I like KDE the way it is at 3.5.2, I don't want eye-candy, 3D, or transparencies, all I ask is even greater solidity, better documentation, and a built-in word-count for Kate. But I would suggest that the Quicklauncher be used as the default app launcher, rather than the wastefully huge panel icons. I have no need of video editors, but there is a shortage of sound recording software, Audacity has no competitor that I can find, while there are hosts of rippers and playback programs. Having used both Gnome and KDE I can see the appeal of Gnome for many, but KDE does the job better for me. Diversity should be encouraged, as should convergence, we need applications that are not desktop-specific, but we need different desktops for different kinds of work, and different kinds of people. »

Tying Novell to Microsoft may or may not be good for the shareholders in the longer term, depending on whether Microsoft remains bouyant, and how quickly the tie can be cut. Short term gain is so often long term pain, as Novell itself has repeatedly demonstrated. Having spoken to programmers who are obliged to use .NET, they don't gush, they wince. »