Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Open source

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

By Nick Heath January 19, 2009, 10:14 PM PST

Image
1
of 9

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

The latest version of the KDE desktop environment, mostly used on Linux, arrived last week (4.2 RC1), with the final product due on 22 January. ZDNet Australia‘s Alex Serpo had a peek inside to see what this overhaul offers.nnn

First things first, here you can see we have installed KDE 4.1.96 (RC2). We did so by installing Kubuntu 8.10, adding the developer repository, updating and then restarting.n

nKubuntu is simply the Ubuntu OS with the KDE desktop rather than the GNOME desktop — which normally comes with the Ubuntu distro.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

The KDE desktop interface is called “Plasma”, a term roughly equivalent to the “Aero” interface in Windows Vista. This is what it looks like.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

With 4.2, the KDE desktop has seen a number of improvements, including upgrading the taskbar to include multiple rows, and the taskbar can now auto hide. It can also be made huge and ugly, as you see here.n

nWhat struck us about the new KDE desktop environment is its remarkable similarity to the Windows 7 beta taskbar. Convergent evolution?n

nAs you can see RC1 is still not bug-free, we presume this grey box is meant to be a preview window. Interestingly, we saw a similar bug when looking at the Windows 7 beta.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

Dolphin, the file explorer, now allows you to zoom and supports previews of files in toolbars.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

Need to pop away from your desk briefly, and happen to be working on something sensitive? In KDE you can lock your desktop with just a single click.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

Konqueror, KDE’s default web browser, is now faster in 4.2 RC1. We still prefer Firefox 3, and we are still waiting for the official version of Chrome for Linux due in the middle of this year.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

KDE offers a range of great desktop widgets, which can be installed with a few clicks. We’re particularly fond of the calculator and dictionary widgets.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

The KDE “K Menu” (the equivalent of the Windows Start Bar) is intuitive and easy to use, we always found it handy that the search bar will search both locally installed programs and the web.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

KDE makes managing USB devices easy. This view allows you to view and manage devices with only a few clicks.n

nCredit: Alex Serpo/ZDNet.com.au

  • Open source
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1

    Your email has been sent

Share: Gallery: Desktop Linux KDE 4.2 RC1
Image of Nick Heath
By Nick Heath
Nick Heath is a computer science student and was formerly a journalist at TechRepublic and ZDNet.
  • Account Information

    Contact Nick Heath

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Nick's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Automation specialist

    PURPOSE Recruiting an automation specialist with the right combination of technical expertise and experience will require a comprehensive screening process. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides a flexible framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY TRAITS ...

    Published:  March 27, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 28, 2023, 12:48 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Cybersecurity engineer

    PURPOSE Recruiting a cybersecurity engineer with the right combination of technical and industry experience will require a comprehensive screening process. This hiring kit from TechRepublic Premium provides a flexible framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY TRAITS ...

    Published:  March 27, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 28, 2023, 12:18 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Business information analyst

    PURPOSE A large segment of internal and external modern business now takes place on computers, tablets and other mobile devices. The information technology infrastructure that has sprung up around that business can be daunting in its scope. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ...

    Published:  March 26, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 28, 2023, 12:51 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Grant writing guide

    PURPOSE This grant writing guide from TechRepublic Premium will help you identify a grant that fits your idea, build a team to help you compile a proposal, and set a timeline to meet the application deadline. From the guide: BEFORE YOU START This list of steps will help the grant writing process go more smoothly. ...

    Published:  March 26, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 27, 2023, 6:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice