two commentaries on Windows 8 - lessons for Ubuntu?

[aspergerian]

I liked Ubuntu 10.04 and like and use Xubuntu 12.04 on an Acer netbook. I also have w7 on HP dv7t and on HP G71. I tried Unity, retreated to gnome-fallback. My Acer 1410 (64 bit, 4g ram; Intel 2 core - SU3500) seemed sluggish, so I retreated further - to Xubuntu, which runs well. I perused each of the following articles and many of the comments.

Will 90 percent of users always hate Windows 8?
http://www.zdnet.com/will-90-percent...-8-7000012348/

Five ways to save Windows 8
http://www.zdnet.com/five-ways-to-sa...-8-7000012369/

The articles' authors present at least some points that seem relevant to Unity and to directions for Ubuntu and related but other desktops, relevant also to the range of folks who tried Unity and to their range of reactions.

Overall, I prefer Ubuntu albeit now Xubuntu for me.

[HermanAB]

Well, it depends on what you want to use your computer for. If the sole purpose is to run the desktop system just to sit there and look pretty and maybe sometimes edit a plain text document with gedit, then Gnome3 or unity is fine. If however, you want to use your computer to play graphics intensive games, play videos, edit videos, do CAD and other graphics intensive functions, then Gnome3 and Unity are not good, since they tie up the resources of the GPU, which you need to do your work.

[BrokenKingpin]

Win8 came pre-installed on my touchscreen laptop... and I can see the point of Metro for touchscreen devices. If the laptop had no touchscreen I would absolutely hate it, but with it I am actually sort of liking it. I will probably keep Win8 on until Ubuntu 13.04 comes out, and then wipe it.

I think they should have had a mode that made metro easier to use with a keyboard and mouse for a pure desktop experience, but I really don't think Win8 is as bad as people are making it out to be.

[RyanthePenguin]

Win8 came pre-installed on my touchscreen laptop... and I can see the point of Metro for touchscreen devices. If the laptop had no touchscreen I would absolutely hate it, but with it I am actually sort of liking it. I will probably keep Win8 on until Ubuntu 13.04 comes out, and then wipe it.

I think they should have had a mode that made metro easier to use with a keyboard and mouse for a pure desktop experience, but I really don't think Win8 is as bad as people are making it out to be.

I'm running Win 8 with Classic Shell and I couldn't be happier. It removes Metro and gives me all of the improvements to the OS with none of the difficulties. However, I'd much rather be running Linux alone rather than as a dual-boot config. One of these days, I'll make the jump. I've only been saying that for 10 years...

[forrestcupp]

I'm running Win 8 with Classic Shell and I couldn't be happier. It removes Metro and gives me all of the improvements to the OS with none of the difficulties. However, I'd much rather be running Linux alone rather than as a dual-boot config. One of these days, I'll make the jump. I've only been saying that for 10 years...

Yeah, I installed a Start Menu app that skips Metro and boots straight to Desktop Mode. After doing that, I never even touch Metro, and I like Win8 better than Win7.

Edit: Classic Shell looks pretty nice. I might have to uninstall mine and try that one out.

[lykwydchykyn]

The articles' authors present at least some points that seem relevant to Unity and to directions for Ubuntu and related but other desktops, relevant also to the range of folks who tried Unity and to their range of reactions.

Overall, I prefer Ubuntu albeit now Xubuntu for me.

I think Ubuntu can afford to stretch users a bit more; the "don't care" users are in the minority here, IMO.

Unity does have a discoverability issue; we've used about every DE in my house, and Unity's the only one the kids have trouble with (they have trouble finding programs in the dash). Nothing like Windows 8, though. I'll confess to being a "don't care" user when it comes to Windows -- I only keep it around because I need it to run certain bits of software for work.