hello
I use ubuntu since v8.10
Now it is 10.10. I don't like changes in gnome introduced in 11.04 version and hate unity introduced in version 11.10.
I would like to stay with my old, customized menus and panels, but I would like to install newer versions of software.

I got the idea to connect to package repos of ubuntu 11.10 but without upgrading.
So I did it.
But now when I choose any package to upgrade it wants to remove dozens of packages and install hundreds of new ones. It just want to upgrade my whole system.

Is it possible (and how?) to force system to install only what it realy needs and do not to remove anything in such situation?

Do not mix like this, or you will break lots of things, as you have seen. If you want newer versions, either upgrade the entire system, or find backports someone else has already compiled (difficult?), or compile them yourself.

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As I told you in your thread on Ubuntu Forums, you should follow the recommended upgrade procedure if you want a functional 11.10 system: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes

I didn't ask this or similar question on Ubuntu forums.
As I said I DON'T want to have ubuntu 11.10 with new Fisher-Price GUI interface.
I'm just looking for a way to upgrade software leaving my customized gnome 2.x as is.

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But when I'm downloading sth directly from its homepage - for example new Eclipse I do not need to compile anything. Just install deb package and it works.
So why there are many scary dependencies in ubuntu repository?
I'm trying to undersand this.

Apologies, I just answered the identical question on Ubuntu Forums. I guess you are not the only one unhappy with Unity. I wish it was you, because then you would have read my warning not to add 11.10 repos to your software sources. Anyway you may find this discussion interesting, explaining why Ubuntu switched to Unity and what you can do about it: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1884970

As was mentioned above, you can get newer versions of applications using PPAs or other 3rd-party repositories. For example if you want a newer LibreOffice, just google "Ubuntu LibreOffice PPA" and you will find instructions.

Remember that all support for 10.10 ends in April 2012.

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Moved: This thread is more suitable in Ubuntu and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

You are only going to cause yourself a lot of self inflicted wounds in this manner ending with a broken system.

The best thing for you to do is to use a different DE (desktop environment). From reading this thread I would think that Xubuntu may be what you want to try.

Xubuntu does not enable a very handy bunch of tips that are default with xfce4 on most distros. If you go to /usr/share/doc/xfce4-panel/html/C you will find a lot about how to use the panel(s).

As a long time user of gnome I am very happy with Xfce and wish I had switched sooner as the panel is better.

You can add the Xubuntu desktop environment to your current OS (use the repo intended for your release or upgrade to what repo you are using now first). Better might be to install the package xfce4 if it is available as it will be more like the default Xfce.

I run Debian but have 2 installs of Xubuntu 12.04-testing on here right now. From that I can tell you that the default Xfce is better but Xubuntu is not too bad.

You might be quite happy with Xubuntu 11.10.

I know you will be happier with it than you would be with Ubuntu which seems designed for illiterate fast food workers. Might be great for "social networking" (gossip) and porn but that is about it.

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Yeah, thanks! - Xfce is probably all what I need.
Now I play with debian testing + xfce on Vbox and it seems to be very good - clear, fast and simple.
The only disadvantage of migration is a lot of configuration tuning but I'm almost sure that I will migrate to debian with xfce.

Ah you have the good one. That is what I am using.

This install actually started out in November last year as Squeeze (then testing) with the Gnome DE. This was because Ubuntu would no longer run on here (Plymouth does not like my hardware at all) and I needed a replacement for 8.04.

This install got the sources.list changed to testing as I liked it.

Squeeze got installed on the / partition of 8.04.

Now I am running Xfce on here and thinking that it is time to get rid of gnome as I just don't boot to it any more.

My Squeeze is my secure OS and I think it will stay Gnome for now but I am having trouble using the panels there now. Keep looking for the things as set up here. I really prefer it a good bit.

Still learning things about it but that is good for a grumpy geezer.

Is it possible to make fonts looking better?
Unfortunately fonts in gnome+ubuntu looks much better (more smooth) than fonts in xfce+debian.

That is one thing that Ubuntu has improved. Really the only one, I think.

The first thing to do is to take a very close look at all of your Settings Manager. This is a different tool than those coming from Gnome are familiar with.

It is also a lot better than anything Gnome seems willing to use anymore.

You may find that the FOSS drivers work better than the proprietary ones do. That is true of my ATI card.

Font settings are in Appearance.

I would really recommend looking at the Liberation fonts in the repo. They seem to work best for me.

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Liberation doesn't look better than default Sans but, forget it. It's not a big discomfort.

One more question:
Is there any good network applet/plugin for xfce allowing to control a couple of connections at a time?

Beats me. You will have to hunt around in synaptic.