B is very nice, but most people get free burning software with their computer, and that wouldn't really cause someone to switch IMO.
KOffice has the potential to be very impressive, but it isn't quite there yet. I know they're planning big things for the 2.0 release.
Kontact is another app that has the potential to replace Outlook, but isn't quite there yet.
And I think Konqueror/Dolphin may end up being popular on Windows/Mac as well. Konqueror may be the 1st good Webkit browser on Windows (Safari sucks there)
Member since:2005-07-06
I'd say you have missed lots, the quality and diversity of KDE applications are impressive. Some of the applications in the default KDE modules are good examples, like the kdeedu module with applications like Marble, Kalzium and KStars. Koffice shows lots of promise, Krita is one application going to raise eyebrows on windows users. Kate are by many considered a better editor than Emacs and Kontact/KMail/KOrganizer compares very well against similar applications.
In addition you have the range of high quality 3rd party KDE applications. Applications like TaskJuggler, digiKam, KTorrent, Semantik, Tellico and BasKet Note Pads.
Member since:
2007-02-17
Likewise, I too would not have tried GNU/Linux if it were not for other FOSS programs having been ported to Windows.
Running the FOSS programs on Windows and watching the rapid improvement from version to version for programs like Mozilla/Firefox and OpenOffice, and also being exposed at the same time to "freeware" which was actually just "adware" (mostly download managers) ... I became curious as to what exactly was the essential difference between "free software" and "freeware", and how to tell them apart (so as not to waste my time with any more adware/spyware/nagware). That was exactly how I became aware of Linux, the GPL and FOSS in the first place.
From that point it was just a small step forward to switch the entire software stack on my computers over to FOSS software.
That experience almost defined the word "liberation" to me.