[ubuntu-za] Configuring Ubuntu 11.10

[Lee Sharp]

On 12/22/2011 12:35 PM, Quintin van Rooyen wrote:
> Lee I was not referring to PPA's here but to the applications designed
> to run with Unity and the dash.

With the divisiveness going on right now, I doubt anyone would tie their 
application to Unity.  Then you lock out Gnome Shell, KDE, XFE, Arch, 
Mate, and all the rest.

> I am all for people choosing the desktops they want, and if you are
> unable to migrate to something new then you are free to use whatever you
> are used to.

I totally agree here.  I do not want to get rid of Unity.  But, seom do 
want to get rid of my desktop of choice.

> I like Unity, and find it an improvement over both Gnome 2 and 3.

For many users, it is.  It is wonderfull for tablets, and "single app" 
users.  Not so much for people who work between windows.  Think Network 
admins, developers, graphic artists, video editors...  Andone with 29 
windows open on one screen.  (That is what I have now)  I also have 
24gig of ram, and that is not for everyone. :)

> I wonder what percentage of Ubuntu users are technical/non technical.
> Surely "Linux for all" skews towards the non tech crowd?

A lot of very technical people used Ubuntu, since it had all the apps 
tested and built for it.  "Easy" works for all sides.  Now, some are 
holding on 10.04 or 10.10, and some are jumping ship to Mint, Arch, 
xubuntu, and so on...

> I sincerely hope by rolling back to 10.04 means interface only, and not
> also the kernel and other old stuff that is in there.

I wish!  There is no way to run the 3.0 kernel and Gnome 3 that is 
simple...  <sigh>  So it is 10.04 with a lot of ppas to have current apps.

> Unity is new and still needs some work, but it has improved a lot
> release on release, and I trust it will continue to do so.

Yes, and yes.  They may eventually address the user segment I am in.  It 
includes a lot of notable people.  Just being able to move the menu off 
the desktop and back to the Windows is a big help!  God, that slows me 
down!  But, yes, it will get better.  Perhaps good enough that I can 
change before the forks become viable.

> I consider myself a technical user and I prefer unity to any other
> desktop. Personally I believe it to be superior to any other environment
> on the traditional desktop.
>
> To each his own, I guess.

And I am glad you like it.  It does look stunning, and it addresses a 
lot of problems.  But it adds a lot of other problems that are deal 
breakers for me right now.  Lets hope it improves, or other options can 
coexist soon!

			Lee