Please recommend a kppp alternative
 

Since upgrading to kde 3.4 kppp crashes my comp if set to dock into panel (goes to login screen as though Ii have done alt-ctrl-backspace). Also it is very slow to start when using it on xfce4 or gnome.
So I'm looking for something similar or better. Here's what I would consider to be the perfect program -
Graphical based, including the connection setup if possible.
Runs in the system tray and can be disconnected from the system tray icon.
Can change or turn of the modem screeching sound.
Can be set to reconnect automaticallyon disconnect.
Tells me the connection speed once connected.
Works equally well in kde, gnome or xfce4.2.
Makes me a cup of tea while it's dialing up.

None of the above are essential (I can probably live without the last one anyway), these are just what I would consider to be the perfect program for me.

I know it is very easy to use pon/poff but it just doesn't have the options and also the missus is just starting use linux rather than windows and she doesn't want any complications and using 2 icons on the panel is just taking up yet more precious space.

Finally, is auto-connect possible in linux? ie when I launch Firefox or something I'd like it to automatically dial-up, though this isn't essential by any means, just a thought.

>Since upgrading to kde 3.4<

No offense, but being on the 'bleeding edge' does have its problems. Wouldn't you be better sticking with something that did work?

Frank.

I upgraded to X.org, kde3.4 and Gnome2.10 all at the same time and all I had were a couple of problems, a problem with running root programs in kde, which I also had in my old version of kde and which is now fixed and the problem with kppp , which does work as long as I don't set it to dock into panel. And as I also mentioned, it is too slow to start up in gnome and xfce4 so I wanted to try a different dialler anyway.
Upgrading gnome also fixed about half a dozen niggling little problems that refused to go away in both 2.6 and 2.8 so I sticking to something that works doesn't really apply.
I don't really see the point of never upgrading something just because it might not work.
I'm a beginner, I don't have anything of critical importance on my computer so I don't have much to lose by trying different things.:)