Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

[neotoxin1]

Ok, so i'm fairly new to linux in general, ive been using it for about 3 months now, I have it installed on all of my computers and im loving it I am using Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic and I have recently been experimenting with different DE's I have so far tired GNOME, KDE, and XFCE. I have to admit I love the way Gnome works and I love the way it Looks, but I do not like the lack of customization. KDE is starting to grow on me. I have it customized with Docky and I put my panel at the top etc... But now there are 2 things that are make or break for me in KDE.

1. In gnome I have all of my drives(fixed and removable) mounted on my desktop similar to OSX, I can not seem to do this in KDE, and the "device notifier widget" just wont cut-it.

2. I need my "Compiz config Settings Manager" The way Compiz works in KDE seems to be very different than the way it works in gnome, and I dont like it.

Now if I could just figure out how to get the "Ubuntu Software Center" and "synaptic Package Manager" I will more than likely switch. Please help.

[skunk]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

Now if I could just figure out how to get the "Ubuntu Software Center" and "synaptic Package Manager" I will more than likely switch. Please help.

synaptic works just fine under KDE. Just install it using your favorite package manager or from the CLI

sudo apt-get install synaptic

[Rog131]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

1. In gnome I have all of my drives(fixed and removable) mounted on my desktop similar to OSX, I can not seem to do this in KDE, and the "device notifier widget" just wont cut-it.

Earlier > Topic: desktop files

Shortly:
- As default the KDE 4 is using a device notifier (or manager) plasmoid to present the options for a new device.
- The plasmoid will show available actions play/rip/whatever... for a device.
- Some of the plasmoids have more options than the other.

With the > Mountoid it is possible to get the USB/CD/DVD/HD icons to the desktop

[img width=400 height=85]http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9628/horisontal.png[/img]

Now if I could just figure out how to get the "Ubuntu Software Center" and "synaptic Package Manager"

By installing the packages ? > Synaptic and the Kubuntu (Re: FAQ: Package Managers)

sudo apt-get --no-install-recommends install synaptic

or

sudo apt-get install synaptic

More > HOWTO find Kubuntu's manual / reference / guide / documentation / help

[Fintan]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

Just an extension on above.

Mountoid is in rog131's PPA's
In karmic or above:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:samrog131

Then search for it in synaptic->install.

Now it should be in your "Add Widgets" panel.

[neotoxin1]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

OK, Sorry I haven't replied back yet, ive been working like an animal this week. Anyway I am going to try mountoid as soon as im done typing this. And before I install synaptic using apt, I had a question, I installed KDE on-top of a existing Ubuntu install w/GNOME. So I already have synaptic and the ubuntu software center. How can I just create a shortcut in kickoff to my already existing installations of "synaptic" and "software center"?

I also now have 2 more questions. under default applications in the system settings, how do I set pidgin as default instant messenger? it only has "Kopete" to pick from in the list. and second I absolutely hate the kwin settings screen for compiz. I really want to use my "compiz config settings manager" that I use in GNOME. Because I have Compiz set-up exactly how I want it in gnome, and Those settings are just not possible in the default kde settings screen.

Thanks for everybodys help so far. much appreciated.

Edit: Ok so I got the "compiz config settings manager" running by typing "ccsm" in the termial. BUT...none of the settings seem to do anything!

Edit(again): Ok So I have my compiz problem solved beautifully. Under default applications I changed the Default window manager to "Compiz", restarted X, then ran "ccsm" in a terminal, enabled KDE compatibility, and its just been great from there. I was also able to select "metacity" which is gnomes window manager, it even used my gnome GTK+ theme it was kinda neat but it didnt look right.

[neotoxin1]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

I tried mountoid and it seems pretty cool, but it manages my floppy drive with a question mark icon, which kinda sucks, and it doesnt recognize removable media.

If I could just get the drive icons on my desktop just like in gnome I would be happy I have successfully gotten everything else to work.

[Rog131]

Re: Help Switching from Gnome to KDE

...but it manages my floppy drive with a question mark icon...

The Mountoid is a true KDE application - it has plenty of settings.

Right click the widget > Open Settings dialog > Pick the device > Change the Icon...

[img width=400 height=203]http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9961/truekdeapp.png[/img]

...and it doesnt recognize removable media.

The Mountoid is using the fstab. The > Topic: desktop files has short example with with an USB device + more links.