My reaction to the latest version of Ubuntu can be summed up in just three words: Far from awesome! That impression largely results from the switch to the new Unity desktop. Canonical, the developer of the Ubuntu Linux operating system, released version 11.04, also known as “Natty Narwhal,” on April 28. This latest version marks the official roll-out of the redesigned Unity scheme as the default desktop. The company first designed Unity as the preferred interface in its Netbook Remix in the version 10.04 release.
i tried unity in pre-release. i expected bugs, and found plenty of them. tried again after official release and was just as disappointed. this will not move consumers from windows, and only frustrate ubuntu users. i went back to 10.04 where everything works the way it should. if gnome 3 is similar to unity, i will be looking for a new distribution. not ubuntu. i like compiz/config which is not supported on my computer in unity.
IMHO
a)Natty was not awsome as promised, because Unity was presented on 10.10 Netbook remix and many of the bugs that presented are only fixed for 11.04. Many of us saw a desktop full of shortcomings, when on the other hand Gnome was fully functional and plenty of customizations.
b)Unity want to propose a diferent desktop, but without full Gnome Community support (they are working on Gnome3 too), the efforts of Unity team looks very weaks. I we add the lack of customizations, it loose the "Linux touch", turn it into a boring desktop.
I hope that Unity and Gnome3 could "live" happy together as two options of desktop, on incoming releases (Or it could be one of the biggest headache of Gnome users).
The Unity desktop definitely presents a learning curve. I think it would be excellent for a netbook or tablet but I just didn't find it (personally) usable for a desktop environment. I didn't like the lack of maximize/minimize buttons on the windows and being unable to resize a window. Who honestly thought this was a good idea? I'm a newbie to Linux from the Windows world and while I like new GUIs, this wasn't one of them. Sure, it had a lot of eye candy but I was anxious to get some work started on a Linux system. I could understand KDE and GNOME and move around well but Unity was just too much of a departure. I ended up going with Linux Mint, am very happy with it and was able to get my system up and running fairly quickly
Folks, I do like new things and want to try them, but it seems like everything I want to do in Ubuntu 11.04 with Unity requires a 2 hour google adventure with the command line and exotic fixes. arrgggg!
I especially hate the file menu showing up all the way at the top of the desktop. My 1920x1080 32-inch monitor requires me to mouse all the way up and then allll the wayyy down to use the menu. The is serious time-suck! Who the heck was the usability engineer on this?
The search box is horrible, I don't remember the name of all the software I have installed, I need to see a full list, and not with large icons everywhere, I'm not that blind yet.
I will be switching back now to the old desktop that I know how thanks to this article. I feel like I have come off a terrible Canonical-roller-coaster when all I did was hit a single "upgrade button", sheesh.
PS on the article:
--You can get to the Desktop via Mod-D (windows_key-D)
--minimized windows do not make send in unity, period.
Unity seems to me a child only its mother could love. I came to Linux from Windows about two years ago, but I had less trouble adapting to Ubuntu 9.04 than I would have had with Unity if I were a newcomer today. I see no way that a two-foot-wide version of a phone screen can be a useful desktop navigation system!
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Natty Narwhal Offers Unity but No Clarity
Posted by: Jack M. Germain May 10, 2011 05:00 AMMy reaction to the latest version of Ubuntu can be summed up in just three words: Far from awesome! That impression largely results from the switch to the new Unity desktop. Canonical, the developer of the Ubuntu Linux operating system, released version 11.04, also known as “Natty Narwhal,” on April 28. This latest version marks the official roll-out of the redesigned Unity scheme as the default desktop. The company first designed Unity as the preferred interface in its Netbook Remix in the version 10.04 release.
a)Natty was not awsome as promised, because Unity was presented on 10.10 Netbook remix and many of the bugs that presented are only fixed for 11.04. Many of us saw a desktop full of shortcomings, when on the other hand Gnome was fully functional and plenty of customizations.
b)Unity want to propose a diferent desktop, but without full Gnome Community support (they are working on Gnome3 too), the efforts of Unity team looks very weaks. I we add the lack of customizations, it loose the "Linux touch", turn it into a boring desktop.
I hope that Unity and Gnome3 could "live" happy together as two options of desktop, on incoming releases (Or it could be one of the biggest headache of Gnome users).
I especially hate the file menu showing up all the way at the top of the desktop. My 1920x1080 32-inch monitor requires me to mouse all the way up and then allll the wayyy down to use the menu. The is serious time-suck! Who the heck was the usability engineer on this?
The search box is horrible, I don't remember the name of all the software I have installed, I need to see a full list, and not with large icons everywhere, I'm not that blind yet.
I will be switching back now to the old desktop that I know how thanks to this article. I feel like I have come off a terrible Canonical-roller-coaster when all I did was hit a single "upgrade button", sheesh.
PS on the article:
--You can get to the Desktop via Mod-D (windows_key-D)
--minimized windows do not make send in unity, period.