KDE 4.3 on a MacBook Pro

I've just updated Kubuntu 9.04 on my MacBook Pro to KDE 4.3. I'd been dual booting OS X and KDE 4.2 for several months. Recently, KDE 4.2 had become my default system on this machine, after I got it set up exactly how I wanted.

Mac OS X is a fine system and is infinitely better than anything Microsoft has to offer. However, there are some things I just couldn't bring myself to like. Finder being one and Virtual Desktops another. For me, Linux just works better.

According to the KDE 4.3 release announcement over 10,000 bugs were fixed and almost 2,000 feature requests were implemented. Those numbers are astonishing for a six month period. The improvements really show when running the system though. This is the first KDE4 version that I could really recommed for full time use. KDE 4.1 was ok, 4.2 was better but 4.3 is really good.

Some of my favourite improvements are:

- Kontact using IMAP is vastly improved. It's now as good as Thunderbird or Mac Mail.
- Stability. 4.3 seems very robust.
- Updates to the FolderView widget so you can see the contents of a folder by just hovering over it.
- The new Air default theme.
- Having different widgets on different virtual desktops.

Oveall, KDE 4.3 feels very polished and functional. I'm really looking forward to 4.4.

Some useful links:
Installing (K)Ubuntu on a MacBook Pro
Updating Kubuntu 9.04 to KDE 4.3

Telepathy

Sometimes, someone just writes exactly what you were thinking. In this case, it's Carla Schroder, Managing Editor at Linux Today.

And the follow up.

Windows 7 ...

proves that you really "can fool some of the people, all of the time".