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> It is extremely annoying that this starry eyed experimentation is going on in the most popular Linux distro. They are basically risking the one foothold Linux
by ggchappell 16y ago
> It is extremely annoying that this starry eyed experimentation is going on in the most popular Linux distro. They are basically risking the one foothold Linux has been able to make in the desktop world. If you want to experiment, you should start an experimental distro and not risk your's and Linux's one single solid success.
That is an excellent point, and one that worries me, too.
On the other hand, I'm glad that some major player in the Linux world has an interest in UI experimentation.
How to reconcile these two thoughts? Maybe what we need is another Ubuntu variant (like Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.) that is stuffed full of experimental ideas. And then the best ones get into the more mainline releases.
- th 16y agoLess Linux-savvy Ubuntu users are less likely to try out a non-mainstream distro/variant. It's hard to find the "best ones" without testing these new features on these users. Sometimes your users are your Guinea pigs. I think Ubuntu will be fine as long as they remain responsive to user feedback and maintain "get me back to what I'm used to" options for experimental features.
- uxp 16y agoUbuntu/Canonical might have better luck by releasing a more rolling release distro to test these changes. The Daily build is fine and all, but it reflects the status of the trunk. Having a few branches that can go on wild adventures, killing off 'quit' buttons and rearranging the UI, might benefit them more than the cost of implementing it. I'm specifically referencing the way Fedora tends to be the frontline for RedHat and CentOS updates, and isn't afraid to roll back when things go bad.