Things I Hate About Ubuntu 10.04, Lucid Lynx (beta)
I am writing this now because Ubuntu Lucid Lynx is still in beta and we can help, by letting Canonical know what is wrong with the distribution before the stable release hits the “markets”. Open source is not a democracy, but companies use beta versions to do “field testing”, right? We all want to make Linux look as good possible, so make sure to share your thoughts on 10.04!
The Theme
I was waiting eagerly for the day Ubuntu changed their theme, I wasn’t a fan of the brown. It can always be worse, though. I’m not going to talk about the window buttons, there have been enough rants on the subject. Just look at this screenshot (hint: Ooo.org button: right, window button: left, mouse slalom?). The other problem with the theme are the colors. Can you even see half of the X button in OpenOffice? I am not a professional, and I saw violet and orange are related (as opposites) in the color wheel, but my eyes weren’t very happy. There is a reason most operating systems ship with light colors – websites, program workspaces: most of these are white. Try drawing on a white canvas for 2 hours with a black window border and toolbar. Yes, it’s doable, but very uncomfortable. Trivia question: Which other distribution uses a combination of orange and violet? Hannah Montana Linux.
The GIMP vs Pitivi
Ubuntu is a flagship Linux distribution. It should show people how powerful Linux is, how much you can do with only free software. The way things are now, with the removal of GIMP, Lucid simply reeks of “Me too“. F-Spot does the job nicely, as far as red-eye removal goes. However the GIMP is a great image editing tool that should not have been replaced by a simple (and unstable) video editor.
The GRUB 2 bootloader
More specifically, I’m talking about configuration of the Grand Unified Bootloader, version 2. In most cases, people simply want to switch the order of the operating systems in the boot menu and threads are popping up on linux forums where people are asking about how to do this on GRUB 2. While the new method may be safer, it is still unnecessarily complicated. Adding a simple GRUB configuration GUI to the default install would certainly be a step in the right direction. I’m also not sure if everyone’s thrilled with having a mile-long GRUB menu after a few kernel updates (seriously, this should be an option, not a default feature).
Disclaimer: as always, these are my opinions only. Post yours in the comments.
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- Canonical has released the first beta of Ubuntu Linux 10.04 (robbiz1978.blogspot.com)
The reason Gimp was removed is that most people want to edit photo’s and the Gimp is far too powerful for just simple photo retouch. It will still be there in the repositories, so a quick apt-get install and your in business. The same reason is why PiTiVi has been included. How many people have digital cameras and phones capable of recording video? Ubuntu is taking the fight to Apple’s OSX. Does Apple come with a full blown image editing package? No. But it does come with tools to do “fun” stuff as the Apple ads sells so well.
As to the theme, its not set in stone, it can be changed unlike Apple’s OSX and Windows. Everyone is entitled to their grumblings, but lets see where they go. Mark has stated on his blog that he will be the first to hold up his hands and say he was wrong if the design changes aren’t received well.
[...] Things I Hate About Ubuntu 10.04, Lucid Lynx (beta) [...]
I thought I was the only one that doesn’t like GRUB2. As you stated, using GRUB2 would be fine if there was a GUI tool that would allow users to change their GRUB menu. Hopefully *someone* is hard at work writing a GUI GRUB editor.
I dislike the general move toward looking like a Mac OSX clone. The new all white logo, the monchrome panel icons (which look out of place when you have anything else in your panel at full color). Now the buttons on the left, which bring up inconsistencies with apps like Chrome or Songbird when they do their own window decoration. Ubuntu established a nice visual identity, and they could have simply improved on it. Instead they decided to just look at OSX and say “me too”. Sorry but cheap knock-offs usually make people think they are lower quality. I hope I’m wrong but I fear people seeing it for the fist time will just scoff and walk away.
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I have no problem with the buttons on the leftmost of the windows, you may modify it if you don’t like it as well as the theme.
I have no problem with the buttons on the left corner of the window. I love Mac OS X’s theme. If someone doesn’t like it, they can change it easily with a few clicks.
As far as Ubuntu 10.04 its still in beta so we just have to see where its goin when its launched later this month. Your gripes are more pointless gripes about the OS as another comment said changing the button layout is not hard at all thats what gconf-editor is for. Also Ubuntu is not like windows or Mac that your stuck with what Ubuntu gives you. For the noob there are many how to articles and for more vets to Ubuntu then they know the drill. I run Ubuntu 10.04 havent found a problem with is yet only some bugs that needs to be corrected which the LTR should correct them problems so I personally dont have major complaints about the beta release. Im happy to see the progress that Ubuntu has made since there first release 4.10.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/13535/move-window-buttons-back-to-the-right-in-ubuntu-10.04/
That will tell you how to move the buttons back to the right side of the window.
Also, if you want the buttons in the right order (minimize, maximize and then close) use this key instead. menu:minimize,maximize,close
Switch the theme to Radiance much easier on the eyes. and I know i’m in the minority here but I really like the new window button placement.
If you choose your distro based on where the close buttons are you don’t need a computer.
sudo apt-get remove pitivi
sudo apt-get install gimp
Seriously, you people need to quit your bitching. If you don’t like it, then why are you wasting your time complaining about it? Go back to the mother ship at Apple or virustopia at Microcrap.
You expect them to come up with a theme that suits everybody? I like the new theme and button placements, but it’s still just a preference. Change it and shut the hell up.
Boy was I surprised to see an email from this.
“Why are you wasting your time complaining about it?”
pot/kettle/black
You are wasting *your* time complaining about a blog post that is 3 months old. Perhaps by one month ago, or two months ago, the original poster did indeed stop complaining about Canonical’s choice.
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