> Check Xubuntu for usability. Most of Ubuntu's Microsoft like qualities are > in the desktop, and Xubuntu puts Xfce on top of Ubuntu. Lubuntu is a > possibility, too. (I use Xubuntu, for much the reasons you quote). >
The argument that "Canonical is aiming at the same market as Microsoft and comes up with similar solutions on the operator interface..." is vague at best. The argument COULD be applied exclusively towards the Unity desktop environment, which would be fair... In which case, Lubuntu and Xubuntu MAY be acceptable replacements. On the other hand, he singled out the parent company and their product line as the offenders... So I'm tempted to respect his wishes. The argument could be equally applied towards Canonical's willingness to bundle proprietary drivers, codecs, and software... Also to the App Store that features both proprietary and for-cost applications... Also to Canonical's willingness to work with 3rd parties that don't share the FOSS philosophies... Etc. Ad nauseum. So again, I'm tempted to simply respect his wishes. On the other hand, while the argument that "Anything that LOOKS like Windows is the Enemy" certainly does exclude KDE, Gnome3, and Unity to varying degrees of offense, it holds little value in a philosophical software-design arena, where attention to detail in the User eXperience is as important as usability to the end product, and doesn't really make one "Microsoft-like," as much as it makes them "Pro-user..." I'm suddenly sounding more "Microsoft is pro-user" than I usually sound... OK, so I acknowledge I have played Devil's Advocate here... So let me get to the point... The OP never stated WHY he felt Microsoft-like behavior was evil, or even WHAT makes something Microsoft-like... So any arguments in that arena are poorly articulated at best, and are best saved for the burning bridge where the troll lives. He said he didn't want Ubuntu because Canonical is targeting the mass market... Respect that, and move on with the helpful input. _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
