<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 TRANSITIONAL//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; CHARSET=UTF-8"> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="GtkHTML/3.30.3"> </HEAD> <BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> Hi Jo-Erland cc. developers Just to let you know, I have now installed and tried using 12.04 with both the classic desktop and Unity. Using the classic desktop I have found that while the left hand side top panel options relating to applications, places, etc. are more or less the same as in 10.04 the right hand side top panel cannot be customised the same way as it could in 10.04. In addition, the classic desktop appears not to have a rubbish bin (it was a very useful little app). Desktop background options no longer provide a link to <A HREF="http://www.art.gnome.org/backgrounds">www.art.gnome.org/backgrounds</A> leaving very limited options for new users unless they mount their own pictures as backgrounds. Also, themes are now very limited both in options and customisation. In addition, the GNOME application gThumb viewer appears to have a bug that was not present in the version installed with 10.04 (e.g. slide-show sequencing out of order). With regard to trying Unity, I have found the Unity interface provides too much information and too many options which can cause desktop confusion and annoyance. When viewing the applications installed, I am presented with both apps not yet installed together with apps recommended. These unwanted items clutter the desktop making it difficult to (as they say) see the wood for trees. If I want an application that wasn't seen / installed I would search for it at the Ubuntu Software Centre or use the Synaptic Package Manager. Overall (without any prejudice, as an independent user for over two years) I have found Ubuntu 12.04 not as usable / customisable as 10.04 and while it may attract new users who have not had any experience of 10.04, I fear it is very likely to deter existing users who really liked the 10.04 desktop. It appears my original email concerns about changing the desktop have been mostly realised. Consequently, today, I have downloaded and installed Debian 6.0.4. My initial findings with Debian are very favourable in that the desktop is very much as 10.04 and very easy to customise. My plan now is operate with both Ubuntu 10.04 and Debian as boot options with the prospect of moving to Debian as the main O/S when support for 10.04 ends. If future updates to 12.04 eventually correct my concerns as outlined above I shall return (as they say). Best Regards Len Watts On Sun, 2012-04-22 at 16:34 +0200, Jo-Erlend Schinstad wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE> Den 22. april 2012 12:45, skrev <A HREF="mailto:lenscom.uk@gmail.com">lenscom.uk@gmail.com</A>: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE> possible. I am aware that many current Ubuntu users are very worried about losing the GNOME 2 interface or the changes that maybe found in the 12.04 classic option. If you can find a way to keep supporting a GNOME 2 type interface (at least) for the duration of the 12.04 LTS system I am convinced you will have the very best of all worlds, i.e. keeping all the current user base as well as </BLOCKQUOTE> To my knowledge (I haven't tested the last week or so), there are a few visual differences from 10.04: 1) There's no trashcan on the panel by default. 2) There's no System menu, only Applications and Places. This is because we now have System settings. 3) There's no Firefox and Help launchers on the upper panel next to Places by default. I don't think many users should have any difficulties handling that. You can add them just like you could before. :) Then there's the practical differences: 1) you have to press and hold the Alt-key in order to customize the panel 2) Applets are grouped to the left, center or right. 3) Panels are now working properly. Or at least, most of the old bugs are gone. Perhaps there are a few new ones. :) In particular, this bug is finally gone: <A HREF="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-panel/+bug/44082">https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-panel/+bug/44082</A>. And vertical panels are working much better than they ever did in Gnome Panel 2, most likely because GTK3 itself is able to switch orientation, which wasn't possible with GTK2. Gnome Panel 3 really is a very nice upgrade for all Gnome Panel users. Quite a few third-party applets still needs to be upgraded though. But that won't usually be a very big job. Still, somebody has to do it. It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Gnome Panel. Jo-Erlend Schinstad </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>