On 05/08/2011 07:10 PM, Josh Gould wrote: > Right now, I'm using Gnome Classic. I would prefer Xubuntu, but am afraid > that trying to make the switch (again) will cause more issues than it > solves. I have a fairly new (read released this March) MacBook Pro, that > has a fair amount of hardware that has taken some very careful tweaking of > things to get to work properly. My wireless is still iffy, but that's > because the chipset in this model is only used in this model of the MacBook > and no where else that anyone has seen yet. Unity looks nice, but after > using it for a little bit, it started to drive me nuts. I need to install > the xubuntu-desktop package, and haven't been still long enough to do so > yet. > > If I boot up using the Xubutu disk, I don't get things like keyboard > backlighting, and I have no clue what package is responsible for that. (It's > not pommed, I've tried that one under a pure Xubuntu install, and it didn't > help...) I haven't sat down and tried to figure out what package is > responsible for keyboard backlighting. I'm having issues with bluetooth, > but I think ti's for the same reasons that the wireless doesn't work yet. > > I've noticed that I'm using Linux more than I am the Mac OS at this point. > Knowing what I know now, and having effectively made the switch from the Mac > OS to Ubuntu, I would have gone with a machine from System76... (or one that > has more driver support under Ubuntu...)
I don't use any Apple hardware now because it was just too hard to get it to work with Linux. I have a Dell laptop which works nicely once the proprietary driver for the wireless chipset is installed. I also have a netbook I bought from Zareason which works perfectly and wasn't very expensive. Scott > > Josh > > On Sun, May 8, 2011 at 5:16 PM, Scott Randby <[email protected]> wrote: > >> On 05/08/2011 12:42 PM, [email protected] wrote: >>> I use Xubuntu at home and it is used in the course of producing The >> Burning Circle, our podcast at http://ohio.ubuntu-us.org/burningcircle, so >> it is fine. >>> >>> How specifically is Unity throwing you helter-skelter? >> >> Since you asked, I'm happy to explain. But first, I want it to be clear >> that I'm okay with the change to Unity because there are so many other >> options out there for those who choose not to use it. I've seen some >> really vicious criticisms of Unity that are directed at individuals >> instead of software and I don't want to be part of that. >> >> First, some background. The first computer I ever owned was a Macintosh >> SE which I purchased around 1988. I was a Mac user exclusively for years >> after that. I was happy when OS X came along because it really opened up >> the system, but Apple became more and more restrictive and less user >> friendly as time passed. Around 3 years ago I'd had enough and made the >> switch to Ubuntu. I chose Ubuntu because it was easy, it worked, and I >> could customize it easily. >> >> Now Unity comes along and it makes me feel like I'm back with Apple. My >> current system is set up so that I see only those things I want to see. >> But when I go to the Dash on Unity I see only what it wants me to see >> and I can't change it. I want the Dash to show only the applications >> that I use with the option of showing those I don't use. And I don't >> want it showing available software I haven't installed. If I desire >> other software, then I should be able to search for it using the Dash, >> but I'm an Emacs user and don't need other software. >> >> Putting application menus on the top panel instead of in application >> windows is a decision I don't understand. Maybe this is good for a >> netbook (though I don't like it on my netbook), but it doesn't work well >> at all when using a large screen. When I'm working on a large screen, I >> don't want to move my eyes away from the application window when I'm >> using an application, but Unity forces me to do just that when I need to >> use a menu (though I have menu bars turned off in Emacs). >> >> The Launcher is a huge problem for me. The decision to use the <Super> >> key to show the Launcher hurts because I use that key to switch between >> workspaces. Anyway, I'm used to creating my own primitive launcher and >> attaching it to the top panel. I can't do that with Unity. In addition, >> adding self-compiled applications (I always compile Emacs from source) >> to the Launcher requires more steps than before, and I have no idea how >> to ensure such applications are recognized by the Dash. >> >> As I see it, the fundamental problem with Unity is its lack of >> customization options. This is a serious design flaw, very serious. The >> ability to customize easily should be one of the primary considerations >> of desktop designers. Adding customizations options later is a >> fundamental mistake. The Compiz Settings Manager should be included by >> default at the minimum. It is fine to set things up one way for >> beginners, but everyone has different preferences and desires and, this >> being Linux, they should be able to set things up according to those >> preferences as much as possible. >> >> I've read that studies were done to determine what most people prefer in >> regard to such things as the placement of the menubar of an application. >> So fine, the mean preference was determined. But what is the standard >> deviation? I suspect that it is large and that most people would like >> something that is at the very least slightly different. I've also read >> that efficiency studies were done regarding certain operations. But >> efficiency does not equal usability. You can make people work >> efficiently but you can't make them like it. >> >> When I am able to customize Unity so that it isn't Unity anymore, then I >> might use it. But Xubuntu is looking really good right now. >> >> Scott Randby >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-us-ohio >> Post to : [email protected] >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-us-ohio >> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp >> > _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-us-ohio Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-us-ohio More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
