[OT]Re: [11.10_Alpha1]-Will Classic Gnome Be An Option?

[Liam Proven]

On 20 May 2011 21:12, Graham Todd <grahamtodd2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 6 May 2011 19:10:19 +0100
> Alan Pope <alan at popey.com> wrote:
>
>> That's not the plan, no.
>>
>> The plan for 11.10 is to have Unity 3D by default, with Unity 2D as
>> the fallback.
>>
>> GNOME Shell will be in the repository for installation, and I suspect
>> the traditional GNOME 2-panel interface will be possible too. Neither
>> of those will be 'default' though.
>
> I understand that is the schedule, but is the "traditional GNOME
> 2-panel interface" going to be for Gnome2 or Gnome3, and if Gnome2 can
> we have some indication of whether Ubuntu is going over to Gnome3 or
> not?
>
> I don't want to have to learn a new desktop (such as Unity) unless its
> part of a shift to Gnome3; this was the reason I shifted from KDE3 when
> it started to change to KDE4 (there were just too many changes for me
> to be comfortable).
>
> But I am happy to get over a few hurdles if I can be sure of the long
> term plans.  Gnome3 is the current version of GNOME so is the Unity
> desktop part of Ubuntu's long term plans to introduce Gnome3? Or not?

GNOME 2 is effectively dead. Expect it to disappear.

For now, Unity is based on GNOME 2 libraries, but it will be moved to
GNOME 3 ones. (Sorry, can't remember where I read this, but it was an
official statement.)

GNOME 3 offers 2 desktops: the GNOME Shell, a whizzy
hardware-composited one, and "Fallback mode." Fallback mode resembles
the GNOME 2 desktop you know, but it's simpler - for instance, no
arbitrary button or icon placement - the only options are left,
centred or right.

So you /can/ choose a GNOME 2-*like* desktop in GNOME 3 but it's not
quite the same.

What Alan is saying (and I have no more information to reveal) is that
11.10 will be based around GNOME 3, not GNOME 2, but you will, if you
install the relevant packages, have a choice of three desktops:

* Unity (the Ubuntu default by then - Unity-3D if you have the
hardware for it, Unity-2D if you don't).

* GNOME Shell - which you'll have to install for yourself & like Unity
needs 3D hardware.

* GNOME 3 fallback mode - which you'll also have to install for
yourself, but broadly resembles the GNOME 2 desktop.

Here's what Fallback Mode looks like:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gnome-3-fallback.html

-- 
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