Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Out; Unity Gets a Second Chance 543
An anonymous reader writes with this enthusiastic review of the latest from Canonical: "So how does Ubuntu Precise Pangolin (12.04) fare? I will say exceptionally well. Unity is not the same ugly duckling it was made out to be. In Ubuntu 12.04, it has transformed into a beautiful swan. As Ubuntu 12.04 is a long term release, the Ubuntu team has pulled all stops to make sure the user experience is positive. Ubuntu 12.04 aka Precise Pangolin is definitely worthy of running on your machine."
Re:Pangolin? (Score:5, Informative)
When doing a web search with that combination you always get Ubuntu advice for that specific version.
Focus Follows Mouse (Score:1, Informative)
I tried it (Unity) for the first time last night. I hated it. It doesn't have focus follows mouse, or sloppy focus.
Ubuntu is now dead to me. I'm looking for another distro.
Any suggestions? Please!? Thanks in advance.
New Ubuntu release? (Score:2, Informative)
New Ubuntu release? Oh good, that means there should be a new Linux Mint release right around the corner. From what I've heard, they'll now have everything completely back to the way I'm used to (and like!)
(And so yay! Ubuntu still serves a useful purpose; advance warning for the upcoming Mint release.)
Re:Really? Pangolin? (Score:5, Informative)
What??? No! (Oh, wait; yes. [hexley.com])
Re:Ubuntu is dead to me (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Really? Pangolin? (Score:5, Informative)
32-bit desktop still "recommended" (Score:5, Informative)
I'm surprised that they still recommend 32-bit for desktop instead of 64.
Programs probably just not quite ready for LTS on 64, but disappointing nonetheless.
Walk it back (Score:2, Informative)
Doesn't work that well (Score:5, Informative)
The version name is sufficiently rare that it will be precisely found.
On the other hand, numbers are frequent.
By typing 12.04, you could get information about Precise Pangoline. But also the chatper 12, section 04 of another documentation. Or a document dating back from 12th april (or december 2004). Or about an lm_sensors' motherboard probe reading 12.04 for the 12v channel, etc.
The keyword "12.04" has much higher probability to end up appearing on pages not related with this Ubuntu version, than random words such as "Zany Zebra".
Re:Ubuntu is dead to me (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Focus Follows Mouse (Score:5, Informative)
I've installed it for my Mom because she keeps "losing the Internet" I set up the menubar (Launcher) to have only Firefox and Writer. I deleted everything else. (This is easy to do... just right click on the icon and select "Unlock from Launcher" and it goes away.) If you need the programs back on the Launcher, you can just drag them from the Dash back onto the Launcher.
Your other problem is also easily solved. To keep the screen from blanking, go to Settings - Brightness and Lock. You can also set the Launcher to Auto-hide (the default is for it to be present all the time) by Settings - Appearance.
I had no problem figuring these things out even though I am a clueless newbie most of the time.
Re:Not convinced yet (Score:5, Informative)
Go here [mate-desktop.org] if you want to switch off Unity and GNOME3.
Both Unity and GNOME 3 suck. Neither one works correctly with multiple monitors. Try running 4 monitors on two video cards, TwinView'd and Xinerama'd, and you will understand.
I especially hate the global menu bar in Unity. I can sort of live with the similar design in OS X but Unity does it horribly. I'm not even sure what the difference is but I just couldn't stand Unity even though I'm used to OS X.
Xubuntu (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Unity is a Operation Ivy song not a linux debac (Score:4, Informative)
>> Task bar is a must.
The launcher on the left side of the screen shows running apps.
>> Moving tray items is a must.
Grab the items in the launcher, drag to the right, and re-insert them back into the launcher wherever you want.
>> Synaptic package manger [sic] is a must.
If you want that, use the much prettier Software Centre to install it with a simple click.
>> It's so complicated to make it look like my 10.10 desktop.
Then install your old desktop manager or don't upgrade.
As a long-time KDE user who couldn't stand working with Gnome for extended periods, I actually find Unity quite enjoyable. Of course, I customize it with things like cairo-dock and make it fit my own workflow - rather than just bitch that the default is too simple for me to use.
Re:Buttons on the wrong side... still. (Score:5, Informative)
> Funny how slashdotters in general applaud Microsoft for completely throwing out the concept of menus
Since when? You sir are simply on crack.
We freely criticize Microsoft for the same kind of UI consistency shenanigans that we are currently eviscerating Ubuntu for. We did so even before Microsoft decided to release it's own Unity style atrocity.
Re:Pangolin? (Score:5, Informative)
Since this is slashdot and being pedantic is a requirement for membership:
Snow Leopard - endangered
Leopard - near threatened
Tiger - endangered
Panther - not even a species
Jaguar - near threatened
Puma - least concern
Cheetah - vulnerable
Re:Thanks! (Score:5, Informative)
This time I will have to spend hours researching how to make the stupid launcher thing on the left side go back to the way it was.
#apt-get install gnome-panel
Logout, chose fallback session (or whatever it's called). Was that so hard?
Re:Thanks! (Score:5, Informative)
2. apt-get install unetbootin
3. Use #2 to put #1 on USB drive
4. Reboot (assuming BIOS supports booting from USB && is configured to do so), and follow the simple install procedure.
5. Enjoy.
TIP: For a better, more familiar experience, log into MATE instead of gnome once it's installed)
Re:Too Late! (Score:4, Informative)
1999 is calling and wants you back. I've been using Linux since then and I haven't had to "fight with" Linux or edit config files for ages. I don't know what your problem is, but these days most mainstread distros are really easy to install and autodetect everything. The main problem that's outstanding is stupid Nvidia cards; you can either use the Nouveau driver which is slow as hell for anything 3D, or you can install the proprietary driver which barfs every time you do a kernel update. If you use Intel graphics like most basic systems, you won't have this problem. Installing Mint on my Thinkpad was a breeze.