Dolphin was intended to replace Konqueror as the default file manager in KDE 4. The scope of Dolphin was to only provide a compact and easy-to-use file manager, without all the features and uses Konqueror has. And (I think) it succeeded. In the beginning most of the users were reticent regarding this idea, since Konqueror provided anything one could possibly ask from a file manager.

Dolphin is KDE 4’s default file manager, and is a departure from KDE 3, which relied on Konqueror for file management. Unlike Konqueror, which functions as a web browser and many other things, Dolphin is specifically used for file management.

Windows has Explorer. Mac OS has Finder. GNOME has Nautilus. And KDE had, up to a number of months ago, Konqueror. Now, together with the up-and-coming KDE 4, a simple file manager named Dolphin takes on file management. So how does Dolphin stack up?

As most of you already know, Dolphin is the new KDE 4 default file manager. The KDE 3 version introduced a new way for file management on KDE. It introduced, for the first time in KDE world, a simple KDE file manager, easy to follow and use. Let's see how Dolphin looks, and how it's an improvement of file management.

Those of you who are using Kubuntu are already familiar with Dolphin, the default file manager shipped in most KDE distributions. There are several very good file managers for KDE, and I must include here Konqueror or Krusader, however Dolphin’s goal is to offer as much as possible functionality while also keeping lightweight and fast.

KDE announces 4.9 releases of Workspaces, Applications, and Development Platform. Version 4.9 provides many new features, along with improved stability and performance.

I’ve been using Dolphin for my file manager, rather than Konqueror, for about a week now. These are just some random things I’ve thought about while adjusting my behavior and work process.

KLook is a multi-file-type viewer. It is not an application that can be started standalone, but is integrated into other applications, like Dolphin, KDE’s file manager. StackFolder, on the other hand, is a widget application that makes it possible to browse the contents of a directory, or your entire home folder, without opening Dolphin.

Dolphin the KDE4's default file manager. You can think of it as an equivalent to Windows Explorer on a KDE based Linux. Much like Explorer it allows you to browse the contents of your computer, and manage files and folders.