The final release of KDE 3.3, an open-source Linux desktop environment, is due in a few days and will give users greatly improved email facilities.
KDE is a popular desktop client for commercial Linux vendors with some, such as Novell's SUSE, offering it as their default desktop.
Chris Howells, a KDE developer, says that with this new release, KDE is strengthening its position against Microsoft.
"There has been a complete replacement of email to make it more like Outlook and Exchange Server, as this is one of biggest things stopping people migrating from Microsoft to KDE," says Howells. "For example, KDE 3.3 has a new program, Kontact, which combines all the programs into one interface -- like Microsoft Outlook."
Howells says that one area in which KDE still falls behind Windows is multimedia support, but this should be addressed in the next release, version 3.4. Other future improvements are due to be discussed at the KDE Community World Summit 2004, which will take place in Stuttgart from 21 to 29 August. Howells predicts that KDE 3.4 will be ready in the next 12 to 18 months.
Howells says KDE has various advantages over Windows, Microsoft's desktop counterpart, including fewer security problems, more flexibility and greater internationalisation -- the last release of KDE was released in approximately 50 languages. A Microsoft spokeswoman told ZDNet UK that at the moment Window XP supports 25 languages and that there are no plans to increase this number.
For more details on the new version of KDE 3.3, click here.
Talkback
Closes in? It surpassed it a while ago....
KDE 3.x has more inherent functionality and usability than WinXP ever dreamed of.
Those end users (from execs to secretaries to line workers) who come through our two day class are often heard saying, "Darn, I can't do that on Windows."
Nick
Ioni Corporation
Exactly. KDE comes with way more things than windows. Windows doesn't come with Outlook by the way.
Kontact is not new with KDE 3.3 and the next version of KDE will be 4.0, not 3.4. KDE 3.3 doesn't provide any special new e-mail facilities. Admittedly, Kontact bears a resemblance to Outlook, but how does it look like it's connecting to Exchange? How are they competing with Windows? KDE is already a more capable desktop environment and easier to use, but it targets Linux users, not Windows (or, more properly, Microsoft Explorer) users.
I, for one, am waiting for a couple of features from KDE:
1) A browser that lets programs install from the Internet without my knowledge or consent
2) Buffer Overflow via open TCP/IP ports
3) Ability to run programs out of the Internet Temporary Files cache
4) Desktop inexplicably linked to Internet Browser
5) Support of myriad spyware and adware programs available
6) Removal of the popup blocker from the browser
7) An insecure, bloated, hackable eMail client integrated into the OS
Until KDE gets their act together, they're never gonna be as good as Windows!
The only problem is - why they are trying to be like MS in the first place!! I think that they should do things differnetly. Untill then pepole will use MS because they have more comrcial programs to choose from and and look and fill of MS is way better then the KDE. In some respects KDE even gone backward. Why not complitly intergrate the OS with the internet (not in a buggy ways like MS), and then who cares about the xwindows that you are using and the apps that you are running. Is that the reason that MS went after netscape in the first place..
I've come to realize that whether Linux creates an even better desktop (already is IMO) than microshaft, we will not be seeing any real change in the percentage of desktop usage until the big players in 3rd party win software start writing for linux. Corps cannot just dump their multi millions in proprietary front end software for the the benefits of the linux operating system. I see it day in and day out. The average windows users I come into contact with cannot manage to fix a path statement to a desktop shortcut when a drive letter has been added let alone learn another operating system. Owners of these businesses are no better. They so heavily rely on this software that they know the software's support numbers by heart. It's not that Linux isn't a better operating system. But exactly when are the big 3rd party software venders going to start porting their high end and expensive proprietary apps to Linux. We don't even have simple programs that replace what is needed yet.