I am wondering how successful others have been in using compiz or other managers in KDE4? I know I will probably be flamed for this statement, but I am not real crazy over the desktop changes.

Also, is the 3.5 base going to continue? It would be nice to see someone continue that as a fork. I would really like to see the 4.x programs usable on a 3.5 base, or an option to use the 3.5 desktop. And obviously it could be done since dolphin and some of the other new or improved programs will run within XFCE and Gnome

I didn't use any other WM as kwin itself so i can't say that much about it.

KDE3.5 will be around for some time from now. It won't get that many new features, but bugfixes.
But i don't tell something wrong when i say that no one will fork it, at least not the kde devs themselves. That would be too much work. But look around on this forum, there are already many threads about that, so you can get an idea.

Having the choice between KDE4 and KDE3 depends on which distro you choose, some decided at this point to stick to KDE4. But normally it is possible to run a KDE4 app on a different DE.

Regarding Compiz on KDE 4.x, it works seamlessly, except for an ugly mouse cursor when "resizing" a window.

just put the compiz fusion tray icon in your autostart manager (remove the --nostart tag)... thats it.. compiz and kde4 works great together..

though i like kwin better.. i dont like the idea of switching WMs while startup and kwin does a great job.. even with desktop effects.. have you seen 4.2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFjfk2AAn6s (jump to min. 7)

Thanks for the replies and tips. I'm not all that crazy about gadgets and widgets on the screen. Actually, I usually never see my desktop anyway because I keep my app's maxed. I just want the functionality I am used to with Compiz, and I want my AWN dock.

Dolphin is a good addition to linux, and I've been impressed with some of the other K4 programs. Time will tell...

frogimus wrote:I am wondering how successful others have been in using compiz or other managers in KDE4? I know I will probably be flamed for this statement, but I am not real crazy over the desktop changes.

There is a higher chance you will be flamed for not knowing what you're talking about . KWin has not changed much since 3.5 except for addition of compositing effects, so by 'desktop changes' you most probably mean Plasma, which has nothing to do with KWin (and as such replacing it with Compiz will not change anything about it either).

Also, is the 3.5 base going to continue? It would be nice to see someone continue that as a fork. I would really like to see the 4.x programs usable on a 3.5 base, or an option to use the 3.5 desktop. And obviously it could be done since dolphin and some of the other new or improved programs will run within XFCE and Gnome

Although there are people who talk about continuing 3.5, there is apparently nobody who would actually do it. But some distributions still ship KDE3.5 and, as you note, KDE4 applications are normally usable outside of KDE4, so there's no reason why they shouldn't work in KDE3 either.

Hmmm... well, Plasma is specifically what I wanted to get rid of. Looks like shutting it down completely renders the desktop useless. But on the bright side, restarting it makes it run much leaner

Well, as others already said you do not want to replace the WM (kwin) because it is not responible for the desktop or the panel.

But it is possible to use kicker or kdesktop in an KDE 4 session (or any other panel/desktop apps).

But well, there would be no big difference to just using KDE 3.5.10 together with the KDE 4 applications you want to use. (they all run very well with KDE 3 as a desktop)

So first: KDE 3 is still maintained by KDE and you will be able to get it for a few years from now. (not with every distro, except you compile on your own)

And you can use all KDE 4 apps within KDE 3 and you can use KDE3s panel or even gnomes panel in an KDE session.

And well take a look at KDE 4.2 from svn or the Beta 1 of KDE 4.2. It will allow to set a Folderview as Desktop Activity and so provide a "traditional desktop" with "real" Files/Icons on it. And the panel also got lots of improvments (Taskgrouping, multi row tasks, fixed systray, panel auto hiding an so on).

So maybe with KDE 4.2 you can live with plasma?