kde

KDE – Kmail

I like kmail. It is the default mail client for KDE desktops. I have used Thunderbird for a long time now, but kmail is equivalent. So is evolution, which I use as well. Ultimately they all do the same thing; they are mail clients. Each one has comparable features, although they all look slightly different. I tend to use Thunderbird, but have grown an affinity for kmail. In particular, when Using Gnome I use Thunderbird, and when using KDE I use kmail.

KDE Desktop Option – Various Environments

Now that I can logout to GDM I have realized a couple of things. The first thing is that Ubuntu 9.10 does not support modification of GDM. This must be because of various changes / upgrades. But there is no option to install themes or modifications in any graphical way. I’m not working really hard to figure out how to modify things, but I’m not incredibly disappointed with the way things look or work.

I also installed KDE. It installs easy on Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

Then on the GDM it gives you a desktop session option. Toggle the drop down menu, and log in as normal to an alternative desktop environment. KDE is a nice change, I have been using Gnome for the longest time. Things work entirely different on KDE, and it will give me an opportunity to investigate something new.

VirtualBox Seamless Mode – Windows Programs on a Linux Desktop

VirtualBox comes with the seamless mode option that can be enabled from the machine menu in a guest OS. If Microsoft Windows is the guest OS, and seamless mode is enabled, you will see the Windows taskbar above your Gnome or KDE task bar. You will not see the Windows desktop. Anything you run from the Windows taskbar will be in a window directly on your Linux desktop. Seamless mode is for all practical purposes seamless. All your guest OS applications are not run on a separate window, they are run in their own independent windows on the host OS desktop. It is truly a seamless blending of two operating system. To enbale seamless mode with a hotkey, press your globally defined hotkey and “L”. Take seamless mode to the next level (screenshot available)

Users Managment in Kubuntu and KDE

In gnome you would go to your administration tab, and the users manager; but in KDE is a little different. First go to your KDE button, then system settings. Then click users management. Then click the button at the bottom right corner that says administrator mode. Then to add a user to a group click the groups tab. Select the group that you want to add a user to, and click modify. You will be able to add users to the group now. Overall the process of graphical User Management is a little different on KDE as compared to Gnome. A user comfortable with Gnome will definitely be thrown off at first.

Kubuntu – A Change from Gnome to KDE

For a year now I have been using a Gnome desktop environment. KDE is now in place and I’m finding it refreshing. Its mouse events trigger slightly different, and KDE seems to operate with increased performance on my particular HP DV2000 hardware. My favorite KDE applet it kpowersave; it allows for easy frequency scaling. I also like the look and feel of knetwork manager as compared to network manger for gnome. Overall KDE has a increasingly glass like interface and a luxurious overtone.