You've been able to drag files around in remote view in Panic's Transmit for a long long time.

Great article. I am a huge KDE fan, and I have zero complains and only praise for you being fair.

I would add, that the problems and hiccups you allude to are almost all addressed in KDE 3.2, coming by January. We are starting to push back on the alpha quality stuff, and keep it out of the releases, but some of those pieces are needed, because they are the only thing doing that certain task.

Thanks,
B

Edited by author 12-02-2003 06:14 PM
Jay -- you're right! Thanks for the correction. My basic points stands, though -- it's better just to have a full-featured file manager that can work with remote servers. (By the way, I am chagrined to report that RBrowser also allows remote-host dragging. However, neither it nor Transmit nor Interarchy allow dragging files from one remote host to another.)

There is a 'simple' way to add sound to your FreeBSD server.
You can load the snd_pcm module, either during boot or while multiuser. Not the simplest way, but at least you don't have to recompile. Be aware that not all sound apps will work, but the KDE arts sound server will work as will KDE's sound apps.

I guess it isn't loaded by default because FreeBSD is intended to be a server, and why would a server need sound? :)

nice review. i have debian on my desktop and don't find recompiling kernels all that hard, i run kde aswell but i recently got an iBook G4 and i love it. it's cool to find the reverse perspective.

You can use KDE on OS X. It works just fine and I'm glad since I can't stand Finder.

You are also correct to complain about FreeBSD's font rendering. But this is because they don't configure it correctly. If you go to freetype.org, you can download the source. Just compile it and your fonts will be BETTER than on OSX.

Wonderful free Virtual Desktop manager ... very stable. Just works: http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/

FreeBSD has a (IMHO well deserved) reputation for being stabler and more secure than most (all?) popular Linux distributions. But it tends to be harder to install and possibly administer for the first-time user than most mainstream Linux distros (with the possible exception of Debian). Since the author is simply comparing MacOS with the GUI subsytem that is KDE, she would have come off with a more favorable impression if he installed something like Redhat 9.0 or its successor Fedora Core 1.

I myself hate GUI adminstration tools. But during my week or two fling with Redhat 9.0, I was actually able to do system configuration without once seeing the command prompt. Oh sure, it's not a *BSD. But it's Unix'y enough, especially when you don't have to do commandline stuff.

Edited by author 12-02-2003 10:48 PM
Thanks for a very balanced and insightful piece. I myself am not an expert, but can get around my KDE (Mandrake Linux) box quite well. Still, I have to admit I had to try out a couple features you pointed out, i.e, pasting text directly into a new file.
I agree that Konqueror is a standout. It was interesting, though, to hear you as a devout Mac user give some nice praise to the PDF printing and programmable keys of KDE.
I am also grateful for the fine contributions the safari folks have been making back to KDE. Thanks again.

along with Just works: http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/ as virtual desktop manager, I use http://www.pth.com/PTHPasteboard/ which I imagine has similar functionality to Klipper?

This is a very objective and fair review. Since so many people get into emotionally heated debates about their favorites OS (especially among Mac, Linux, and Unix users), it's refreshing to read something so balanced. I myself use Debian GNU/Linux most of the time, though some of my friends have Apple computers with OS X. It's nice for once not to be harangued by a Mac user, but to get a balanced review of FreeBSD/KDE with both positive and negative comparisons to OS X.

What a great article. My Mac hardware is getting a bit long in the tooth these days, and I've converted my boxes to KDE and Yellow Dog Linux. I really like OS X, but KDE is a great place to get work done.

I understand your reasons for choosing Free BSD, but you might have enjoyed a more convenient transition pulling one of the cushy boxed Linux distros. I run KDE on SUSE 9.0 on my x86 boxes. It's nice to start the DVD-based install and have everything "just working" an hour later. SUSE's installer would also have set up your CF reader and printer with little fuss, and the fonts look great.

If you want a similar look-and-feel to OS X, try MOSFET's "Liquid" theme for KDE. Nice drop shadows, semi-transparent menus, and widgets that will make Mac users feel more at home.

Great to see Linux/BSD and Mac folks getting along. Both platforms have a lot to offer.

Thanks for all the replies and pointers.

I actually have used Desktop Manager (wsmanager), but neglected to mention it in the piece; since my rule is When In Doubt, Go Stock, I'm seeing how far Exposé goes in addressing screen management issues.

I've used PTHPasteboard, but right now it's in limbo, with no available download, as PTH has been absorbed into You Software.

Re Freetype, I did have it installed and with the right fonts (e.g. Bitstream Vera) type looked very nice.

And thanks for all the e-mail telling me how to configure my sound card :)

Edited by author 12-03-2003 12:37 PM
One point I caught: OS X Panther does allow you to set Application shortcuts now. Preferences-Keyboard Shortcuts (That's not too buried, is it?)

Apple's help:

Keyboard shortcuts allow you to quickly perform tasks by pressing keys on the keyboard. You can assign your own keyboard shortcuts to perform menu commands in any Mac OS X application or in the Finder. This may be useful if, for example, one of the "global" shortcuts, which works the same in most applications, is used by one application for a different purpose. In this case, you can assign it a different key combination.

When you restart the application, the new shortcut appears in the application's menu. (italics mine)

If you want to go back to the default application shortcuts, click Restore Defaults. This returns all the keyboard shortcuts to their original key combinations.

If you use the KDE desktop on OS X, does it actually exist in a window and do you get seamless integration with OS X's file system?

Edited by author 12-03-2003 02:01 PM
Re shortcuts -- KDE apps allow you to set shortcuts from within the application itself, and they take effect immediately. Also, to use Apple's shortcut feature, you have to type (!) the exact text of the menu item in question.

I leave #17 to somebody who has actually installed KDE on OS X, but it wouldn't be much use if the answers weren't Yes and Yes. I doubt you can drag files between the Finder and Konqueror, though.