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Linux Evolving Into Unity, Should You Adopt?
By: John Vinson
Expert Author
2011-04-06
On April 28th, Ubuntu 11.04 will release and with it the Unity desktop interface. The Linux community is torn between the adoption of Unity. Some have voiced numerous complaints over the interface, while others can see the benefits and are excited to try the release version. Ubuntu 11.04 is currently in beta form, and with a few key improvements we'll see a higher adoption rate among current Linux users.
Why has Shuttleworth, the founder of Ubuntu, decided to use Unity? Primarily, the OEMs will potentially be more apt to release desktops featuring Ubuntu. According to ZDNet, Dell is pleased with the interface, and considering they've released a large amount of systems with Ubuntu being featured, their opinion carries some weight.
Another aspect of Unity which looks to cause an interesting dichotomy amongst users is it feels heavily inspired from Mac OS X. Those who support the new looks believe the layout presents a more user friendly experience, and makes it easier to navigate the OS. Some criticisms being exposed by users is the sidebar has a few nagging problems. Most notable is in order to attach programs to the sidebar, users much right click on them instead of simply dragging and dropping them.
Another interesting aspect of the Unity is how it will affect custom distributions which have utilized Ubuntu throughout the years. With the introduction of Unity, will all of these distros be made to catchup with the change?
While there have been negatives to point out, many positives additions in Ubuntu 11.04 look to push the OS to the next level. With the addition of Unity, multi-touch support will be available on Ubuntu. It will utilize a system called Utouch.
Shuttleworth mentioned how he believes multi-touch capabilities will continue to increase, "I think in the near future all laptops will have sophisticated multi-touch hardware. All the hardware vendors that are working on touch are talking to Ubuntu."
While there have been many back and forth arguments between GNOME and Unity, users won't be "forced" to use Unity. If you would like to use GNOME with Ubuntu 11.04, then you can go right along doing so.
For those who have tried the beta, what are you opinions towards the interface? Will it be an improvement over GNOME, or is it a step backwards? In terms of development, will it provide easier processes or be a hinderance?
About the Author:
John is a staff writer for WebProNews.
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