On 12/28/2011 09:38 PM, Jo-Erlend Schinstad wrote:
Den 28. des. 2011 20:40, skrev Nenad Lecek:
Dear all,
as I don't know where to put my comments about Ubuntu 11.10 usability,
I'm posting here. My apologies if this is not the right place, and I'd
be grateful if you point me where to post my comment.
This list is ok to use for discussions about the desktop, but you should
back up your claims with facts. It is not a fact that Unity doesn't
serve users well. It serves me well, for instance. Claiming that Ubuntu
is no longer user friendly because you don't like one of the
applications it provides, is pure nonsense.
well, I'm using Ubuntu 11.10 and found really annoying to use Unity.
Open several windows (e.g. Netbeans, firefox, nautilus and gitk and try
to work efficiently with menus of each application, minimize/maximize
window, etc., Unity is just driving me crazy. It is simply unnatural. In
case the Unity is just one application that is seldom used, and not the
central one, you won't get my comments for sure.
Some reasons are explained below. This is not a full list, just the
key points.
1) Appearing/disappearing left side toolbar doesn't bring anything
compared to Gnome Classic Ubuntu desktop and menu. Why? Simply put if
you know that you have couple of menus where you programs are, this is
much better/faster than unnecessary dynamic/uncertainty which Unity
provides. BTW, Classic gnome desktop we had in previous Ubuntu
versions was really well structured. Unity doesn't provide that.
Personally, I do not see the point of promoting Unity as the only
desktop on Ubuntu, because classic gnome desktop was well structured
and good enough. Eventually, only search capability like in Unity
could have been added, although this functionality in Unity is far
from good, currently is just minor convenience.
Promoting Unity as the only desktop in Ubuntu would be a lie. Who is
doing that? The idea that "classic gnome desktop", which is called Gnome
Panel, by the way, is no longer available in Ubuntu, is a misconception.
It's still there.
I do not see where to choose Gnome Panel. Again, I'm using Ubuntu 11.10.
If I could remove Unity from my desktop and put Gnome panel instead fine
with me. But, because is far from obvious where&how to do it, you have
my comments.
2) The application menu is shown in main menu toolbar. This is
annoying at best, and from usability point of view very it is a really
poor choice. Why is considered good to force the user to search where
the menu for her/his application is.
You're claiming that you now have to search for the menu because it's
always at the same place? That doesn't make sense to me. In any case,
you can disable the global menu if you prefer it that way.
Try to work in parallel with few GUI applications mentioned above and
you may get idea that global application menu could be really annoying.
How to disable it is not clear to me. All I wanted is that application
window which I'm working with has own menu. No need to look around which
app has focus and which menu I have now in global menu.
3) Performance consideration: seems so that Unity eats performance and
batteries on laptops. Again, no value in service it provides in return.
Of all the components in Ubuntu, you just assume that Unity somehow
reduces performance? Correlation does not imply causation. I see no
reason why Unity would impact performance in any way.
You may open system monitor and see CPU usage for idle system. After
upgrade to 11.10 my system user interface is significantly slower.
4) Search applications capability in Unity is really poorly designed
and of limited usage. In some cases, you almost have to know exact
name so that application you are searching for could be found. In
others searching application itself has confusing, complex user
interface. This could have been done much better.
If you can do better, then do so, or at least explain how. You don't
even provide an example so that others can understand your problem.
Consider the following from my previous post:
>> For example, in case main menu taskbar of classic gnome desktop
>> contains the short, google like edit line for entering search
>> expression for finding application, the Unity will be completely
>> unnecessary. Simple as that.
Finally, my proposal is to return to classic gnome desktop as default
Ubuntu desktop.
In addition, if new fancy user interface is for whatever reason
needed, one can keep improving alternative user interface designs
until one of them reach maturity needed for such broad user base. And
make it optional, not mandatory.
Unity has never been mandatory in Ubuntu. It's extremely unlikely that
it will ever be. Gnome Panel is still around if you want to improve it.
I have impression that the Unity is mandatory, simply because I cannot
find a way to switch back to Gnome Panel. So, if Gnome Panel is
available in Ubuntu 11.10 and Unity is not mandatory, fine. And again,
Unity was selected as a default option - bad choice, the user should
have easier way to switch between Unity and Gnome Panel.
For example, in case main menu taskbar of classic gnome desktop
contains the short, google like edit line for entering search
expression for finding application, the Unity will be completely
unnecessary. Simple as that.
Google searches public information. Unity scopes searches your personal
information and online information. Completely different things. I would
not want to give Google direct access to my personal computer in order
to search for things. Unity is not primarily a look. It is primarily an
infrastructure that enables applications to connect to the system. Parts
of Unity is implemented for both Windows, LXDE and Xfce, for instance.
The components will look different in KDE and Xfce, since they're
different desktops.
Well, please try to understand that I mentioned Google only regarding
simplicity of user interface (open browser, go to page www.google.com,
normally use edit line to enter search criteria and based on that get
pretty good results). Ubuntu searches for application locally, but still
can use similar, simple interface of one edit field to search for
available apps (ideally this edit line has fixed place in top menu of
Gnome Panel, instead of show/hide me game in Unity).
You seem to have many questions, but you formulate them as accusations
and unsubstantiated claims instead. It is not an effective way of
attaining information. In fact, you're reducing the likelihood that
people will be willing to help you.
At least I've tried to explain and provide comments to developers in
Ubuntu community, so that Ubuntu could be improved. If this is not
wanted, well, feel free to ignore my (user) input.
The Unity is simply not intuitive and doesn't solve any of my problems,
just drive me crazy. Gnome Panel is just fine! With one small (and
optional) improvement of Gnome panel, as explained above, everything is
fine again. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Jo-Erlend Schinstad
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