A few questions concerning Ubuntu 13.04

[blind Pete]

Robert Cole wrote:

> Hello, everyone.
> 
> I have enjoyed using fedora over the past year or so, but I just do not
> have time to solve the big problems which I am having with the system.
> My wife and family who use my system have run into quite a number of
> issues, and it makes their experience pretty unpleasant.
> 
> I am thinking about moving back to Ubuntu, but I have a few questions:

If you want to play with it, use the latest and greatest version.  
If just want something that works, consider the LTS (long term 
support) versions.  

> 1) Does the problem with the Compiz eZoom plugin on Unity 3D still exist
> (e.g. only the desktop area si zoomed, but the panel and dash remain
> unaltered)?

I have never used eZoom.  Now that I know it exists I will play with it.  
Did you know that X has a zoom and pan feature that you can use 
accross all desktop managers?  It is documented in "man xorg.conf".  
<Control><Alt><keypad plus or minus> to change through the 
circular list of modes.  

Unfortunately some of the video card driver maintainers do not, 
or even will not, make this work.  They quite rightly say that the 
function could be better handled by desktop managers, things like 
eZoom I guess.  

Nvidia's closed source drivers do support Zoom and that is the 
reason that I buy nVidia cards, but even that has problems:  
driver versions in the low 300's have bad panning bugs, and it 
has always been a bit of a pain to set up.  Be prepaired to 
spend some time on it if you go that way.  

> 2) If I install GNOME Shell, will it be version 3.6 or 3.8?
> 
> I appreciate your help on this one.
> 
> Take care, everyone.

-- 
blind Pete
Sig goes here...