KDE 4.3 is here

More RAM Scotty, I need MORE RAM!!!

"KDE 4.x is the only major Linux desktop that I'm not happy running on PCs with 512MBs of RAM."

Whow, is that the truth! Split my time on identical computers today, one running 3.5.10, the other 4.3 (Kubuntu--kept 4 windows open all day: Thunderbird, Firefox, Konsole, Amarok. Several Samba shares. Used other apps, as needed). Glad to say that 4.3 was stable all day, but at the end of the day memory usage climbed steadily and there were some noticeable lags when switching between apps. So, before shutting down at day's end 'free -m' reported: 4.3: 645Mb, 3.5.10: 232 Mb.

So, if glitz grabs ya', 4.3 can be fun (who doesn't like bubbles on their desktop!), but there wasn't anything that I could do better with it compared to 3.5.x. --AA

KDE 4.3 now on two of my systems

Yesterday, as I heard of the KDE 4.3 announcement, I upgraded my Mandriva Cooker, knowing that I already had KDE 4.2.98 or a version near that number, meaning that it was already very close to the final KDE 4.3 form. I knew it worked, so I wanted to see if Mandriva Cooker had 4.3 yet. It did. 2009.0 and 2009.1 also have sites available where you can get Mandriva releases upgraded to KDE 4.3.

What really excited me, though, was when I looked at the KDE site and noticed that KDE 4.3 would be in Debian Sid. So I went over to my sidux system, which has a pure set of Debian Sid repositories that are fast and regionally local, and I did a download upgrade, and sure enough, all of the packages that I wanted for KDE 4.3 were there.

I checked the packages to be sure that there were no X server tweaks that would break X for me. Comfortable that there were none, I then upgraded the system without restarting the X server, but I did the upgrade while using XFCE on the desktop.

Once complete, I logged out of XFCE (which, by the way, is also exceptionally fine - and FAST - on my sidux system). Then I logged into KDE 4.3, customized it a bit more from my previous 4.2.4 setup, and away I went.

I am pleased to see that Konqueror, among other things, shows more improvement over the version in 4.2.4. It is not keeping pace with the hottest browsers right now, but this version is better than any previous one I've seen, and I can use it as an alternate browser, especially if I am working in a Personal Information Manager (PIM), an RSS (syndicated news reader), or some other tightly integrated KDE application. At least I do not HAVE to copy and paste links into my other browsers, I can just use Konqueror and bring them up quickly.

The menus, which have been a big complaint in early KDE releases, have more flexibility. The appearance has additional new features. But the two things most important that can now be found in KDE 4.3 are stability and performance. I have not encountered a single event or quirk that has disrupted my work in any way, shape, or form, and I have now been using KDE 4.3 final for nearly twenty four hours, plus I have many more hours with it logged on earlier test versions and the previous release, 4.2.4. I am comfortable that the team has this project nicely under control now.

I think the three monthly maintenance updates are going to further add to the confidence level with this release, then the KDE 4.4 release next January will begin to consider additional new functionality.

This can finally truly be called release software! I would call KDE 4.0 a prototype, KDE 4.1 a Beta Test, KDE 4.2 a Release Candidate, with a solid release candidate in 4.2.4, and KDE 4.3 a true release. This is as solid as you will find in commercially released software, and arguably better. It has been beaten upon, tested, criticized, modified, fixed, redesigned, and completed over the past three years or so, and it is finally ready.

I think that in the next reader's poll for Desktop Environment of the Year held by Linux Questions, KDE is going to pull down the win. Check me out on this prediction early next year.

Just installed Arch Linux

Just installed Arch Linux (for the first time) and KDE 4.3, so far I like it. It is very stable, not like previous KDE 4.x versions. Oh, and it looks like QT apps are a bit faster than GTK ones. And it doesn't feel bloated to me, right now I'm running FireFox, Kopete and Pacman, it only uses 320mb of RAM, while Ubuntu alone eats up that much of RAM. If everything goes well I'll stick with KDE :)

Eyecandies

I think KDE 4.3 is the Ultimate Suprior Desktop on Linux when challenge cames to Eye Candy. I love the Style and Behavior of KDE.

But for Performance and Customization I'll still go with XFCE (even LXDE).

K.I.S.S. : KDE 4.X just ain't there

Since OLVWM and onwards through to today, I've tried hard to stick to the "simple" and configurable desktop; KDE 3.X kept to that logic, as did Gnome, Enlightenment, WindowMaker and several others, however, with the advent of all the "garbage" that has been pushed onto the public with MS's approach, I personally feel that KDE 4.X has taken to that route. I don't want a confusing desktop - and in so saying, I have taken completely new users and tested functionality and usability of KDE 4.X and Gnome; results being that KDE 4.X was confusing and did not allow for them to do simple tasks quickly, it is not intuitive, and there is too much "fluff" to allow for the user to be productive. Gnome, on the other hand, was simple and clean enough for them to do what was needed quickly. As well, using KDE 3.X was similar in results to Gnome. I have pesonally tried to "like" KDE 4.X on my personal machines, but there is too much demand from the desktop itself to allow for me to do what I need to do quickly enough, and from my point of view, there is a serious lack of customisation and configuration; too much emphasis on "customisation OUR way"; I want to do it MY way. At least in KDE 3.X I *CAN* do much MY way and customise as I like. I still have to stick with Gnome for speed and overall ability to configure - especially on low resource machines and laptops. Keep KDE 3.X alive and as a fork, that's my opinion. Leave the clutter for those that like clutter.

KDE 3.x as fork?

That is a brilliant idea. A huge chunk of GNOME users today are ex-KDE users who were offended by KDE 4 anyways.