Hi.
I use an old version of KDE (3.5) and simply LOVE IT.
I have dual boot with windows XP and prefer a system that looks similar in both OSystems. KDE 3.5 gives me that.

Add that I have problems in my eyes and need things to look BIG on the screen, otherwise my eyes tire fast. So I have the screen resolution in 800x600 because that's the one that suits my needs best.

Now, my question. Since I will have to upgrade soon my Linux distro, I'm dismayed in seeing that everyone has abandoned KDE 3.5! All the widgets, windows, sidebars (I simply hate Dolphin!) etc. make my desktop too crowded and generally unusable. So, can I install a theme, anything, to make the newer versions of KDE and generally Plasma look in every aspect like KDE 3.5? Is it possible to substitute Doplhin with Konqueror in the newer KDEs? Or in general, is it possible to import Konqueror preferences in Doplhin to avoid to reset each manually?

The only time I tried a KDE 4.something live,I had to remove it because my eyes burned like salt before I was able to set the desktop parameters in a way that suited my needs...

You can use konqueror instead of dolphin if you want, you can change the default file manager easily enough.

How your settings are handled, however, depends on your distribution. Most settings will probably not transfer over, since the settings files have changed considerably in the last almost 4 years. Things like bookmarks should be able to be imported or maybe even transfer automatically, I never used konqueror for file management so I don't know. However, once you are in KDE 4 the konqueror and dolphin file manager settings will be shared.

For making KDE 4 look like KDE 3, you cannot make it absolutely identical, but you can make it very close in most regards. There are lots of fairly simple, solid-colored plasma themes. I know there was a KDE3-style plasma theme, although I don't know whether it was maintained (there was a lack of interest in it, people seem to prefer a more modern-looking theme). The KDE 3 window theme and icons are still available, I think.

The Plasma theme is called Klassik.

Default application style and window decoration in KDE3 was Plastik. The window decoration seems to be included by default, but I only have an alternative version called Plastique for the application style. There is also e.g. QtCurve which is highly customizable.

If you want to make things appear larger you can try to adjust the default icon sizes (under Application Appearance -> Icons) and font sizes (Application Appearance -> Fonts) in System Settings.

Finally, if you still want something more similar to KDE3, there's the Trinity project.

By the way, I've never understood the Dolphin hate - it's much simpler than Konqueror, in my opinion. Here's how my Dolphin looks like:



and here's the default configuration:


If you find that widgets and sidebars make your desktop cluttered, you don't have to use them.

Thanks for the replies.

Hans, one of the things I dislike in Dolphin is precisely what you show. The space on the left side of the picture you posted is totally wasted, imo. Documents, downloads, etc. Why showing that??
If I have to use that space, I want the folder tree, not some random folders displayed. And usually, there's a similar waste of space on the right too, once you click on any item (to display, name date and size. If I chooose a detailed view I get all that without using space).
And I use long names. If I use the icon view, it's impossible to see the whole name...

TheBlackCat, I'll try. I hope I can change the default file manager, that's my only concern. I don't use konqueror for surfing so no bookmarks at all.

You can change the default file manager in System Settings: Default Applications.

There is a folder tree panel for Dolphin and you can hide the Places and Information panels.

xenarulz wrote:Hans, one of the things I dislike in Dolphin is precisely what you show. The space on the left side of the picture you posted is totally wasted, imo. Documents, downloads, etc. Why showing that??

Because it's useful to have quick access to your commonly used directories.

If I have to use that space, I want the folder tree, not some random folders displayed. And usually, there's a similar waste of space on the right too, once you click on any item (to display, name date and size. If I chooose a detailed view I get all that without using space).
And I use long names. If I use the icon view, it's impossible to see the whole name...

Like this?



And as dpalacio wrote you can completely hide the panel if you want to.

Konqueror uses the Dolphin KPart for file management, so if you don't like Dolphin, it's likely that you won't like the new Konqueror either. Anyway, it's worth a try.

xenarulz wrote:Hans, one of the things I dislike in Dolphin is precisely what you show. The space on the left side of the picture you posted is totally wasted, imo. Documents, downloads, etc. Why showing that??
If I have to use that space, I want the folder tree, not some random folders displayed.

As others have pointed out:

1. It is useful for accessing your commonly-used directories (I use the main area and breadcrumbs for navigation, I use the panel to jump around quickly).
2. You can remove it entirely
3. You can replace it with a folder tree (View->Panels->Folders).

Also:
4. You can have the folders panel and the place panel at the same time stacked on top of each other (I have places on top here but you can put it below):


5. You can have the places panel and folder panel tabbed so you can switch between them (notice the little tab bar at the bottom of the panel):

xenarulz wrote:And usually, there's a similar waste of space on the right too, once you click on any item (to display, name date and size. If I chooose a detailed view I get all that without using space).

That is disabled by default now. But personally I show it, because the details view wastes a lot more space in my opinion.

xenarulz wrote:And I use long names. If I use the icon view, it's impossible to see the whole name...

Fixed in KDE SC 4.8. Konqueror will have this problem as well for KDE SC 4.7 and before, but from KDE SC 4.8 on it will be fixed in both.

Well, the issue withthe long names is that unless you click on them the icon underneath it will hide it. I prefer a view like the "multiple columns" one.
Anyway, I'll try to configure it as you all showed me.
Thanks for the suggestions!

xenarulz wrote:Well, the issue withthe long names is that unless you click on them the icon underneath it will hide it.

As I said, this is fixed in KDE 4.8. In 4.8 it will show the full file name.