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diff --git a/doc/faq/intro.docbook b/doc/faq/intro.docbook index a366ae038..d7434b097 100644 --- a/doc/faq/intro.docbook +++ b/doc/faq/intro.docbook @@ -13,13 +13,12 @@ <para>What is &tde;?</para> </question> <answer> -<para>&tde; is the Trinity Desktop Environment. The project was initiated +<para>&tde; is the Trinity Desktop Environment. The project was initiated by <ulink url="mailto:ettrich@kde.org">Matthias Ettrich</ulink> in -1996 and originally called the K Desktop Environment. The aim of the &tde; project is to connect the +1996 and originally called the K Desktop Environment. The aim of the &tde; project is to connect the power of the &UNIX; operating systems with the comfort of a modern user interface.</para> -<para>In short, &tde; will bring &UNIX; to the desktop!</para> -<para>If you want further information about &tde;, have a look at +<para>If you want further information about &tde;, look at <ulink url="http://www.trinitydesktop.org/about.php">About Trinity</ulink></para> </answer> </qandaentry> @@ -29,28 +28,40 @@ interface.</para> <para>On which platforms can I expect &tde; to work?</para> </question> <answer> -<para>&tde; is a Desktop Environment for all flavors of &UNIX;. While -it is true that most &tde; developers use &Linux;, &tde; runs smoothly -on a wide range of systems. You may, however, need to tweak the -source code a bit to get &tde; to compile on a not-so-popular variant -of &UNIX;, or if you are not using the &GNU; development tools, in +<para>&tde; is a Desktop Environment for all flavors of &UNIX; systems. +While most &tde; developers use &Linux;, &tde; should run +on a wide range of systems. You might need to tweak the +source code a bit to get &tde; to compile on different variant +of &UNIX; systems, or when not using the &GNU; development tools, in particular the &gcc; compiler.</para> </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> <question> +<para>Why should I use TDE?</para> +</question> +<answer> +<para>TDE provides a traditional computer desktop that is snappy and +responsive. A project goal is to provide a highly customizable +desktop without forcing any particular feature or effect on users. +TDE comes with many software tools to provide a productive and enjoyable +computer desktop system.</para> +</answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question> <para>Is &tde; a window manager?</para> </question> <answer> -<para>No, &tde; is not a window manager. While &tde; includes a very -sophisticated window manager (&twin;), &tde; is much more than that. -It is a full-blown Integrated Desktop Environment.</para> -<para>&tde; provides a complete desktop environment, including a web -browser, a file manager, a window manager, a help system, a -configuration system, uncountable tools and utilities, and an ever -increasing number of applications, including but not limited to mail -and news clients, drawing programs, a &PostScript; and a &DVI; viewer +<para>No, &tde; is not a window manager. While &tde; includes a +sophisticated window manager (&twin;), &tde; is much more, providing +a full integrated desktop environment.</para> +<para>&tde; includes a web browser, a file manager, a window manager, a help system, a +configuration system, many tools and utilities, and many +applications, including but not limited to mail +and news clients, drawing programs, a PDF and a &DVI; viewer and so forth.</para> </answer> </qandaentry> @@ -64,29 +75,124 @@ and so forth.</para> <para>No, &tde; is not a clone. Specifically &tde; is not a <acronym>CDE</acronym> or &Windows; clone. While the &tde; developers have and will continue to glean the best features from all existing -desktop environments, &tde; is a truly unique environment that has and +desktop environments, &tde; is a unique environment that has and will continue to go its own way.</para> </answer> </qandaentry> <qandaentry> <question> +<para>On what platform is TDE based?</para> +</question> +<answer> +<para>TDE uses C++ and the <link linkend="qt">&Qt; C++ crossplatform toolkit</link>. +The TDE development team now maintains the Qt3 toolkit, renamed TQt3.</para> +</answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question> <para>Is &tde; free software?</para> </question> <answer> <para>Yes, &tde; is free software according to the &GNU; General -Public License. All &tde; libraries are available under the +Public License. All &tde; libraries are available under the <acronym>LGPL</acronym> making commercial software development for the &tde; desktop possible, but all &tde; applications are licensed under the <acronym>GPL</acronym>.</para> <para>&tde; uses the <link linkend="qt">&Qt; C++ crossplatform toolkit</link>, which is also released (since version 2.2) under the <acronym>GPL</acronym>.</para> -<para>It is absolutely legal to make &tde; and &Qt; available on -&CD-ROM; free of charge. No runtime fees of any kind are +<para>Both &tde; and &Qt; can be made available on +&CD-ROM; free of charge. No runtime fees of any kind are incurred.</para> </answer> </qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question> +<para>Why the rebranding and renaming efforts? Why can't you continue to call the software KDE?</para> +</question> +<answer> +<para>The "KDE" name, various logos, and related efforts are trademarked by the KDE +Foundation. Since the Trinity project is not affiliated with the KDE Foundation, +we can't legally use their trademarks.</para> +</answer> +</qandaentry> + +<qandaentry> +<question> +<para>How is Trinity different from KDE4?</para> +</question> +<answer> +<para>Both desktop environments share common roots to KDE 3.5.10, the last +official release of KDE in the 3.x series. Many KDE developers wanted to break +from that code chain and tool sets to start afresh. Thus was born KDE4. In +addition to moving to the Qt4 tool set, the KDE developers revamped the +underlying KDE code set.</para> + +<para>KDE4 and Trinity have different philosophies about work flow preferences. +KDE4 developers want to support emerging work flow concepts and techniques. +Trinity developers want to maintain a "traditional" desktop environment.</para> + +<para>For example, KDE4 offers the following tools:</para> + +<itemizedlist> + +<listitem> +<para>Semantic desktop through Nepomuk</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para>PIM (Personal Information Management) data caching through Akonadi</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para>Desktop file searching through Strigi</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para>Activities, a computer desktop metaphor for managing tasks and activities</para> +</listitem> + +</itemizedlist> + +<para>Whereas TDE offers the following:</para> + +<itemizedlist> + +<listitem> +<para>Desktop search through the locate:/ kio-slave and Beagle</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para>Integrated PIM suite with plugins</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para>Related task management using multiple desktops</para> +</listitem> + +</itemizedlist> + +<para>The KDE developers support alternate desktop interfaces, such as those used +with netbooks, tablets, and smart phones. TDE provides a single interface that is +optimized for the mouse/keyboard HCI (Human-computer interaction) model.</para> + +<para>Both desktop environments provide an excellent choice for different work +flows but differ in approach. Trinity leans toward user expectations of how +desktop environments have functioned traditionally. There is a sense of +familiarity with that environment many people like. Similarly other users prefer +the work flow features offered by KDE4 because those features match their +expectations of how they want their computer to behave. The difference between the +two environments does not mean one is smaller, buggier, or slower -- only that +they are different and appeal to different types of people. Although sharing a +common heritage, both desktops appeal to different groups of people. As always +with free/libre software, there is a choice.</para> +</answer> +</qandaentry> + + </qandaset> </chapter> |