On 2 May 2011 07:39, Adrian Maier
<syraxes@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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
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