Comments on: Is Canonical’s Unity Move Divisive?

By: axisofevil

axisofevil — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:50:45 +0000

I’ve always upgraded since about 8.04 (every 6 months).
So I’ve accumulated a fair bit of crud.

I won’t be upgrading from 10.04 -> 11.04 in May or even June etc…
Because it will be broken.

I shall wait until 11.10 or even 12.04 – by which time Canonical will have realised that Unity is a total waste of time.
If not, then a move (full install) to Mint is always possible…

By: americancaessar

americancaessar — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Personally, I prefer debian and usually use gnome or openbox.
Debian is actually a run by a community as opposed a specific company.
I have not tried unity. From my understanding users will be able to choose a gnome environment upon installing ubuntu--it just won't be the default.
It is interesting to see that as Ubuntu continues to make choices to tailor itself to its target audience a number of ubuntu-based distros are migrating to debian.
Ubuntu is choosing to use gnome source to its advantage which is appropriate given gnome's licensing. If the gnome team wants to force developers to contribute back then they should maybe change their licensing. Otherwise they need to accept the fact that not everyone will share and share alike.
Canonical is providing more end-user specific coding it seems that the general developers do not have interest in.
It will be interesting to see how all of this pans out. Will ubuntu at least continue to have a platform that maintains compatibility with open standards? If so then an increase in the user base could mean more applications for all of Linux.
Ubuntu may end up being a member of the Linux community in the same way Apple is a member of the BSD community. Will ubuntu be the only distro to make this leap?
Only time will tell.

By: arenalgarden

arenalgarden — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Linux Mint Debian Edition.
Problem solved.

By: dc0de

dc0de — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If the default gnome goes away in ubuntu, I guess I’ll have to shift myself back to debian/gnome. I agree with most of the posts here, fix the problems, not the UI. KUBuntu is great for those who like KDE, but a different window manager / UI this late in the game? Really? No thanks.

By: bobwya

bobwya — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gnome generally is my Desktop Manager of choice (although I do like KDE as well). However I cannot stand the Gnome panels. First job after installing Linux-Mint/Ubuntu is to install the extremely well designed “Avant Window Manager”. This has most of the power of the Windows 7 Superbar and is not too “docky”!!
Otherwise Gnome appears to be perfectly functional. Will probably go with Linux-Mint for my future releases (to avoid Gnome-shell and Unity – unless these actually fix anything I need fixed = unlikely).

By: albertfuller

albertfuller — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I would have like to see a (brief) review of what Unity offers and even a comparison with Gnome. Also, it would have been nice to see a statement on what is Unity's dev direction/purpose and again with some contrast to Gnome. This would have provided a relevant context for me. I guess I will see Unity when 11.04 hits the road. And if I don't like it there will be other desktops to use since I carry a few desktop interfaces on my box.

P.S., I left KDE for Gnome ... I am anxious to see what Gnome 3 has to offer.

By: masinick

masinick — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Divisive? Have we all forgotten that Free Software is all about choice? I believe in code sharing, when it makes sense to do so, but it also makes sense to try out many different alternatives. First, the same thing does not work best for everyone. Isn’t that why most of us have looked at free software in the first place? Second, we need to look at many alternatives to stumble upon new ideas that propel even more new ideas, improving what we have, replacing what needs changing. Third, sometimes being different is a choice in itself. What’s wrong with that? We fight one another over race, appearance, preferences, and so forth. Sure, I tend to stick with those who think similarly to me, but at other times, I really enjoy others who do things – not the SAME as me, but DIFFERENT than me. It is no threat to my personality, in fact, as I’ve grown older, more and more I appreciate differences. No, I don’t agree with all choices, some are unhealthy choices, mentally, physically, or spiritually. But when it comes to software diversity, as long as it doesn’t cross immoral or unethical boundaries, I find many choices to be healthy and I think that Canonical’s willingness to try things out that are not “sure bets” is a most encouraging thing. Should their ideas fail, I am sure they are wise enough to change directions again. Give them a chance, they have the freedom to make those choices. Whether I personally embrace the methods or not, I will most certainly embrace the right to choose!

By: johnekerr

johnekerr — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Unity

u·ni·ty
n. pl. u·ni·ties
1. The state or quality of being one; singleness.

OR
2. One interface, be it your mobile device, or your desktop.

Is this the idea behind Unity? There may be many people who will want this convenience.

Cheers

John

By: rd718usa

rd718usa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oh yea, and if you think Gnome is ugly, have you tried theming it with Emerald? Makes a big difference.

By: rd718usa

rd718usa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For me, I don’t see what the deal is. I use Gnome and KDE and like them both. I haven’t tried Unity yet, but as was earlier stated, if you don’t like it use whichever one you prefer. I have installed Debian, but when I was done it looked just like ubuntu, then I tried Mint, and the same thing. I was going to try Fedora, but I figured when I was done I would just end up with a fedora,Ubuntu hybrid. So I’m just sticking to Ubuntu. The best thing, is that we all have a lot more options than windoz.

By: ratm

ratm — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve always tried to like Gnome, but I’ve never been able to. It’s too difficult to customize and it’s ugly. The buttons and icons are too large and so are the tabs. And it’s due to stubbornness on the part of Gnome. I hope this whole situation prompts “GNOME Project to have a good think about its role with regards to its consumers and audience”.

By: xdigitalvampirex

xdigitalvampirex — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Whatever the case, there are obviously some *feelings* regarding the switch to Unity. I think this will be a good thing. I encourage all of you that got your feet wet with Ubuntu to branch out and explore the F/OSS and Linux world. Ubuntu was (and still is) a great place to start learning, but now seems like a great time to dive in, doesn’t it?

By: ctalk01

ctalk01 — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I wonder if the issues aren’t with GNOME 3, but the use of X or components thereof that may be placed at risk by patent trolls.

By: mishmich

mishmich — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like Gnome, I like Ubuntu, never managed to get along with KDE, tried Unity on my netbook. Unity makes sense for a netbook, but cannot see it on a desktop myself. Not sure what the issues are about Gnome 3, but I think it is a mistake for Canonical to ditch it.

However, I'm presuming that Gnome will still be available, alongside KDE, Unity, XFCE, and so on - so as another commentator has said, I'll just be installing Gnome and use that. As long as Debian sticks with Gnome, it will be available for Ubuntu, even if they try and exclude it from their channels. If they drop Gnome, I am sure somebody will come up with a distro derived from Ubuntu that incorporates Gnome.

Not sure what the issue people have with Gnome is. If I could install Gnome on top of Windows 7, I'd use it there as well.

Perhaps this is part of a long-term strategy that is becoming visible - to fork Ubuntu from the linux community, and make it into a proprietary proprietary product that will leave its linux roots behind and place itself in a niche not covered by Windows and OS-X.

By: gdonwallace

gdonwallace — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Not having used Unity, I can’t say what the experience will be. Having used a couple betas of the Gnome Shell, I can say that for me it does not work. I will give Unity a go in 11.04, if it ends up that it does not work for me, then I will have to find an alternative. Gnome Shell is not an alternative, but there are many others that I can try. With what is available, I’m sure I can find something I like.

By: aborrell

aborrell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think free software is about freedom, so Canonical should give the opportunity to those users that want to install Ubuntu and choose X11, Gnome,
gdm, etc. Trying to force the user along a path is what other companies do,
and not the FOSS way. Ubuntu may be diferent from other distros, but it's
based on a lot of code from the community.

By: chdslv

chdslv — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like GNOME desktop, but what I don’t like is the two bars on top and bottom. It should be either top or bottom and leave rest of the screen free. Interestingly I try Ubuntu every time they come up with a new release, but 10.10 didn’t go well, and 10.04 is better, at least for me. EasyPeasy came up with a desktop, which I think is quite nice, so I have it on my laptop. Its easy to work with, doesn’t trouble at all. Actually, once we have programs open, we don’t see the desktop, so I believe a desktop should be somewhat unassuming. Talking about Ubuntu, I like all kinds of Ubuntu re-masterings, for they do work really well. I think Canonical has a little problem of the “feeling” of a company…Anyway, let’s wait and see how Unity would work. Don’t say no yet…

By: john@ukgillies.com

john@ukgillies.com — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I find this interesting.

I have always used KDE - I think that however well it might perform, the GNOME desktop is ugly.

Will be interesting to see how nice the Unity Desktop is.

By: itfishguy

itfishguy — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Taking into account the recent event with M$ supporting a company that has or is in the process of buying out Novell that may be the reason for the shift. Speculation at best and I am in no way a Linux expert and know it's history. If Unity is based off of some code that M$ will eventually own patents for then the theory above would hold not water, however if it doesn't then Canonical will be avoiding the vampire court sessions that M$ will undoubtedly start up. I certainly wouldn't want to tie up my funds in defending shoddy patent laws, because the court system is built on one thing, MONEY. If you have more of it you stand to win your case either through funding pet projects or just straight funding or you can play the resource hold out game and deplete your opponents funds and ability to defend themselves. *Cough..cough* getting off topic...
I've played with a lot of distro's of Linux trying to find one that suits my needs, but I still haven't committed 100% to a certain one. Will be interesting to see what developes.
Good point hhemken you can just install the interface you want, but I think it's the principle of the matter that gets people. Certainly isn't like windoze.

By: jbakuwel

jbakuwel — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This change is not something I've been waiting for. The "Classical" Gnome desktop works well (although a few things under the hood could be improved).

I'm not sure what the fuzz is all about though... if the Unity shell is based on Gnome (it is, isn't it?), then choosing the right shell for the right purpose whether it's Unity, Gnome Shell 3.0 or Gnome Classical (3.0?) would be a simple matter?