Jono Bacon, Ubuntu Community Manager at Canonical Ltd recently made the suggestion of creating a Ubuntu Power User Community, - http://www.jonobacon.org/2011/05/18/creating-an-ubuntu-power-user-community/
The alleged driving force behind this reason,
"as One key piece of feedback from some Unity users was a concern around the lack of configurability in Unity, and a feeling that it is a little too simple and does not expose enough of the system, for which many more expert Ubuntu users enjoy."
But more interestingly Jono states,
"While traditionally we set out to provide the simplest and easiest to use Ubuntu desktop environment, and this has not changed, this focus is become more and more prevalent as we shave off more and more rough edges on Ubuntu to make it ready for the prime-time. The problem is…some folks don’t want to loose the lack of configurability and control as we move towards the prime-time."
Some may even laugh at the fact that even the Ubuntu community find Unity too simple, although let us be very clear about what is too simple about Unity. It is the usability and functionality that is too simple.
The announcement by Jono has illustrated a clear wedge in the Ubuntu community that may have a long term damaging effect for Ubuntu.
Canonical Ltd have also seriously underestimated how much influence so called power users had on the popularity of Ubuntu.
Power users who do not use Ubuntu often recommend it to friends and family members because of its easy to use/maintain nature but will they continue to do so with Unity?
Jono's announcement has effectively said Unity is for people who can't use a computer, the Community Manager at Canonical Ltd has stated the key feed back about Unity from the Ubuntu community is that it is too simple.
The result is current Ubuntu users are finding Unity to be a very restrictive interface, an interface that dictates what you can do and one that does not let you do things.
Would you therefore recommend Ubuntu with Unity to a friend or family member?
Would you dare insult their intelligence?
You are too stupid to use a computer, you should use Unity.
Ubuntu currently has a reputation for being a newbie friendly Linux distribution, this is a very positive reputation that has helped to encourage the use of Linux.
Unity will overshadow that beneficial image and replace it with, Ubuntu - Linux for the computer illiterate and stupid.
I guess we all now know what the move towards prime time is all about.
>>The result is current Ubuntu users are finding
ReplyDelete>>Unity to be a very restrictive interface, an
>>interface that dictates what you can do and one
>>that does not let you do things.
How is this different from the Mac OS X graphical user interface? Its stability and success is a result of restricting the general user.
I think you have the wrong end of the stick here. I am not saying that all Ubuntu users feel Unity is too simple, I am instead saying that Power Users who desire greater levels of configurability have been disappointed in the lack of customization potential in Unity.
ReplyDeleteYou are the one who is associating "simple" and "stupid" and it is incorrect. Unity is designed to meet the needs of end users who want a straight-forward and predictable computing experience designed around their needs. This does not mean it is for "stuipid people", it means it is largely designed for people who consider computers tools in their lives and don't have an active passion and tuning, tweaking and hot-rodding their computers.
The latter are Power Users and my goal with the blog entry was to ensure Ubuntu is an attractive community for end-users who desire a straight-forward and simple experience and power users who desire more configurability. The goal here is welcoming all, not locking anyone out.
The Linspire heads also made the decision to focus on attracting dumb computer users (new-to-linux Windows users), intentionally and totally ignoring their installed base "Power Users." It's interesting to note their business plan failed--as did Linspire.
ReplyDeleteOn my netbook, unity makes sense. It facilitates my work and stays out of my way. On my desktop however I prefer a traditional gnome environment.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is simple. If you want to stay with Ubuntu then use Xubuntu. Xubuntu 11.04 uses Xfce 4.8 and is the closest thing to Gnome 2.x you can get. Add nautilus and nautilus-share and go on your merry way like nothing has changed.
ReplyDeleteMy folks are both in the 80s and use Kubuntu.
ReplyDeleteMom has been using a computer for a whole 6month now and she loves her cube and dad was converted from Windows to Kubuntu when KDE4.2 came out.
They also use Xubuntu on an old laptop in the guest room.
Mom can still find her FF4, Skype and VLC on both desktops, so I wonder how much more simple you want to make a desktop.
-, I am instead saying that Power Users who desire -greater levels of configurability have been -disappointed in the lack of customization potential -in Unity.
Gee Mr Obvious... are you new around here?
Thats EXACTLY what has been driving people like Linus crazy about Gnome for years.
Nice of you to jump in a decade too late. Will you also be sharing wisdom on emacs vs vi next?
Here are a few quotes from Linus Torvalds the first time around:
"This 'users are idiots, and are confused by functionality' mentality of Gnome is a disease. If you think your users are idiots, only idiots will use it. I don't use Gnome, because in striving to be simple, it has long since reached the point where it simply doesn't do what I need it to do."
There is a _huge_ difference between "being easy to use" and "_only_ being easy to use."
Its amazing how the old classics just keeping coming back but really "If you think your users are idiots, only idiots will use it." should be engrained in every UI flow specialists brain.