Ubuntu 12.04 LTS removing unity and installing GNOME

[Jim Byrnes]

On 06/05/2012 08:08 AM, Ryan Gauger wrote:
> 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!
>

I hit send to quickly.  What I was thinking but didn't write was I would 
like to have a bottom panel also.  So I could display the virtual 
desktops I was using and what was in them. That would amount to another 
1/4 inch gone.

Regards,  Jim