[Ayatana] Some feedback regarding Unity

[Adrian Maier <syraxes@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

When I saw that Ubuntu 11.04 will have the new unity interface I have
rushed to upgrade my home pc to the not-yet-released 11.04.  I saw the
new interface on my eeepc netbook running 10.10   , so I was excited
and impatient to try the unity on the desktop ...

Hopefully there is interest in getting feedback about it .  So here are some
remarks about this new default interface of Ubuntu Linux.


The Application Launcher :
- needs a right-click menu with options like "Add application " , "Properties".
- it is uncomfortable that icons like "Workspaces" and "Applications"
don't have a fixed well-defined position in the launcher : their
position is variable due to new items that appear when opening new
applications .
- it should be possible to easily add/remove the non-application icons
like "Home", "Trash", "Files & folders" , "Applications" ,
"Workspaces".  And also have a way to control the position of these
icons.
- it would be nice to have the possibility to change the icon size


The Dash :
- provides a quick way to start an application when the user knows the
name of the application . This is probably nice after getting the
habit of using it.
- don't see the usefulness of "favorites".  For frequently used
applications I would definitely create a desktop or launcher icon
rather than open Dash and click on a "favorite".
- it would be useful to have the possibility to configure the Ubuntu
button to open a "classical" applications menu instead of Dash.


The Applications:
- browsing apps categories is bloated  :   after clicking on a
category it's irritating that only a few apps are visible and that i
have to click on " 5 more ... " .  Way too many clicks.
- it's nice to suggest new applications to be installed : good feature
that allows beginners to discover new apps
- the icon is non-intuitive : a plus sign suggests "adding" something
, not starting applications


My overall conclusion about Unity is almost positive, with reservation.
I could use it for simple tasks like Internet browsing.
However, it wouldn't be suitable for complex scenarios : for example
when doing development I need a few consoles open, an IDE , a browser,
etc.  When many applications are open,  Unity wouldn't be suitable for
my needs  ; it's limiting the user because it attempts to force a very
specific way of starting applications and switching between them.
The bad thing it is that it not customizable at all at the moment ...



>From my point of view there are currently two open points that
prevents me from adopting the new Unity interface as the main desktop:
- I feel a desperate need for an "Applications" button that opens a
classical menu with applications grouped into categories . A classical
menu allows any application to be started with exactly 2 clicks
(click on the menu,  navigate with the mouse, then click on the
application) .
- I don't think that I can get used to the new concept of mixing
"application buttons" with "started applications". I prefer a separate
 region on the screen used for displaying the open applications .

I really liked the unity  interface on my eeepc running 10.10 netbook
edition.  But I am unconvinced that the new concept is suitable for a
desktop pc in its current state.   The big difference is that a
netbook is intended to be used for lightweight tasks, so it's ok to
create a simpler interface . But on a full-powered pc there are much
more usage patterns :   it's hard to create the perfect gui design that
matches the needs/habits of all kinds of users on the planet.
The customizability is more important on desktop pc's user than
on netbooks .  And Unity is currently non-customizable
(i am not talking about color themes ...   i am referring to being
able to activate/deactivate certain features,  and re-position the
elements on the screen) .



Best regards,
Adrian M