Panel colors in KDE 4.2.2

[Derek Broughton]

Mark Greenwood wrote:

>> You've used that argument before, but it's completely counter-linux. 
>> There are always situations where a knowledgeable user wants to change a
>> _single_
>> item, and current theming prevents that.  It's not what we're used to,
> 
> You see, this is the sort of argument that *really* annoys me as a
> software developer. It's that kind of thinking that has held desktop
> design back by years. "It's not what we're used to therefore we don't like
> it and we're going to moan about it". 

I agree that "It's not what we're used to" is an _insufficient_ argument - 
but it has to be considered along with the benefits if you want to change 
the UI radically.

> Or put another way "It's different and I don't like it". 

That _wasn't_ the argument and you know it.
> 
>> and
>> ime it's not what most of us want.  We are Linux users because we want
>> _control_.
> 
> Please don't assume you speak for all Linux users. 

I believe I can make a fine case that in this instance I speak for _most_ 
Linux users.  After all, I said "it's not what most of us want". There are 
not a lot of users out there who really just want a working desktop that 
isn't Windows - because Linux has for so long needed considerable user 
investment.  If you wanted "Just Works" and not Windows, you'd be using a 
Mac.

> As far as I'm concerned, the KDE developers are to be congratulated on
> deciding to do some things in a new and interesting way. 

New and interesting is good - and I love KDE4.  That's not an excuse for 
making it impossible to change a single element of the desktop appearance 
just because it's controlled by a theme.

> Anyway, sorry, I've gone OT. FWIW I think the original poster had a valid
> point, but taking the argument into the "It's not what we're used to"
> territory was something I could not ignore. I'll shut up now.

Then you should have taken the whole post in context - which said that it's 
not wrong because it's different, but it's wrong because it doesn't fit in 
with the general philosophy of Linux development.
-- 
derek