[ubuntu-za] Stop the Anti-Unity / Gnome 3 FUD!

Thu Dec 29 11:00:21 UTC 2011

On 29 December 2011 10:48, Peter Nel <fourdots at gmail.com> wrote:Quintin van
Rooyen wrote:
>
>
> > I think Lee meant that he groups windows of different applications
> > together. In Gnome2, and IIRC KDE you can group for instance two of your
> > three terminals, one of your two notepads and your browser window in one
> > grouped indicator, and then the rest in another grouped panel indicator.
>
> Unless you mean apps with tabs, like terminal, gedit, browsers, etc.
> then I don't know what this is.
>

Think "Jump Lists" or somesuch, where you group different windows of
different applications together on one taskbar icon. Click this icon (or
taskbar shortcut) and all the windows associated with this group comes
forwards.

KDE 3 used to be able to do this, since I have not reviewed KDE4 in a long
time I am not going to venture opinion if it is possible in KDE4.

> I take it's also not the old window switcher applet (as in windows
> "taskbar") that groups windows of the same app?
>

No, windows of different apps.

> 8<

> Secondly, for the record, I _severely_ dislike the Unity applet switcher.
> I
> > often alt+tab to get to a window behind another one on the same desktop
> and
> > often get jumped to the last worked on application on a different
> desktop.
>
> Like I've said before, you can replace that alt+tab app in compiz with
> another compiz switcher, like I do.
> It's optional, thus not a problem.
> The one I use is a simple flat one (Static Application Switcher), with
> mini-clickable-copies of the apps, and only displays those on the
> current workspace, which elliminates that nuisance.
>
> I am not a huge mouse user, so mini clickable icons of the apps is lost on
me, but yes I agree the static switcher would be the best. Due to all the
hype surrounding different ways of doing things I downloaded the latest
Linux Mint (12 Gnome3) and had a look at that. I really really like how
they did their application switcher. I wonder if I can get this for Ubuntu.

> > Like Lee, I prefer a Window based interface rather than an application
> > based interface.
>
> I still don't know what this "window-based" vs. "application-based"
> interface is... others have referred to it as "task-based".
> I say there's no such distinction. Perhaps it's an initial impression
> that stuck? I still only see windows and desktops like before.
>
> I don't know how else to describe this except calling it window based
(every application can have many windows [the "old way" of interacting with
multiple programs [applications in the new language]) as opposed to
application (or program) based where every application has only one window
(i.e. how smartphones and tablet computers work, and how things are going
with all modern operating systems it seems.) Does this clarify it for you?

[edit]On rethink, the default unity switcher is a perfect example of the
app centric approach. You have three terminals open, among other
applications. Each has it's own window. In Unity, if you alt+tab, you get
ONE icon for terminals - application centric. (I do realise down button
shows you the rest)

Static application switchers in the past (I do not know if the new one you
use does this) would show you _every_ terminal window. <= this is Window
centric.[/edit]

>
> > Unity can be tweaked rather easily to cater for a more window based
> > workflow, so I spend thirty minutes after install to do this, but I get
> > tripped up by that friggin application switcher too often.
>
> See comment on replacing alt+tab app above.
>
> > I remember an option under compizconfig or somewhere to "prefer
> > applications on the current desktop" but it has defaulted to the old way
> > after an update and I forgot where to set it.
>
> So, there's no real problem then?
>
> I get the idea you did not read this part of my reply properly. There is a
problem. It was "fixed", and after an update it "broke". I am trying to get
it to prefer apps/windows on the current desktop again, but it does not.

[Loads of snippage.]

> >>
> >> The unity alt+tab switcher kindof kills this way of doing it. Have you
> > set it to prefer applications on the current desktop as I mentioned
> above?
> > I have it jumping back to whatever had focus on a previous desktop at the
> > moment.
>
> Again, alt+tab behavior can be replaced (or configured as you said).
> Though it takes 1-2 minutes to do, not a 1/2 hour like you say.
>

You assume that the only thing I tweak is the switcher. You are mistaken.

I change, among other things:

a) Launcher from auto-hide to always visible. I like being able to see what
is open and active with a glance as opposed to a mouse movement.
b) Make the launcher as small as possible - this is currently 32pix, I
would like 24pix but that is not a train wreck for me.
c) Switch launcher icon backgrounds off. Only active windows have colored
backgrounds on their launcher icons.
d) Extra desktops, four is not enough.
e) Whitelist various applications for showing on the top panel.
f) Install unified menu support for LibreOffice (currently not working in
Oneiric)
g) Fiddle with the switcher.
h) Add a google docs uploader (with drag and drop uploading) that I found
on-line and customised a bit.
k) Add shortcuts to the home folder icon in launcher for Docs, Pics, Videos
et al.
l) Add a plethora of lenses, like the mentioned calculator functionality.

There are others, but they are more like installing Evolution because I
prefer it to Thunderbird, making Chrome my default browser... bla... ya...
etc, etc...

That is all for now.
-- 
Quintin van Rooyen
quintin.vanrooyen at gmail.com
The New SA Geek!
http://g33q.co.za
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