Next Generation Desktops Boost Appeal Of Linux Community: Unity And GNOME 3
By Joe Purcell
Expert Author
Article Date: 2011-06-15
Windows 7 and Max OS X have continually been making advances in their desktop design. It makes sense that Linux would stay ahead of the game too. Compare the features of the new Unity and GNOME 3 environments with Mac's OS X Lion to be released this summer and one will find numerous similarities. The Unity and GNOME 3 next generation desktop environments are boosting appeal of the Linux community to everyday users.
These new desktop environments offer faster access to applications, easier window management, deeper hardware integration, touch screen compatibility, and more. These features and others mimick some of those found in the new OS X Lion, such as the move towards full-screen apps, Apple's "Mission Control" which gives a bird's eye view of everything from applications to workspaces, and the "Launchpad" which allows for quickly opening applications. Apple expects these new features to be a big hit, and so do Unity and GNOME 3.
These changes, however, are getting mixed reactions from within the Linux community. We wrote last time that "Unity and Ubuntu Will Fail." An article on GNOME 3 is titled, "Gnome 3 - This is the end, it seems." Another article states that GNOME 3 has been in a state of decadence for some. These opinions are not alone; many express distaste for the new environments.
Yet, it appears these opinions are coming only from Linux power users. The general public appears to be loving the new clean, fresh, and modern environments for their ease of use and visual appeal. Apart from issues with out dated hardware the common dislikes expressed are all matters of preference. And with regard to hardware issues, GNOME 3 even issued a statement saying that they would not be developing it for older hardware.
One well written review regarding GNOME, but applies to Unity as well, compares the general reactions of the casual user and the veteran productivity user. The casual user, or everyday user, is impressed with the modern design and advanced graphics. On the other hand, the veteran productivity user considers the computer "a serious tool" and thinks,
"I can't have my tool remodeled and reshaped every six months. I use my software for complex tasks that require stability and predictability. Taking away those renders everything meaningless." Most users in the Linux community are productivity users, thus, Unity and GNOME 3 are not gaining much support from them, and in many cases are even losing support. However, the majority in the computing world today are not productivity users. The Unity and GNOME 3 next generation environments are expanding Linux territory by appealing to this larger crowd composed of Windows and Mac users. This is a huge win for the Linux community.
About the Author:
Joe Purcell is a technology virtuoso, cyberspace frontiersman, and connoisseur of Linux, Mac, and Windows alike.
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