I'm hitting the escape key. As an Ubuntu user since Gutsy Gibbon, I've been a keen fan of the distro, until the last year or so. Its been suitable for a range of requirements, from a PC for a 7 year old up to power user professional use.
Ubuntu was the most sanely configured distro I have tried. However over the last 18 months an increasing number of irritations have crept in. The awful notifications that pop up, cannot be canceled and cannot be responded to by clicking on them, window buttons in the wrong place followed by the removal of the % indication from the battery notification, all retrograde steps. It seems that the premature forcing of Unity upon the community is just symptomatic of the increasing arrogance of Canonical in telling me how I should use my computer. Additionally on the same hardware set the Ubuntu UI has appeared to be becoming increasingly less responsive, as Canonical appear to have become less responsive to the community.
I agree that the desktop OS should be unobtrusive to the end user, who should only have to deal with applications. It has to improve to stay/become relevant to ordinary users (in that respect the iPad and Android are showing the way). Unity, or a later derivation of it, perhaps running on Wayland, may well be the answer for a general purpose laptop, tablet or PC, but in its current form it should have been released along side a more conservative Gnome 2 version, until it has been tried and tested enough by real users.
Hopefully Ubuntu will once again become a sane distribution, after all Canonical has done a fantastic job until recently, in the mean time I'm looking around for a workable alternative to moving to 11.04. I'll either have to move back to the last LTS or more likely to another Debian derivative or maybe even Suse.
Wanted to watch my new DVD, but its tricked out so it won't play on a laptop that has a DVD writer. So what option do I have, the only way I can access the material I've paid for is to go get a torrent. Next time perhaps I could just skip the purchase part of the transaction and save myself the trouble. Whilst the media publishers are being so restrictive about how I can use their overpriced (defective?) goods, TPB are offering me a public service. So I'll not de buying any more media from ITV, not worth the hassle, a bit like Sony. Mmm whats on the Internet tonight dear ...
gOS is based on Ubuntu, so its no great surprise that it just works then. Ubuntu pretty much just works, the only hardware driver problems are with suppliers who have an anti open source stance, which is becoming less the case.
I've installed Ubuntu for Windows users, and they've been pretty happy with it and the apps from the repositories. Including Skype is a good Idea its the only non standard repository app I've ever been asked to install.
If gOS takes usability a step further for the Linux platform that's good, hopefully the outcome will be more usable apps released to the community from Google.
Since posts are veering in this direction. We all need this (from reasonableagreement.org)
"READ CAREFULLY. By [accepting this material|accepting this payment|accepting this business-card|viewing this t-shirt|reading this sticker] you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies (“BOGUS AGREEMENTS”) that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer."
In (whatever time duration the accountants dictate) the poor old guy will wake up in the shower and find it was all a dream, but such a good dream he could actually be the Bat Man! OooEeerr, da da da da - da da da da
Re: This is one of my favorites. Some relevant link:
I followed the link to Thornton's book on the CDC Design from 1970, it seems things really don't change; for instance to quote paragraph 2:
"Early in digital computer history circuit technology advanced so rapidly that giant strides were made in equipment performance with little variation in design structure."
From what I've read, it appears that Vista drivers have to be quite complex, accommodating all sorts of extra stuff to meet the MS DRM requirements, so I don't see how all the blame could be placed at the video card vendors doors.
Its suitable for the whole family, we have never had a games console like it before.
- the controllers make sense, even the grandparents get it and can play the games
- its small and unobtrusive, not in your face (Apple style)
- there's no wires for the controllers (so its allowed in the lounge)
- it'll play all of the back catalogue of game-cube games (which are now cheaper to buy since the Wii appeared)
- free stuff (Wii channels) keeps getting added by the on-line upgrades
- it didn't cost more than the original game cube did for early adopters
Overall its succeeding because its is a complete design. All the aspects of the system are well thought out.
Unfortunately some 3rd party games do not really take advantage of the graphics capability available (i.e. Spiderman 3), but they are more playable with the Wii controller than other ports.
As a UK Citizen, I'm proud that the register is British. You should keep the .co.uk, your British heritage is surely one of the foundations of the unique Register editorial style.
It really looks like Nicolas Cage. After his showing in Ghost Rider maybe he's up for the challenge, maybe he can redeem himself for the Wicker Man fiasco.
Register
12 posts • joined Tuesday 6th March 2007 14:27 GMT
I need a new distro
I'm hitting the escape key. As an Ubuntu user since Gutsy Gibbon, I've been a keen fan of the distro, until the last year or so. Its been suitable for a range of requirements, from a PC for a 7 year old up to power user professional use.
Ubuntu was the most sanely configured distro I have tried. However over the last 18 months an increasing number of irritations have crept in. The awful notifications that pop up, cannot be canceled and cannot be responded to by clicking on them, window buttons in the wrong place followed by the removal of the % indication from the battery notification, all retrograde steps. It seems that the premature forcing of Unity upon the community is just symptomatic of the increasing arrogance of Canonical in telling me how I should use my computer. Additionally on the same hardware set the Ubuntu UI has appeared to be becoming increasingly less responsive, as Canonical appear to have become less responsive to the community.
I agree that the desktop OS should be unobtrusive to the end user, who should only have to deal with applications. It has to improve to stay/become relevant to ordinary users (in that respect the iPad and Android are showing the way). Unity, or a later derivation of it, perhaps running on Wayland, may well be the answer for a general purpose laptop, tablet or PC, but in its current form it should have been released along side a more conservative Gnome 2 version, until it has been tried and tested enough by real users.
Hopefully Ubuntu will once again become a sane distribution, after all Canonical has done a fantastic job until recently, in the mean time I'm looking around for a workable alternative to moving to 11.04. I'll either have to move back to the last LTS or more likely to another Debian derivative or maybe even Suse.
Wanted to watch a video I just bought ...
Wanted to watch my new DVD, but its tricked out so it won't play on a laptop that has a DVD writer. So what option do I have, the only way I can access the material I've paid for is to go get a torrent. Next time perhaps I could just skip the purchase part of the transaction and save myself the trouble. Whilst the media publishers are being so restrictive about how I can use their overpriced (defective?) goods, TPB are offering me a public service. So I'll not de buying any more media from ITV, not worth the hassle, a bit like Sony. Mmm whats on the Internet tonight dear ...
Googlegood OS for your MumNothing special going on here then
gOS is based on Ubuntu, so its no great surprise that it just works then. Ubuntu pretty much just works, the only hardware driver problems are with suppliers who have an anti open source stance, which is becoming less the case.
I've installed Ubuntu for Windows users, and they've been pretty happy with it and the apps from the repositories. Including Skype is a good Idea its the only non standard repository app I've ever been asked to install.
If gOS takes usability a step further for the Linux platform that's good, hopefully the outcome will be more usable apps released to the community from Google.
The earth shook ...
I thought it was a chinook
Comments on an Andrew Orlowski article, that's about as rare as earthquakes in the UK
EULAs and the Great Unwashed
Since posts are veering in this direction. We all need this (from reasonableagreement.org)
"READ CAREFULLY. By [accepting this material|accepting this payment|accepting this business-card|viewing this t-shirt|reading this sticker] you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies (“BOGUS AGREEMENTS”) that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer."
Underpant perverts persist
This is just more soap.
In (whatever time duration the accountants dictate) the poor old guy will wake up in the shower and find it was all a dream, but such a good dream he could actually be the Bat Man! OooEeerr, da da da da - da da da da
Bat Copter Icon, cuz its the right color
Re: This is one of my favorites. Some relevant link:
I followed the link to Thornton's book on the CDC Design from 1970, it seems things really don't change; for instance to quote paragraph 2:
"Early in digital computer history circuit technology advanced so rapidly that giant strides were made in equipment performance with little variation in design structure."
Mmm... X86/PC architecture anybody?
Vista drivers are complicated by DRM
From what I've read, it appears that Vista drivers have to be quite complex, accommodating all sorts of extra stuff to meet the MS DRM requirements, so I don't see how all the blame could be placed at the video card vendors doors.
So many reasons why the Wii is better
Its suitable for the whole family, we have never had a games console like it before.
- the controllers make sense, even the grandparents get it and can play the games
- its small and unobtrusive, not in your face (Apple style)
- there's no wires for the controllers (so its allowed in the lounge)
- it'll play all of the back catalogue of game-cube games (which are now cheaper to buy since the Wii appeared)
- free stuff (Wii channels) keeps getting added by the on-line upgrades
- it didn't cost more than the original game cube did for early adopters
Overall its succeeding because its is a complete design. All the aspects of the system are well thought out.
Unfortunately some 3rd party games do not really take advantage of the graphics capability available (i.e. Spiderman 3), but they are more playable with the Wii controller than other ports.
Keep the .co.uk you're not just another .com
As a UK Citizen, I'm proud that the register is British. You should keep the .co.uk, your British heritage is surely one of the foundations of the unique Register editorial style.
Not really a new Idea Just Microsoft Marketing again
This is not new though, see this demo from Feb 2006, its just Microsoft winning the marketing game once more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcKqyn-gUbY
So its Nicolas Cage to be the next Bond
It really looks like Nicolas Cage. After his showing in Ghost Rider maybe he's up for the challenge, maybe he can redeem himself for the Wicker Man fiasco.