In the past 21 years, computer use has changed dramatically.
Buzzwords like Multimedia have taken over, then faded.
And almost every computer has a network connection.
The users have a lot more controll over there computer, and run alot more programs simultaiusly.

Yet the Desktop environments has barely changed at all.

There's a main porgam launched (the start menu)
a few applets, different icons to click,
the desktop itself is just a dead square with a picture on it that does nothing but holsd a few icons.

There are already quite a few *Next Generation* desktops available, such as Enlightenment, which abandons most of the traditional dsktop components in search of a more functional desktop, but development is slow and these porjects were never accepted by the average users.

Ive just been reading about kde 4.x.
Its already the #1 desktop for X11 users (BSD's UNIX's Linux)
Some of the idea's sound really cool.

The desktop itself (wallpaper) will not be 'static' but moveable,
It will take full advantage of Xorg's new ability's (where available) such as xDamage, Composte, and the new OpenGL acceleration.

have a look, I cant wait till they release the first Alpha.

http://plasma.bddf.ca/

edit: Ohh, and thre's some nice concept art, at http://www.kde-artists.org/main/ , especially on the forums.

Awesome the links are up, when they got slashdotted yesterday they were down when I tried to get in, weeee