One thing that i have thought about is about how many of you guys use advanced desktop features, specially when the new KDE4 is saying that i reinvents the usage of the desktop.

I personally have tried compiz stuff but found that i couldn't be bothered by remembering shortcuts and functions and always reverting back 2 the classical way of task manger on a bottom bar.

And in that category i would put:
* most of compiz functions
* superkaramba stuff
* dock-like bars
* plasma stuff
* opera mini programs
*and all such features that i forgotten 2 mention here/ore that im unaware of.

So how do you guys use the desktop and which advanced features are you using?

It doesn't work very well, but sometimes I will load the Chuck Norris Facts Dashboard Widget in Plasma just for kicks. :shade:

jrick wrote:It doesn't work very well, but sometimes I will load the Chuck Norris Facts Dashboard Widget in Plasma just for kicks. :shade:

Hmm lokes like somthing 2 pas the time, but one thought ocours directly ,wy have it on the desktop when you could have it on a webpage somwere?

for me i almoust always use maximized windows thats why i never got the drift of karambas as you would never se them..

that said i have one instaled that would give me some temp info 4my cpu that kima dose but truth 2 be toald i havent looked at it at some time now..

Maybe it's because I used GNOME for so long before switching to KDE 4, but I honestly don't use much beyond the basics on a regular basis. I like to keep a weather plasmoid on my desktop, but that's about it.

I don't use much out of the ordinary, but i really should add the planet RSS feed to RSSNOW... which is ( apart from a folderview and KWin 3d effects ) the only 'advanced' features i use.

bcooksley wrote:I don't use much out of the ordinary, but i really should add the planet RSS feed to RSSNOW... which is ( apart from a folderview and KWin 3d effects ) the only 'advanced' features i use.

Hmm i do realy feel cripled by many carambas/plasmoids/applets stuff, like rss- then i cant just not compare it 2 akregator wich is the is the only rss-reader that realy works -the golden feuture is the built in browser.. althought i think i can make thunderbird a real contender with some addons:P

I use some compiz functions b/c it feels so good! A very useful is the "Present Windows" feature. If I am working in a virtual machine I just have to move my mouse in the upper left corner I can switch back to my KDE desktop.

I also work most of the time in maximized windows. But if I need some informations from my desktop I use the "Show Dashboard" function.

Cheers, m.

1cewolf wrote:Maybe it's because I used GNOME for so long before switching to KDE 4, but I honestly don't use much beyond the basics on a regular basis. I like to keep a weather plasmoid on my desktop, but that's about it.

well im a kde3* user since a couple of years and i have only bean using mini kicker applets on auto hidden panels. as i alwys use fullscrean apps and no virtual desktops.

when using KDE 3.5.x my whole (and only) desktop was a custom superkaramba theme, a combination of a system monitor/feedback/app launcher; now I still use some parts of my superkaramba theme and the folder view plasmoid. no other 'advanced' desktop features

It is strange that on KDE forum, you haven't put KWin composite but compiz in the poll.

I use some more advanced Plasma stuff and the KWin's effects extensively - present windows most of all.

Trying not to use karamba applets and docks... at least I haven't found any worth of using yet. (no, having a mac-like something is not a feature by itself...)

ivan wrote:It is strange that on KDE forum, you haven't put KWin composite but compiz in the poll.

I use some more advanced Plasma stuff and the KWin's effects extensively - present windows most of all.

Trying not to use karamba applets and docks... at least I haven't found any worth of using yet. (no, having a mac-like something is not a feature by itself...)

ohh well i havent looked into them so thats why i dident thiks of them and i set number of alternativs before i fomulted the poll alternativs so:P and why i havent looked in to kwins new featurs is beackuse i run kde3 and only run kde4 for testing purposes:P so sorry again:P

and an idea that youst poped out of my head would be 4 kde4 to make a deal whit some keabord/mouse manufactor to make a desktop whif predifined buttons for adwavnced kwin/plasma effects.. by designing the mouse/keabord for advanced effects thy would be even more usable and the step for new users to use them would be lowerd to.

Ok, was just saying (at least I treated the poll as saying Kwin composite )

Your idea is valid, but I'm not sure that KDE would have the influence for something like that

ivan wrote:Ok, was just saying (at least I treated the poll as saying Kwin composite )

Your idea is valid, but I'm not sure that KDE would have the influence for something like that

hehe good then:) creative entepratation is always good:)(or not always but..)

Hmm yeah i se the problem, but they could make the proposal at least to some manufacturors, and i do think if they make a good solid boord or mouse then i think thers some market for it..

The panels are the most important part of the desktop environment for me. Most of the time my desktop is covered by applications, I don't want it cluttered up with clocks and monitors and **** because there's no point.

The more control I can squeeze out of the panel the better. The more useful things I can stick there, the better.

After that, keyboard shortcuts matter and not making programs look like garbage are important.

admoore wrote:The panels are the most important part of the desktop environment for me. Most of the time my desktop is covered by applications, I don't want it cluttered up with clocks and monitors and **** because there's no point.

The more control I can squeeze out of the panel the better. The more useful things I can stick there, the better.

After that, keyboard shortcuts matter and not making programs look like garbage are important.

yeah for me 2. panels that is autohidden is a necicity for basick system helth info,maybe weater,serch button,and aplications staters.

thats pretty m,ouch my kneads for other panels besides my min bottom panel whit taskbars menu bottuon clock and systray werry windows like:P

keabord shoutcuts i use almoust non besides ctrl v-c-x and in terminals i use my print button that resides besides alt gr and ctrl on the right side to paste in terminals.

but thats the extent of shoutcuts i use as i cant rember any:P