Ubuntu 12.04 LTS removing unity and installing GNOME

[Ryan Gauger]

On 06/05/2012 07:59 AM, Jim Byrnes wrote:
> On 06/05/2012 07:35 AM, Ryan Gauger wrote:
>> On 06/04/2012 10:44 PM, Rashkae wrote:
>>> On 06/04/2012 08:04 AM, Ryan Gauger wrote:
>>>> ent. I am on the Unity Design Team, and we have crafted the most
>>>> beautiful desktop environment ever (haha, just kidding). It would be
>>>> helpful if someone replied who hates Unity (or someone who knows why,
>>>> but maybe doesn't hate it themselves), and told me why, so that I can
>>>> give this information to the Unity Design Team. As I have said, I do
>>>> *highly* recommend just getting used to Unity, like you got used to
>>>> Ubuntu when you switched from Windows (I know not everyone did, but
>>>> most people do not install another OS than the one that came
>>>> pre-installed (most lik
>>>
>>> Ok, I'll bite....
>>>
>>> (Note: I haven't tried the latest iteration of Unity. Apolgies if some
>>> of these issues have been addressed.)
>>>
>>> I don't personally like moving the application menus to the top of the
>>> screen. Admittedly, this is something I could just get used to, and
>>> 'would' have proven useability benefits to using the screen edge for
>>> infinite pointing space... I say "would" be cause any perceived
>>> theoretical benefit gets completely eliminated when the menu hides
>>> unless you move the mouse pointer to unveil it. I don't know what
>>> genius thought that would be a good idea, but it shows right there in
>>> two minutes exactly how little though to usability actually went into
>>> Unity.
>>>
>>> 2: I'm a compulsive multi-tasker who has grown used to having a dozen
>>> virtual desktops, several of them filled with several windows. A task
>>> bar/dock that doesn't keep my desktops separate is completely useless
>>> to me. It's bad enough that Docky hides the option and requires gconf
>>> editing to enable this basic function, but Unity eliminates it
>>> entirely. If I could opt out of using Unity task bar in favor of
>>> something else that worked better for my needs, (docky, AWN, and
>>> another whose name I forget,) that would be a non usse. But Unity,
>>> like Gnome Shell, forces itself to be all or nothing. Bad Unity.
>>>
>>>
>>> Those are the only 2 issues I ran into before giving up on Unity. #2
>>> especially is a complete showstopper.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I can answer one of your thoughts on this... Moving the app menus to the
>> top panel was done to provide more space for the app. This is part of
>> what creates a distraction-free area, especially for maximised apps. It
>> may not look like it, but if you really think about it, hiding the app
>> menu by default helps to create more space. We could not fit the menu on
>> the same panel as the title, window control buttons, and indicator
>> applets, so we thought that hiding them by default was a better way to
>> go than to throw them down under the top panel, as that would not make
>> any sense at all, and may confuse users more than the hidden menus. I
>> will bring up the idea for the option for more virtual desktops in the
>> Unity Design Team, as well as more ideas you had. Thanks!
>>
>> In Christ,
>> Ryan
>>
>>
>
> This is not the first time I have seen the "give more space to the 
> apps" argument for moving the menus to the top.  To me it is not a 
> compelling argument.  I just measured and the menu bar takes up a 
> whole 1/4 inch on my monitor.  I would gladly give up that 1/4 to have 
> menus where I expect to find them. I mean what is a 1/4 inch, one row 
> on a spreadsheet.
>
> I'm with Rashkae on the multi-tasking issue.  Again I would gladly 
> give up another 1/4 of screen space for a comfortable way of keep 
> track of what is happening on my desktop.
>
> Regards,  Jim
>
>
>
Removing the global menu would not necessarily add to the desktop 
experience, or add to the app space. The top panel would still have to 
be there, for the indicator menus. That would basically be the only 
reason the top panel would be there, and that does not really make any 
sense. Thanks!