Comments on: Ubuntu 12.04 – Replacing the Unity Interface

By: admin

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:33:33 +0000

Unity is built on top of GNOME 3 – which is pretty heavy. I agree that there seems to be too many CPU cycles being used when idle – though, I am not sure if this is system monitor tool or the Linux core itself.
There is no question that the dominant computing platform is becoming things like tablets and cell phones. People have always wanted a commodity, not a general purpose box (although, i tend to be one of the exceptions).

By: Ubuntu no more

Ubuntu no more — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:01:05 +0000

They claim Unity is needed for netbooks, tablets and other small systems but Unity is a pig. Unity and the spyware Cannonical has added makes the system use 3x as much RAM just to boot. It consumes CPU sitting still.
It is maleware.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:44:23 +0000

In reply to Lee. I didn't include an article for KDE because KDE is broken. I believe the typical (non-geek) user wants to be able to use the Ubuntu Software Center (or somethign similar) when installing and removing packages. KDE provides Muon as their software center. Unfortunately, Neither Ubuntu Software Center nor Muon work in KDE. When this gets fixed, I will write an article on installing KDE. For the hardcore geek user, they are probably using the command line for installing and removing packages, so I don't think they need a KDE tutorial. If you want to install the KDE desktop, you have two options: kubuntu-desktop (which install KDE along with a bunch of applications) or kde-plasma-desktop (which installs the basic KDE desktop). Thanks for your question.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:23:19 +0000

I like unity, yes like every1 for the firsttime unity was introduce I hate it so much, coz it’s looked like ubuntu eventually make they os for laptop only or something like tablet etc. but now after playing arround and trying to get use to it, I can accept it. I think it will be much more lovely after u tweak it, like me using faenza icons, and turn the backlight active only on active task leave it so beautiful dock on the left side on my desktop. However, I still wanna have multiple environment on my desktop, that’s why I coming here. but why no guide for kde desktop?

By: admin

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:17:44 +0000

In reply to marty.

I agree that the first impression of Unity is going to be negative. You can’t just change the interface paradigm and not explain it – this leaves people confused and not knowing how to use it.
This is a good video illustrating that point exactly:

Canonical should provide a walk through of the interface to guide people through it. For crying out loud, most flash games have a tutorial walk through for the first level or two.
As an older developer (my first interaction with a computer was FORTRAN programming via teletype), I was not crazy about mouse driven GUIs. I still map as many operations to keystrokes as I can. However, with Unity, I can keep my hands on the keyboard instead of switching between keyboar and mouse.
Canonical defintely has to improve Dash so it is smarter about finding applications because if people can’t find their apps they are going to be frustrated.
I am pretty sure you can add a folder to the Launcher (I will have to look into that) because the second icon from the top is your home folder. Granted, this may not be so much the folder as Nautilus set to default to your home folder.
You can adjust the size of the icons from System Settings->Appearance.
A good app for customizing Unity is MyUnity (it will also allow you to place certain icons on your desktop) as wel as adjust various parameters of Unity (including icon size and launcher behaviour (you can have the launcher fixed in place or slide in and out).
I think Unity has a way to go, but it is certainly more useable than in 11.10. As well, desktops are changing: GNOME and KDE are creating new style desktops (granted, they still tend to be mouse / menu driven). Unity is just a different direction.
Of course, not everyone is going to like it, which is why I wrote up instructions on how to change it (if you want).
Thanks for your comment.

By: marty

marty — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:29:17 +0000

Unity Sux because.
No 1 Dash, why should you have to type the name of an app (if you can remember its name) Dash is a through back to dos and unix its awful, Give me a nice logical app tree any day.
No 2 Unity panel is always in the way, it pops up even when hidden as soon as the mouse goes any where near it and covers the program commands you were trying to use.
NO 3 you cant add folders to the unity bar
no 4 the icons are massive, is this for three year olds?
No 5 file edit view history etc always are at the top. when you are working with multiple windows and programs this is an utter pain, the need to be where they belong . on the window itself as they always have been.
In short its pretty and ok for email and Internet, a song or a picture but if you use you computer as a productivity tool it is hopeless, slow clunky and backward. It is not possible to work with unity efficiently.