Been a while since I used Ubuntu...what's going on here?

[smacattack]

I used Ubuntu from Edgy Eft to Karmic Koala (2006-2009) but had to switch to Windows because there were just too many programs I needed for school that I couldn't get to work for Ubuntu. I'm a huge linux fan and advocate, having switched a good many friends to it over the years. I've finished school and I reinstalled Ubuntu - but what is going on here??

I understand what unity is versus gnome and all that, I'm just very concerned at where our customisability went? (at least in a user-friendly way). I hated that unity bar at the left (I have a small screen and horizontal screen space is more valuable to me) and wanted to move it but I couldn't figure it out after trying a few methods. So I switched to 'Gnome Classic' thinking I could operate like I used to. No such luck

Even in gnome right now I can't see to do anything. Why can't I right-click on anything to modify it? Why can't I remove things from the panel I don't want there? (when I right-click, all I see are 'launch' and 'properties'). I got a 'gnome-tweak' tool to try and change my themes and stuff but nothing seems to work!

Anyways I'm not so sure I'm going to even keep trying. Ubuntu used to be a lot more intuitive to me but I've had to go to dozens of tutorial sites just to try and figure out how to do simple things. I'm not looking for advice on these specific things...I'm just wondering what happening to the Ubuntu I knew and loved I might check out Mint or something...I hear it might suit me? (though it's based on ubuntu right?)

[nothingspecial]

Thread moved to Ubuntu Testimonials & Experiences.

If you haven't tried Xubuntu in a while you'll find that now it's very much like the old gnome 2. Some people who prefer that kind of interface use Xubuntu now.

[stalkingwolf]

Peppermint is nice. you might also want to look at the Mate DE. im testing peppermint w/ Mate desktop at this minute. also 12.04 with the mate DE

one word about Peppermint it is a light system with very few bundled packages mostly cloud. so you will have to install the packages you want.

[cmcanulty]

to modify panel now use alt+rt cl or alt+super+rt cl

[3rdalbum]

I hated that unity bar at the left (I have a small screen and horizontal screen space is more valuable to me)

Set it to autohide! Then the only screen space "lost" is the thin bar at the top.

Unity is made to make the most of small screens - the Unity Launcher is on the left to take advantage of little-used horizonal space on widescreen monitors. Scrollbars are now overlays so they use less space. The global menubar saves some vertical space.

Even in gnome right now I can't see to do anything. Why can't I right-click on anything to modify it? Why can't I remove things from the panel I don't want there? (when I right-click, all I see are 'launch' and 'properties').

A quick spot of Googling would reveal you need to Alt-Right-Click now. Hey, things change.

Ubuntu used to be a lot more intuitive to me but I've had to go to dozens of tutorial sites just to try and figure out how to do simple things.

Ubuntu has never apologised for being a fast-paced distribution where things can (and will) change. You've had a bad time because you're trying to make things behave like the old Gnome 2. Even if you succeed, you're never going to get the best of things.

Unity is a good desktop - once you get over the shock of "OMG, it's all different" you may start to find it indispensable.

[carl4926]

I have to say
Of the the Desktops I use, Unity makes best use of the space hands down!

[orb9220]

Also a user 2007-08 of Ubuntu. And sorry different strokes and all that and found Unity not to my taste and am not going to waste the time with it. Learning new ways to do things I am already familar with doesn't make sense for me. Also am not a big fan of using the keyboard for everything.

So searched and found Mint 14 Nadia Cinnamon a great compromise in having it my way with a new smooth and in an elegant OS way that I'm use too!

It's great other's find they are liking it or loving it and works for them. I gave it a go and it wasn't an awful experience. Just not a pleasant one for me. And not my cup of tea. Loving how Mint is still based on the Ubuntu repo's based on 12.04 and running great and then some.

Zero issues everything worked out of the box. Even movies,music,etc. No need to load codecs for everything. And Fast and Smooth and loving the experience.
.

[snowpine]

This is the 2nd decade of the 21st century, and the 20th century "desktop metaphor" isn't as popular as it used to be. Consumers are demanding new interfaces with large, colorful icons and glassy visual effects like they are used to on their tablets and smartphones. Ubuntu is giving people what they want. There are several dozen alternative interfaces to Unity if you don't like it. (Based on your self-description I think you'd be very happy with Xubuntu as a couple of others have mentioned already.)

[SuperFreak]

I recommend Cinnamon Desktop interface . More information can be found at http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/
It can be installed on a Ubuntu distribution without the need to install the OS Mint

[Max Blyss]

Hope is not lost...

XFCE is the way and the light. KDE if you're into the plasma. MATE is a GNOME 2 fork.

Cairo - Dock offers it's own session at login with a GNOME 2 type feel to the menus and behaviors.

I use Xubuntu and AWN, myself.