I didn’t realize that it would be possible but KDE 4 will have the ability of running on Windows XP and the Mac OS. The image above is of Kate, an advanced text editor for KDE Linux, running in Windows XP without any problems. Jason sent in a tip to this gallery that has several screenshots from other KDE applications running on Windows XP.
Then I went perusing the Internet to find what the goals are for KDE 4 and I eventually clicked my way to the page where they are all listed. One thing that really stood out was them saying “2D menu and interface is outdated. We need something new. Like 3D desktop. Like XGL-Compiz or Looking Glass.” They continue to reference Sun’s 3D project called Looking Glass saying that something like that may be good. If you haven’t seen the demonstration for Looking Glass prepare to be amazed:
I hope you liked that demonstration as much as I did. A 3D desktop environment is eventually what computers will come to it is just a matter of time before it gets implemented. The Looking Glass project is something that shows an efficient way to add another dimension to your desktop that doesn’t make it complicated to use but would actually increase your productivity. I think it would be awesome if the KDE team could come up with something similar to that.
KDE on Windows would be SO awesome!
I also heard that there are some other people that are working on a Windows port of KDE (they are not necessarily KDE contributors). In fact, I’m subscribed to their mailing list to be the first to know when KDE for Windows is ready.
Edit: wait, does KDE for Windows include the KDE apps only? What about the system tray stuff?
From the looks of their goals they say that they want to create an XP-like start menu so it sounds like you will be able to get all of the taskbar stuff if you would like as well.
I wasn’t that amazed by the Looking Glass video but thats proberbly just because I’ve seen this stuff before with WPF and the feeling of something new and cool is gone. It’s pretty good looking but I’m not sure I need something like this (talking about Looking Glass not KDE apps on windows)
All very good and well, but what the world really needs is Linux to be as user-friendly as Xp is. And we need that yesterday. Its a long ways off.
This is good news for me. There have always been KDE apps that I really wanted to use because they were free and I’d only need them once or twice (so buying competitive apps would be pointless), but they always evaded my Windows-PC’s grasp.