Introduction to KDE 4


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What is KDE?

KDE or the K Desktop Environment, is a network transparent contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations. KDE seeks to fulfill the need for an easy to use desktop for UNIX workstations, similar to desktop environments found on Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

With the release of KDE 4 major changes have been done inside this Desktop Environment. The desktop itself has been completely re-designed. It's now a desktop based on desktop widgets1. Plasma brings a new and exciting look to the K desktop. This wonderful tool is intended to give the desktop user an experience like never seen before on the desktop world. Desktops stop being 'static' places (usually with only a panel and a background), to being a place that provides the user access to common tasks and information (tasks previously performed by other programs).

Introducing the Plasma Desktop:

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The plasma desktop, showing various desktop widgets:

- Panel with application launcher, quick access, task bar, desktop pager, dashboard, system tray, new device notifier, digital clock, trashcan;

- Folder view;

- Notes viewer.

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The plasma desktop is all about desktop widgets, user can add/remove any desktop widget to his desktop making customization a task that can be performed with only a couple of clicks. Even panels are now in the form of desktop widgets, and can be added/removed just like any other desktop widget. Absolute control over the desktop by the user is the end result of this approach. An extensive collection of desktop widgets comes bundled with plasma, others are available and many more will be done as the plasma desktop evolutes.

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One of the features that a user from previous KDE versions will notice is the new “K menu”. This menu has been completely re-designed (classic kmenu is still available for use). Programs, tasks, places are now better organized and are more intuitive for a first time user.

An advanced search box is at the top of the menu, this is a “smart” search tool. Type anything in it and it will find files, run programs, execute tasks,(...). All powered by an engine running on background that can even search inside files! You will get amazed on how smart this feature can be and how much time you can save using it. This feature is also available when right-clicking the desktop > “Run command...”

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This guide is based on my experience using KDE 4, and is very far from complete. Will be adding more information as we go along. As allways please feel free to add suggestions/comments/corrections to this guide.

1.Desktop widgets in plasma are also known as plasmoids, here for simplicity we will use the term desktop widget.

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Very nice (and needed) facelift for KDE. But, like stated before, I am too addicted to Gnome (and xfce). I would like to try it one day on a Live CD though. Any recommendations on a distro that runs it well?

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