On Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:03:37 -0800 MJang <[email protected]> dijo: >I'm just starting to notice the "how to save Fedora" thread on the >associated users list. The number of messages on the subject is pretty >intense. I had thought it was flame bait until seeing the attention >given by notable Fedora developers such as Alan Cox and Thomas Cameron, >including this bit: > >"It's bloated >It picks bad user defaults >It ships a default desktop which burns CPU horribly" > >ref >http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/users/2011-November/407525.html > >While I don't think there's --any-- risk that Red Hat stops Fedora, I >do wonder if Fedora is about to go through some significant changes.
I've been sitting in front of a Fedora laptop for several hours a day for the past couple of years. Prior to that I used Ubuntu, starting with the (then) current Breezy. Throughout this time I read the Ubuntu and Fedora forums daily, often participating by asking questions or answering when I could. I can summarize for you in one word the reason for the current flurry of venom: Gnome 3. OK, that was two words. But one was a number, and we all know that numbers don't count. Gnome developers have never made it a secret that they view Gnome as a full-featured desktop environment for current hardware. They make no bones about the fact that Gnome 3 requires significant computing power and is not intended for legacy hardware. At the same time RedHat has been fully open about the purpose of the Fedora project: To be a test ground for cutting edge stuff that will eventually make it into RedHat after the Fedora users get the kinks out. When you combine those two philosophies you get frustrated users. I knew that Fedora 15 introduced Gnome 3 (without a fully implemented fallback or legacy mode), and I deliberately held off on upgrading my Fedora 14 laptop. Unfortunately, because of RedHat's purpose for Fedora I must upgrade or be cut off from software updates. That is, Fedora supports only the current version and one version back. I am currently in the throes of moving from Gnome to XFCE so that if, as I suspect will be the case, I really can't stand Gnome 3 I will have an alternative in place. (And so far I am actually liking XFCE, now that I have spent a considerable time getting it configured - I may never go back to Gnome.) Now factor in human nature. We are all creatures of habit. In my new XFCE desktop I have a wide panel on the left edge of the screen, wide because I wanted a text clock at the top of it. But for years with Gnome on Ubuntu and Fedora the clock was at the top right. My eyes still automatically go to the top right to check the time. I will get used to it, but many people are not willing to retrain themselves. And even I have my limits. I will not tolerate Gnome 3's massive clutter of icons all over the screen. When I read the complaints about Gnome 3 on the Fedora forums I am struck that the vast majority are whiners who do not wish to change. There are a number, however, who have legitimate complaints about missing functionality and inability to customize the appearance. And I do sympathize with the whiners to some extent; Gnome 3 was a very large leap all at once. In the end it will all sort itself out. Gnome will add extensions to restore missing functionality and appearance, and users will get used to the new Gnome. And some of us will move on to something else. I might be a bit worried about Gnome, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over Fedora. _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
