KDE4-widgets & multidesktops

[j-retired]

I am now beginning to understand why I can't understand the way KDE4 behaves.  Thanks to all the above contributers!  Now who's going to write an idiot's guide to making the whole thing misbehave the way I want it to?     .... or do I wait for KDE5?
I think the whole thing is a shame, because the basics are there, and work beautifully; once the bugs are sorted all we need is a good set of instructions.  (At least I need them, because I have no idea where 'widgets', 'plasmoids' and such have appeared from or why, or what they are supposed to achieve.)

j

[Old-Polack]

I am now beginning to understand why I can't understand the way KDE4 behaves.  Thanks to all the above contributers!  Now who's going to write an idiot's guide to making the whole thing misbehave the way I want it to?     .... or do I wait for KDE5?
I think the whole thing is a shame, because the basics are there, and work beautifully; once the bugs are sorted all we need is a good set of instructions.  (At least I need them, because I have no idea where 'widgets', 'plasmoids' and such have appeared from or why, or what they are supposed to achieve.)

j

Have you seen the KDE4 special edition or our magazine?

http://pclosmag.com/index.php/latest-mag/23-kde-4-sc-special-edition/download

[j-retired]

Interesting - just had a quick glance - must have a good read. Thanks for mentioning it!
Then see what I think afterwards!!!!

j

[Hawkeye]

Well people - seems that my post has gone 'somewhere' 
All been good reading thou so thanks for the 'extra' information and I must agree with j-retired (quote: I am now beginning to understand why I can't understand) regarding the confusion that seems to be prevalent with our new KDE4x - especially 'Plasma' - isn't it an exciting new world 

Nice desktop b/drop old-polack

Well can't mark this one solved (yet) thou those of you with 'free range icons' must be feeling better now that you have managed to 'round em up' 

 

[Was_Just19]

Right click the desktop. The top item in the menu is Create New with a menu of items that one should be able to create;

This menu shows if the display Activity is set to Folder View ......  a different menu shows if the display is set to Desktop.
In that case you get

Code: [Select]

Run Command
Add Widget
Add Panel
Activities
Lock Widgets
Lock Screen
Leave
Desktop Settings
Here the folder view appears to display (ordinary) icons of the content of the folder being displayed which may include icons for files or for links to launch applications.

The desktop view appears to have widget style 'icons'. By this I mean that the right click options are different. Those widget-style icons can be launchers or files also.

That is what it looks like from here.

I suspect that if one were to populate a Desktop (not Folder view) display with icons that they would not be moving about as described ......  I only have a few and have not seen them move, but have not done extensive testing.

I am gradually coming to use the Desktop View more as it more closely resembles the KDE3 setup - or so it appears to me - with the big attraction that the wallpapers can be different, and the icons on each can also be different.

Maybe those using Folder View might like to do a few tests to see how this setup behaves in your install .......

regards.

[exwintech]

Old-Polack - Gee, what a great way to "persuade" folk still on KDE-3.5 to Become Assimilated...

I opened that PDF in 3.5 - and scrolled about 3-4 pages - when my "high" CPU fans cut-in, as cores hit 60C, and the graphics card was well over 60C.....

Closed the PDF - let things cool-off - tried again - same result...

Opened the Booby-Trap PDF in KDE-4 in Virtual-Box - no probs. Also runs okay in Win-XP SP3 in V-Box...

Does the next thingy from KDE-4-Land Yell - "KDE-4 or Back to Windows, KDE-3 running Peasant-Swine!" - before blasting KDE-3 from the HDD and trying to install KDE-4 over Internet...?

Yes, I do realise that KDE-4 has different coding and magics - but that something made in it will behave like Something-Very-Nasty-Viroidal on Windows-Side - in an "Enemy" System - is Most Unpleasant....

Makes one very Uneasy. I was about to grab the new KDE-4-ised ISO and install it - as I do want to use the new apps...

I've run versions of KDE-4 in V-Box for months, trying to find a setup that resembles a Std Working Linux PC... And I'm brassed-of and bored-nauseous with the bloody thing - long before I have it infesting my HDD...

Yes, I've looked at Gnome and LXDE and the other pretenders.... Yeeerrccchhh....!

Maybe J-Retired is onto something... There are still so many problems for so many people regarding KDE-4 - just look at this PCLOS-Forum - maybe half of it about Linux - and the other half about KDE-4 hassles - that maybe it's best to try and bypass KDE-4 - until a total-revamp brings a Linux-Only KDE-5 along...

Raver stomps off - to wrap self in KDE-3-pattern Linus-Blanket - and sulk....... 

Regards, Dave.

[fraxinus]

There is some very useful information in this thread - not least regarding the difference on the KDE4 desktop between icons and widgets, and the significance thereof. This has led to confusion and (I'm afraid) amusement when I have had to try and explain it to people who have not used KDE before, and I think it is symptomatic of the complications that will hold KDE4 back from reaching a 'non-expert' audience.

Old-Polack's advice on how to set up a non-eye-candy KDE4 desktop that emulates KDE3 is very helpful.

I've run versions of KDE-4 in V-Box for months, trying to find a setup that resembles a Std Working Linux PC... And I'm brassed-of and bored-nauseous with the bloody thing - long before I have it infesting my HDD...

Yes, I've looked at Gnome and LXDE and the other pretenders.... Yeeerrccchhh....!

I too am 'shadowing' KDE4 in VirtualBox, to see how it is developing! My main workhorse desktop install remains KDE3.5. For new installs, I am currently using Gnome. A couple of years ago I never thought I would do this - not out of any disrespect for the DE, but I just didn't like it. However, I'm coming to the conclusion that it is not too bad! Certainly it seems a lot more configurable than I had thought, when you realise that many of the config. options are more deeply buried than on KDE. I have found it responsive and stable - even with a little compiz, which I have never touched on KDE.

I remain a KDE fan in my heart, and I hope one day to be 're-assimilated'!