[kde-linux] How much change? was Re: In KDE4, to set a different background for each of the multiple desktops

[Duncan]

Pablo Sanchez posted on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:14:37 -0500 as excerpted:

> I believe the amount of change per release is very subjective.  If you
> have too little change, it's difficult to advance a product to the next
> phase.  If you have too much change, you need to ensure processes are in
> place to move people forward.

Indeed.

The example that came up the other day was MS with progman, the MS 
Windows 3.x shell.  They carried it forward into W95 along with fileman, 
albeit without longfilename support, so people using it were stuck with 
8.3, thus encouraging people to switch to the newer tools over time.

By contrast, kde4 dumped the desktop directory metaphor and only brought 
it back in the form of the folderview desktop type after kicking and 
screaming and bad reviews from the users.  Having that one single bit of 
familiarity alone would have likely made the transition to kde4 much 
smoother for many people, and along about kde 4.5 or 4.6, after just 
about everybody was smoothly transitioned, /then/ they could have dropped 
the folderview desktop type if desired.

/Most/ folks will eventually migrate, given the improved tools and the 
continuing opportunity to do so over time, but they'll do it when /they/ 
are ready, and don't like being forced into it.  MS recognized that with 
MS Windows 95 and it significantly strengthened their monopoly on the 
desktop.  KDE failed to recognize that, and has paid a significant price 
for it.

-- 
Duncan - List replies preferred.   No HTML msgs.
"Every nonfree program has a lord, a master --
and if you use the program, he is your master."  Richard Stallman