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GNOME makes Linux look bad?

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Software
Ubuntu

So I recently did a small test to see what my family and friends would think about Ubuntu or any distro that uses GNOME, the results all favor one common thing; the UI SUCKS, as in how it looks. This of course is a known issue that for some reason is still not addressed as Ubuntu and most other major distros prefer GNOME as their primary Desktop Environment. What's worse is that the most popular distro (Ubuntu) still uses the orange and brown theme that looks like it's from 1980 which of course makes it even worse. My test subjects (family and friends) wouldn't even give Ubuntu a real try due to how bad it looks. Here is a quote one of them said "Is this program old?" she of course not very technical and not knowing the difference between a OS and program, but she still knows what looks and feels bad. Now on the plus side Ubuntu has added some decent themes in the latest version of Ubuntu, but these still aren't very nice...now I know what you're thinking "You're wrong, those themes are awesome!" and you'd be right, they are awesome...for GNOME standards.

rest here




Gnome looks good!

Every now and then I come across an article that is so ridiculous that I must comment on it. The article stating that "Gnome looks bad" is one of them.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "Good" and "bad" are personal preferences. If the author doesn't like the way Gnome looks, then don't use it! But for heaven's sake don't preach to the rest of us that just because you don't like it makes it bad. It does not.

I happen to like Gnome. I think it looks good. That is my opinion and I am not going to tell any KDE user that their desktop looks bad. It doesn't. It's just a matter of personal preferences.

Grow up guy!

GNOME looks dated

Thing is GNOME tries too hard to "fit-in" ... mostly as a MacOS UI replacement. Its over-simpliifcation of the UI is also a direct descendant from MacOS.

I've shown the Ubuntu default desktop (more of less the default GNOME UI) to my non-Linux using friends, including one who uses a Macbook and they all feel its too dull.

Also, its a fact that veterans of Linux (and the ones who came from Unix) seem to prefer GNOME but then most of these guys were used to working at the back-end of computing chain with no need for a desktop UI.

Its a fallacy that new users take easily to GNOME's simplified UI. When placed next to each other, all of my friends (and family) prefer KDE4 interface over GNOME.

If, as the previous poster says, its a matter of preference, then no single desktop Ui should be thrust on new users. However, GNOME is being forced down our throats .... and a lie spoken often enough is indistinguishable from the truth Smile Hence, the plethora of articles about GNOME UI being "the Linux UI" !

actually, on stock install, they're both ugly

BOTH KDE and Gnome are ugly as all get out in a stock release.

Fortunately, both are easily customized to change the looks of them. if you don't like the stock look of Gnome, change it. There are some truly good looking Gnome customizations out there, as there are some sweet KDE ones as well.

It takes a little creativity and some time to make them better than the stock appearance.

re: both ugly

bigbearomaha wrote:
It takes a little creativity and some time to make them better than the stock appearance.

And for that time investment you get what? Does it improve your productivity? Does it make your computer apps crash less?

I'm always baffled at the amount of time end users waste on tweaking their desktop. Do they also make tea cosy covers for their bench grinder, or put Hello Kitty stickers on their Cordless Drill?

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