TheWorldJournal.com

Linux Makes Its Appearance On the Desktop
By Dan Calloway, TheWorldJournal.com

For many years now, Linux has proven to be the operating system of choice when it comes to Servers. Its UNIX-based open-source programming code can't be topped for stability and low cost alternative to other more expensive operating systems that often require costly user or server licenses. However, with the advent of SuSE Linux version 8.0, Linux is making great strides toward demanding another look at desktop operating system application.

With a very solid, configurable interface that should please Linux newbies and powerusers of the operating system, the new KDE 3.0 interface that ships with distributions such as SuSE Linux 8.0 and others like Mandrake and RedHat, Linux has its best opportunity to break out into the desktop use it has longed for.

The KDE and GNOME interfaces are based on the X-Windows System. These newest versions give Linux roughly the same look and feel of the Microsoft Windows 9X family of operating systems without the inflated cost of licenses and, best of all, they are open source.

With the KDE 3.0 interface, you can cut and paste as you would expect to be able to with Windows Explorer in a Windows-based system. KDE 3.0 is now available for a free download at www.kde.org and is the default desktop interface for Linux. In addition to the new KDE 3.0 interface, a much improved Konqueror web browser is also available with distributions such as SuSE or Mandrake Linux. Konqueror is Linux's answer to the web browser/ file manager/ file preview application. This web browser has particular application in the areas of JavaScript and Dynamic HTML.

KDE 3.0 ships with KDevelop 2.1, a graphical C++ integrated development environment programmers can use to build applications for KDE and for systems running QT/Embedded or Qtopia.

Users of Linux and Unix-based operating systems who find themselves forced to maintain a second desktop for working with Microsoft Office documents and for accessing corporate groupware servers via Outlook and Notes clients may be able to dump their Windows boxes with the help of CrossOver Office 10 from Code Weavers, Inc.

CrossOver Office, just released to the public for $55 per user, is based on Wine, an open-source Windows API implementation that enables Linux users to run many applications developed for Windows. CrossOver Office works with Microsoft Office 97 and 2000, but not Office XP, Frontpage or Access. For more information go to www.codeweavers.com/products/office.

Linux users finally have an operating system that is breaking through to desktop application. Many users of Microsoft products that have been led to believe that Microsoft is the only way to go, now see a light at the end of the OS-tunnel. For the first time, Star Office 5.X, CrossOver Office 10, and many other applications that run like Windows applications and the new KDE 3.0 and GNOME interfaces make Linux a very appealing and much more affordable alternative. For more information on the SuSE distribution of LInux, visit www.suse.com.

© April 16, 2002