Gnome user interface in Ubuntu 9.10 - Karmic Koala

I first started using the Ubuntu GNU Linux operating system in May 2007. Since then I have tried both desktop user interface alternatives: KDE and Gnome. Early on, I preferred Kubuntu’s KDE interface as it was easy to use and slightly reminiscent of Windows.

The only downside was that applications often crashed causing me to restart the computer many times. I never encountered the same trouble when I used the Gnome interface in Ubuntu.

So that was my problem. I didn’t like the Gnome interface but it was more stable and it seemed like it was the favoured interface by the Ubuntu team.

My last use of Kubuntu was in this year’s release in April of Jaunty Jackalope 9.04
KDE had changed a lot in that version. I never quite got used to it and on a couple of occasions I messed up the default interface layout. After that laptop got stolen I didn’t use Ubuntu again until the Karmic Koala 9.10 release.

This time I decided to try out the default Gnome interface. Now that I have used it a couple of times before (and it hasn’t changed much) I was very pleased with the way it worked. The fact that this is the latest Ubuntu release surely has something to do with that also.

Now I am happy to work with two panels and can navigate the menus with ease. I have gotten used to the default Gnome applications even though I don’t use many. My favourite and most used applications include: the open office suite, evolution email client and gwibber microblogging application. I am trialling tomboy notes and trying to find a use for ubuntu one cloud computing. I use google’s picasa instead of f-spot and I don’t bother listening to music or burning cds/dvds. I also don’t use instant messaging but there are various alternatives to try.

I hope to try Kubuntu again in 2010, I may actually become fond of the new look KDE. Until then, I am happy with Gnome. It doesn’t over-use my hardware resources and I don’t mind the simple and plain look it has.

As university degrees attempt to become more workforce oriented and practical there is an enourmous bias towards the Windows operating system and all of its applications.

At our faculty there were around 4 windows computer labs to 1 linux lab. I did have some Linux interaction in a operating systems unit but the tasks were centered around process scheduling, forks and threads.

In another unit I was lucky to make a presentation about Linux as a desktop system . Most of the class listened with amazement as if I were introducing mircrowaves for the first time. My teacher knew more than the rest about Linux however, I got the impression that his knowledge had come more from magazines than first hand experience.

I once convinced a Software Engineering student to install a version of Ubuntu Linux on his PC. After a slow install and a mix-up with the partitioning decisions, he quickly uninstalled everything and went back to his more comfortable and fully modified Windows XP setup.

What is causing all of this? Is Microsoft Windows such a solid operating system that it eliminates the need to try an alternative? Is the international workforce so dependant on Windows, that other options are a waste of time? Or are we, the young university students, just too lazy and too scared to try the unknown?

Whatever the cause, you wont lose an arm or a fortune by trying Linux as a desktop. There are multiple avenues you can take to avoid the migration risk.

• You can install a version of Linux onto your Windows system as if it were a program and see how it goes. This is called Wubi Linux.

• You can reboot your computer with a live linux cd, this will allow you to run linux without installing or changing anything.

• If you are more daring, you can install Linux as a dual-boot having the option of starting your computer with either Linux or Windows each time.

I can understand that the office workers and general community would be hesitant to try a new operating system, especially if you can’t buy it in stores out of a box and if it isn’t free but if you are an IT student… what is wrong with you guys? You should be trying out new stuff, testing the alternatives and make a real comparison. If you have enough experience with Linux the chances are you will make a big difference at your future workplace if you can push some elements of the office to use open-source applications.

It might be sad but I think the only way users will take Linux seriously is when Google release its version of Linux aimed at netbooks next year. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,691901/Chrome-OS-First-pictures-of-the-Alpha/News/

To the skeptics who view Linux as a useless fad, two things. Try Linux first, compare it to what you currently have. Secondly, do you really enjoy waiting 3 minutes for your computer to boot despite the fact you have 3GB of RAM and an Intel Duo Core processor?

Here is an article detailing Microsoft’s admission that Linux and the Open Source movement are threats to their business.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=4604
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/26746/1231/

Below are two articles I have already published on this blog for people who are willing to dual boot Linux with Windows.

http://rbravo.net/2009/06/11/open-source/partition-your-hard-drive-for-multiple-operating-systems/
http://rbravo.net/2009/06/12/open-source/dual-boot-windows-vista-and-kubuntu-linux/