I decided to try out KDE4 once again since I was disappointed in the previous versions. This time it was Ver 4.1 - Some nice improvements but after 1 week, some mixed feelings. I list my concerns, and issues I've discovered below. This was a fresh KDE4 install, no upgrade!
1. KDE4 install should include Plasmoids and the extra gear stuff.
I spent hours researching KDE4 before diving in. Some guides to install and hype about plasma is what I found. Nothing explains or informs anyone about what plasmoids are, how you enable them or that you have to install extra packages in order to get them to work. In fact many forum postings are about just that. - How do I get the xxxx Widget to work? These should be included by default in the KDE4 package!
2. Same old problems of packages required in Ubuntu.
Why must all the other packages be included in a KDE4 install like Vocabulary trainer, Graphics and multimedia utils that should be scraped? I also don't use KMail yet try and remove any of these garbage disk wasters and you are forced to remove the Kubuntu4 desktop. Break the packages up to allow more granular install options. I use a best of breed approach in that I run Firefox yet the option to set it as a default app doesn't stick, konqueror still opens. I can't remove Kmail or I lose the interface because I use Evolution. It has a backup capability and everything is stored in 1 place unlike Kmail that has no backup capability, drops data in multiple locations and is a general pain for backup efforts. I don't use that archaic IRC client, Kvkbd, knotes, etc yet try and remove stuff like this individually, you can't. Break the packages apart so one may tailor an install to hteir liking please?
NOW TO THE ISSUES I'VE FOUND
--- KDE4 System performance and utilization is terrible.
In KDE3 I can run MythTV, Evolution, Firefox, Yakuake, Gimp and loads other stuff and system utilization is less than 20%. In KDE4, with nothing running and only MythTV open, XORG is pegged at 100% system utilization. What's up with that? Same Video driver......
--- Weird.... With the Analog Clock widget on the desktop, startup Open Office (any app). Watch the clock. The graphic scambles and changes with every second tick.
--- Put more than a few Widgets on the desktop and open a Konsole or Yakuake, then open Firefox and switch back to Konsole or Yakuake, the screen goes white and the desktop locks up requiring you to restart the xserver.
--- If you ever have to restart xserver, your desktop is completely scrambled upon login requiring you to reset your entire desktop up all over again, even with the Widgets locked.
--- Scroll through the menu bar (Application Launcher), the graphics scramble and distort for a second but return. Rendering problem?
--- Sound is HORRIBLE!!!! It's faint, muffled and lacks the mixer controls that KDE3 discovered and provided in order to fine tune your sound. Half the mixer options are not present. Also, which sound backend is KDE4 using? ALSA, ARTS or PulseAudio? Geez, just when things get going good, we shoot ourselves in the foot and rip it all out and start over. Once step forward.... 10 steps back?....
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I echo the many other issues many have already voiced. I understand both sides however, the stability issues and incorrect reports of system utilization and performance of KDE4 over all others is incorrect. KDE4 IS A RESOURCE HOG, as much as Microcraps latest. The lack of required basic features over eyecandy is alarming. It's completely opposite of everything that Open Source and Linux has stood for and strived to achieve.
I recommend that anyone looking to adopt the KDE4 interface be well prepared and throughly research it first BEFORE upgrading. You mileage will vary of course. My concern is with Intrepid. I hope we are not locked into KDE4 or if that happens, it may be time to look around at another distro.
KDE4 is not ready for prime time and with developers insistence that it is and a refusal to acknowledge these issues is disappointing. BEFORE the eyecandy, fix the flaws, restore the basic customization features, put the polish back into the interface and THEN..... add the eyecandy. You might find user acceptance and less postings with that approach.
1. KDE4 install should include Plasmoids and the extra gear stuff.
I spent hours researching KDE4 before diving in. Some guides to install and hype about plasma is what I found. Nothing explains or informs anyone about what plasmoids are, how you enable them or that you have to install extra packages in order to get them to work. In fact many forum postings are about just that. - How do I get the xxxx Widget to work? These should be included by default in the KDE4 package!
2. Same old problems of packages required in Ubuntu.
Why must all the other packages be included in a KDE4 install like Vocabulary trainer, Graphics and multimedia utils that should be scraped? I also don't use KMail yet try and remove any of these garbage disk wasters and you are forced to remove the Kubuntu4 desktop. Break the packages up to allow more granular install options. I use a best of breed approach in that I run Firefox yet the option to set it as a default app doesn't stick, konqueror still opens. I can't remove Kmail or I lose the interface because I use Evolution. It has a backup capability and everything is stored in 1 place unlike Kmail that has no backup capability, drops data in multiple locations and is a general pain for backup efforts. I don't use that archaic IRC client, Kvkbd, knotes, etc yet try and remove stuff like this individually, you can't. Break the packages apart so one may tailor an install to hteir liking please?
NOW TO THE ISSUES I'VE FOUND
--- KDE4 System performance and utilization is terrible.
In KDE3 I can run MythTV, Evolution, Firefox, Yakuake, Gimp and loads other stuff and system utilization is less than 20%. In KDE4, with nothing running and only MythTV open, XORG is pegged at 100% system utilization. What's up with that? Same Video driver......
--- Weird.... With the Analog Clock widget on the desktop, startup Open Office (any app). Watch the clock. The graphic scambles and changes with every second tick.
--- Put more than a few Widgets on the desktop and open a Konsole or Yakuake, then open Firefox and switch back to Konsole or Yakuake, the screen goes white and the desktop locks up requiring you to restart the xserver.
--- If you ever have to restart xserver, your desktop is completely scrambled upon login requiring you to reset your entire desktop up all over again, even with the Widgets locked.
--- Scroll through the menu bar (Application Launcher), the graphics scramble and distort for a second but return. Rendering problem?
--- Sound is HORRIBLE!!!! It's faint, muffled and lacks the mixer controls that KDE3 discovered and provided in order to fine tune your sound. Half the mixer options are not present. Also, which sound backend is KDE4 using? ALSA, ARTS or PulseAudio? Geez, just when things get going good, we shoot ourselves in the foot and rip it all out and start over. Once step forward.... 10 steps back?....
------------------------------------------------------------------
I echo the many other issues many have already voiced. I understand both sides however, the stability issues and incorrect reports of system utilization and performance of KDE4 over all others is incorrect. KDE4 IS A RESOURCE HOG, as much as Microcraps latest. The lack of required basic features over eyecandy is alarming. It's completely opposite of everything that Open Source and Linux has stood for and strived to achieve.
I recommend that anyone looking to adopt the KDE4 interface be well prepared and throughly research it first BEFORE upgrading. You mileage will vary of course. My concern is with Intrepid. I hope we are not locked into KDE4 or if that happens, it may be time to look around at another distro.
KDE4 is not ready for prime time and with developers insistence that it is and a refusal to acknowledge these issues is disappointing. BEFORE the eyecandy, fix the flaws, restore the basic customization features, put the polish back into the interface and THEN..... add the eyecandy. You might find user acceptance and less postings with that approach.
HAHA, Don't even try. Installing just ONE pegs one CPU to 100% for the duration of the session. 
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