KDE and GNOME, the open-source software projects that together form the face of most Linux installations, have undergone revisions that boost their usability and enterprise readiness—advances that build the case for Linux as a viable alternative to Windows on mainstream corporate desktops.

Some of the biggest changes in KDE 3.3 and GNOME 2.8 lie in the projects' respective e-mail and collaboration clients, Kontact and Evolution. Both applications are well-integrated into their desktop environments and cover a full range of groupware functionality, but eWEEK Labs found Evolution to be more refined and pleasant to use.

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Do we really want them to be integrated. Won't that allow for the same virus problems that windows explorer is open to?

hi there

virus for windows cannot affect linux and vice versa
also the more user freindly u become he more compromises u will have to make with security

but to be i the desktop market linux needs to improve on its looks in desktop section

regards

I know that I just meant wouldn't it make viruses easier to create and more destructive were there any.

Hi, I think that if the popularity of Linux increases signifigantly (ie gains a larger market share) then one of the things which would prospectively happen is the growth of viruses and hacks which target the linux operating system. One of the arguments as to reasons why there are little if any viruses and security exploitation is the small (growing fast though) user base. Look at it this way, if you are a person who writes malicious code then you want to have the biggest impact possible for your work. Thus it makes sense for writers of viruses etc to target the OS with the largest user base.

hi there
surely there are going to virus attacks on linux too
but one advantage what i think is
th whole community which is using linux has the source code,so all of them can look into it and try to rectify that error/virus

but in case of windows ,only the people at M$ can look at it

regards

I think that if you're logged in as a user, then virus attacks will be pretty much restricted to the files owned by the user alone. Not much chance of a whole system infection then.

I don't think anybody experienced around boots into Linux as root to do their regular work. But if the non-techie users start using Linux and boots into Linux as root, then there's going to be a problem with viruses.

Those are both good points. I think new users should be educated into what root does though. When I first used linux I was confused that I couldnt do loads of things so I started to boot as root. It took me a while before I realised I could do things as root from a normal user login.

I don't think that linux would be subject to too many virus attacks.Most virus proliferators attack M$ based machines,coz it gives them more satisfaction and praise in the cracker community.Hacking into a linux machine isn't all that cool for them.I'm telling this from my experience with an acquaintance who was involved in such things.Which is why I agree with what crazyflll had to say.
I don't believe that just by simplifying the ui the system would become more prone to virus attacks. That is because much of the work in Linux would still be carried off thru the command line,and I serioulsy hope that they don't oversimplify things.
Well,certainly to gain mass acceptance,the developers might have to look towards user-friendliness.(whatever that means!)Sure,a newb coming off windoze needs to have that kind of simplicity to start off with.But newbs don't remain newbs for long.After a few months or so of usage, a newb uses the console more than the gui for getting his work done.

Surely security issues exist on Linux which the Linux community isn't aware of immediately after the piece of code in question is released though. What if an intruder could take advantage of root privileges? It is true that many attackers do what they do out of a sense of challenge and community, I am talking about those who disclose the security holes the find to the software vendor. However there are many people who attack companies/institutions because they feel victimised for whatever reason. The beauty of the GNU/Linux OS is the fast rate of bug fixes and update. While this may be a pain for the large scale business with many workstations they should feel safer because of the speed with which the OS improves itself through the open source model.

Also not everyone wants to acheive beyond competence in computer use though so while those with a natural curiosity with become more aquainted with Linux and the base of experienced people grows, as corbis_demon suggests, there will also exist a sect who want to type up a document, write an email or maybe book an airline ticket online. In my experience here in New Zealand, there exists a large proportion of the older population who find it frustrating even to use a windows computer. These people in particular would not find it any more difficult to use Linux for their basic tasks than M$ as they frequently rely on more experienced people to help them.

Yeah,I guess some people just use their system for writing an email or type a document,especially the elderly with limited experience of computers.But with the kind of gui that exists in linux now,it's comparable to a windoze system in terms of ease of use.So I don't see any need for developers to go overboard with simplicity.
Perhaps they might think of incorporating AI into the OS as the next step of user-friendliness.But that is still some way off.And certainly that isn't the priority at the moment.Sure,I mean not everybody aims to be a computer geek,but just using the OS in a better way is the domain of not just geekdom,but everyone.What people want is better efficiency with simplicity in doing tasks.That I think linux has achieved admirably.So to think that using the terminal is the sole right of power users would be folly.It just helps to get your job done better.

Yes Corbis,
Both KDE and GNOME do a wonderful job of creating easy to use GUI with the effect that no prior knowledge is neccesary to conduct mundane tasks. But it is as everyone says, adding new hardware and software to a linux system could be easier. I understand the concept that excessive ease of use is only achieved at the expense of functionality and freedom but this is the way to attract the next wave of users initially.

Your views are essentially correct that functionality is curbed with excessive simplicity.But if you are asking for windows style installation of software,it's already there for some programs.I think it's called PyInstallShield.It's coded in Python.It's pretty good and really fast.Guess more app install processes would use a similar process in the near future.All it needs is to gain wider acceptance.
Whatever be it,I'm sure 'bout one thing,that sitting back and letting things happen isn't going to cut the deal.
Some proactive measures need to be adopted to spread the word in the non-linux community.Unless people get to know about the advantages that Linux has over m$,they are simply not going to to shift over.So something surely needs to be done about.
I think GNU/Linux users like everyone at this and similar such fora could themselves initiate some sort of change in perception about GNU/Linux.Perhaps you could start off with getting your friends and family to use Linux instead of M$.That might just be the impetus needed for a worldwide Open Source revolution.Maybe it's a cranky idea,but it might work.

I for one would be a user of Gnome and/or KDE on a Win32 platform. I think it's GUI is much better then Windows XPpee. Just my bashingly honest opinion there.