Ubuntu 12.04 LTS removing unity and installing GNOME

[Jim Byrnes]

On 06/05/2012 07:35 AM, Ryan Gauger wrote:
> On 06/04/2012 10:44 PM, Rashkae wrote:
>> On 06/04/2012 08:04 AM, Ryan Gauger wrote:
>>> ent. I am on the Unity Design Team, and we have crafted the most
>>> beautiful desktop environment ever (haha, just kidding). It would be
>>> helpful if someone replied who hates Unity (or someone who knows why,
>>> but maybe doesn't hate it themselves), and told me why, so that I can
>>> give this information to the Unity Design Team. As I have said, I do
>>> *highly* recommend just getting used to Unity, like you got used to
>>> Ubuntu when you switched from Windows (I know not everyone did, but
>>> most people do not install another OS than the one that came
>>> pre-installed (most lik
>>
>> Ok, I'll bite....
>>
>> (Note: I haven't tried the latest iteration of Unity. Apolgies if some
>> of these issues have been addressed.)
>>
>> I don't personally like moving the application menus to the top of the
>> screen. Admittedly, this is something I could just get used to, and
>> 'would' have proven useability benefits to using the screen edge for
>> infinite pointing space... I say "would" be cause any perceived
>> theoretical benefit gets completely eliminated when the menu hides
>> unless you move the mouse pointer to unveil it. I don't know what
>> genius thought that would be a good idea, but it shows right there in
>> two minutes exactly how little though to usability actually went into
>> Unity.
>>
>> 2: I'm a compulsive multi-tasker who has grown used to having a dozen
>> virtual desktops, several of them filled with several windows. A task
>> bar/dock that doesn't keep my desktops separate is completely useless
>> to me. It's bad enough that Docky hides the option and requires gconf
>> editing to enable this basic function, but Unity eliminates it
>> entirely. If I could opt out of using Unity task bar in favor of
>> something else that worked better for my needs, (docky, AWN, and
>> another whose name I forget,) that would be a non usse. But Unity,
>> like Gnome Shell, forces itself to be all or nothing. Bad Unity.
>>
>>
>> Those are the only 2 issues I ran into before giving up on Unity. #2
>> especially is a complete showstopper.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> I can answer one of your thoughts on this... Moving the app menus to the
> top panel was done to provide more space for the app. This is part of
> what creates a distraction-free area, especially for maximised apps. It
> may not look like it, but if you really think about it, hiding the app
> menu by default helps to create more space. We could not fit the menu on
> the same panel as the title, window control buttons, and indicator
> applets, so we thought that hiding them by default was a better way to
> go than to throw them down under the top panel, as that would not make
> any sense at all, and may confuse users more than the hidden menus. I
> will bring up the idea for the option for more virtual desktops in the
> Unity Design Team, as well as more ideas you had. Thanks!
>
> In Christ,
> Ryan
>
>

This is not the first time I have seen the "give more space to the apps" 
argument for moving the menus to the top.  To me it is not a compelling 
argument.  I just measured and the menu bar takes up a whole 1/4 inch on 
my monitor.  I would gladly give up that 1/4 to have menus where I 
expect to find them. I mean what is a 1/4 inch, one row on a spreadsheet.

I'm with Rashkae on the multi-tasking issue.  Again I would gladly give 
up another 1/4 of screen space for a comfortable way of keep track of 
what is happening on my desktop.

Regards,  Jim