[ubuntu-za] Configuring Ubuntu 11.10

[Lee Sharp]

On 12/22/2011 03:21 AM, Peter Nel wrote:

> I know we've been reading very vocal opinions against Unity, and it
> pains me that so many negativity have been spread around it.

And I am sick and tired of my reasoned opinions being called FUD.

> Unity in 11.10 was actually voted most popular in one of the latest polls:
> [Poll Result: 15,900 votes Cast; Unity Named Most Popular Desktop]
> http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/11/poll-result-15800-votes-cast-unity-named-most-popular-desktop/
> Results look substantially better than earlier polls, so it seems
> people are warming up to the idea.

Go look at the Phoronix poll.  The most common thread is that Gnome 
Shell is bad, and bring back Gnome 2.  Also, consider the question, 
"Which Desktop Environment Do You Use in Ubuntu 11.10?"  Not a lot of 
option there...  Unity, Gnome Shell, or a castrated and non-functioning 
clone of Gnome 2.  And Unity is MUCH better than Gnome 3.  It is 
actually a good tool for some, but not for me on a computer, and for 
many others on full sized computers.  Note that I am looking at a 
tablet, and I would install unity on that.

> Certain people are so against change that they actively spread Fear
> Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) to force some agenda, whether by
> sensational blog articles to pull ad-clicking revenue-generating
> viewers, or in forum comments.
> Rest assured, they are the minority, who tend to contribute very
> little to the community.

Like that lazy Linus guy? 
http://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=linus+Gnbome+3&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=linus%20Gnome%203

Now let me skip to your other e-mail...


On 12/22/2011 08:28 AM, Peter Nel wrote:
 > It's opinionated comments like that that creates fear (uncertainty,
 > and doubt) in the minds of less experienced users whom we are supposed
 > to guide into adoption.

And reactionary responses like yours which perpetuate the problem.  It 
is not FUD.  It is a reasoned opinion based on facts and the way I and 
many others use a computer.

 > Recommending degrading to 10.04 is a short term "solution" at best,
 > and is irresponsible. It's already 3x releases old. The next one,
 > 12.04 is the next LTS, and Canonical will be discontinuing support for
 > 10.04 in the near future... Are YOU going to support them then? Or
 > what, are you going to tell them to migrate to Linux Mint, that with
 > Mint 12 (Lisa) has also seen the sense of going over to Gnome3 (it's
 > supposed "edge" over Ubuntu having been Gnome 2!), or perhaps some
 > other less-supported desktop?

All of it is a short term solution.  The end is different, but support 
will end for 12.04 as well.  Hopefully by the time 10.04 is no longer 
updated there will be other options.  There are already two BIG ones. 
There is the fork of Gnome 2, Mate, which is intended to be Gnome 2 with 
gtk3.  And there is the fork of Gnome 3 which is intended to have the 
Gnome 2 DE ported.  This is being done by the Linux Mint guys.

 > You have the right to your opinion but don't sell it as fact, or
 > impose it on impressionable people who may take your word as
 > authoritative on the subject.

OK.  How about some facts?  Gnome 3 is designed around a single 
application viewable at a time.  Right now I have 4 windows open and 
visible.  They are at all of the edges of the screen.  If I move a 
window to the top of the screen in Unity, it goes full screen, and I 
have to move it back and jack with it.  If I want to find a window, I 
have to go via the App menu first.  This is not how I and many others do 
work.  It slows me down a LOT.  Also the search instead of a menu...  I 
have this DNS server benchmarking application installed.  What was it 
called again?  Search DNS, but nope...  Or in Gnome 2, I go to 
Applications -> Internet and find NameBench.  That was it!  (Yes, this 
actually happened.  I went back to my other computer to find the app on 
the Unity box I was trying to use.)

 > There are many (apparently the majority according to recent polls) old
 > and new users that like Unity and/or Gnome3.

Whose poll?  omgubuntu is a nice blog, but it has a audience skewed 
toward the non-technical. (Of Linux users, which is highly technical, 
but hang on) If you look at network admins, developers, and hackers (old 
version, not crackers) you see a lot more resentment.  You also see them 
leaving in droves because they have the skill to do so.  Look at Linus, 
Eric Raymond, Richard Stalman...  They are all leaving Ubuntu or Gnome 
right now.  And they do not take polls at omgubuntu...

 > Certain people find it hard to adapt I find, more due to old habits
 > than the new paradigm being inferior in design or concept.

I can adapt.  I can drive a nail with a rock.  But there is this well 
working hammer right here, and I would rather use that.


As to the other comment about applications, I am also running the nvidia 
ppa and the firefox ppa, the WINE ppa, and some others, so I am not 
totally in the dark ages here.

			Lee