ubuntu classic
 

hello all,

I am a relative newbie to Linux. I use Ubuntu 11.4 because I do not like the classic option in 11.10.

As a result, I am looking for a similar operating system to the Ubuntu's Classic OS.

However, I do not understand what Classic is based on, and I am confused by all the flavours of Linux.

Where does unity come from? Is it based on Debian, Gnome, or what? Any help I can get will help me in my search for a new Classic similar OS.

Thanks
Gerard :scratch:

Ubuntu's "classic" desktop environment is Gnome 2. This is gradually being phased out across all distros as Gnome 3 becomes standard. However, there are a few distros that still support Gnome 2 for the time being. Off the top of my head I can think of: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Debian Squeeze, and Red Hat 6 (including CentOS and Scientific Linux).

A lot of Gnome 2 aficionados are switching over to Xfce (Xubuntu). Maybe worth a try, see if you like it...

Ubutu Classic, where does it come from?
 

Hello all,

I am a relative newbie to Linux. I use Ubuntu 11.4 because I do not like the classic option in 11.10.

As a result, I am looking for a similar operating system to the Ubuntu's Classic OS.

However, I do not understand what Classic is based on, and I am confused by all the flavours of Linux.

Where does unity come from? Is it based on Debian, Gnome, or what? Any help I can get will help me in my search for a new Classic similar OS.

Thanks
Gerard :scratch:[/QUOTE]

Thanks
 

Thanks Snowpine,

This helps, you have replied to all of my post, I really appreciate it.

I will look into Xubuntu, is it an easy transition from Ubuntu?

If you are interested in Art Work, check out my website at www.gerardferrari.com

Gerard why did you post the same thing twice in the one thread?

There are various distros available that have the "classic" look. Some also have the functionality that Gnome 2 (not classic but what classic looks like) is based on. Look for distros that support the MATE desktop environment if you want that or you could use the current Debian Squeeze which is still Gnome 2.30.

I think you'll find Ubuntu Classic is based on Gnome fallback which is Gnome 3. Certainly Unity is Gnome 3 based, even though Ubuntu-ites probably don't want to admit it, just without the Gnome-shell desktop look.

Xubuntu is a very easy transition from Ubuntu, you don't even need to reinstall.

Here are easy instructions: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/xfce

hello, as youve acknowledged, you are new to gnu/linux, so I'll fill you in on some things. you may already know some of this, and some of the things have already been said.
you are using Ubuntu, a gnu/Linux distribution. unlike windows or Mac osx, where there is only one current version of the operating systems, there are many gnu/Linux operating systems; these are known as gnu/Linux distribution. gnu/Linux distributions are not limited to one desktop environment either, which each have there pros and cons. unity is the desktop environment created by canonicle and used in Ubuntu. unity is based on gnome 3 if I'm not mistaking. gnome3 Is still in its young age, and is vastly different to the previous gnome2. classic mode that you talk of, I'm pretty sure is gnome2. gnome2 is no longer maintained by the gnome developers.. a fork has been created called 'mate', you may want to look into the mate desktop environment a little more.
you mention debian. debian is another gnu/Linux distribution; one that has been around for a long time. Ubuntu has taken debians package manager, 'apt' (the software used to install other programs), and used it in its own distribution, which is why you will hear some people say "Ubuntu is based on debian".
debian has three trees; stabe, testing, and unstable. stable has many older well tested programs, and remains that way for a longer time then most other distros. because of this, debian stable or as its nicknamed currently, 'squeeze' includes gnome 2 and will have it for quite a while.
so I hope I've been helpful and you have learnt a bit. if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

All well said Knightron but the quote below is factually incorrect.

Ok from the beginning. Ubuntu classic is the, on again off again, alternative to Unity. It is Gnome 3 but in fallback mode. It is not Gnome 2. It looks like Gnome 2 but is functionally different in many ways. Mate as you have said is a fork of Gnome 2. Gnome 2 is built using GTK 2, Gnome 3 (and Ubuntu Classic and the current Unity) are built with GTK 3. If it wasn't for Gnome 3 there wouldn't be an Ubuntu Unity as we currently know it. If there wasn't a Gnome 3 there wouldn't be an Ubuntu Classic as we know it.

thanks for picking me up there k3lt, I haven't used Ubuntu for a long time.
well Gerard, if that mode is truly gnome3, then you should be able to use almost any distro, choose gnome3 as your desktop environment and then force it into fallback mode.

AFAIK Ubuntu's connection with Debian is more than just apt(itude) -- they also fork their code base off Debian Unstable (or is it Testing?).

Well, i've heard, 'Ubuntu's based off Debian unstable'. I don't know how true that is because there are packages equivalent to Debians experimental in there too, so i thought i'd say it the way i did, so at least i wasn't passing on wrong information. btw, i'm pretty sure Ubuntu doesn't have aptitude, just apt-get.

LTS releases are based on Debian testing, regular releases are based on Sid.

However, that is pretty much where the similarities end. Yes ubuntu uses apt(itude) and dpkg etc but the actual code base is heavily modified so much so you cannot turn a Debian install into an Ubuntu install (easily) and vice versa but you can turn an Ubuntu install into a Mint install.

If you like Ubuntu, you will like Mint, which is very similar and uses the same installer. Mint has adopted two approaches for people like you (and me!) who don't like Unity or Gnome 3. One is MGSE: a buffer between you and Gnome 3 to make it look more like Gnome 2. The other is MATE: a replacement for Gnome 2. MATE is still a bit delicate in places — configuration changes often don't take effect instantly — but basically sound.

As far as I am aware Knightron is correct, "ubuntu classic" was gnome 2, before they switched the whole thing to the gnome/gtk 3.x base.

Now there is Unity and "fallback mode" which does not require 3D acceleration/compositing. There is no longer any "gnome 2" option.