I decided to post a topic on the constant conversation going around about the new styles of Desktop/Tablet operating systems. Mostly I hear the same negative comments and to be perfectly honest that really baffles me yet it does not surprise me at all.



Isn't it always the most innovative discoveries get completely degraded and put to shame when before-to-long, something like 5 years down the road, everyone is using these earlier prototypes of creation that have just been fine-tuned and gotten upgraded to be more user friendly? Just think about it. You can literally look back decade-by-decade, and list realistic examples from inventions that everyone in society gave negative opinions about, and now today we all live by this remarkable technology: electricity, telephones, television, computers??? Hello, before the desktop PC the Military laughed when the idea of personal computers was ever brought up into conversation. They literally believed there would be no need for anymore than 3 computers EVER!! Google it.



And this begins my argument for the new Ubuntu, as well as Windows 8, desktop/tablet computers!



How could anyone not see the potential in this subsequential approach?!? No, we're so technically advanced, geek-brained, demigods that when something actually 'NEW' hits the scene, “oh no, no, no!! We're not used to this! Blasphemy! Where is my START button, or why do we have this docking station! Yuck...” Sigh,... nerds. Nerds, open your ears!!



Open your eyes. Can you not see the potential for the fantasy and science fiction dramas you have been dreaming about your whole life coming to your very own finger tips??? Why don't you see Star Trek, Star Wars, Stasgate Atlantis, Deep Space 9, Close Encounters...etc, all rolled up into a new operating system! And GOD bless Canonical !@#$ Those genius beautiful Linux innovators. Can you imagine what would have happen if Windows 8 had been a huge market success? Where does that leave our loving Linux prospectives? When everyone begins using Windows on there PC/tablets where will we be left still clicking away hopelessly looking afar at Microsoft's balls of steal to actually put their necks out there one day to leave us graveling in the dust?



What I mean by this is even though Windows 8 WAS NOT a huge market success upon the initial launch Canonical “gets it”. When everyone finally 'catches on', and sees, “Wow, actually now that touch screen LED monitors can also interact with touch screen abilities as well as use mouse power, AND when they are made as this thin as glass, AND we can add multiple monitors to our desks while touching and having desktop PC power....?” This doesn't remind you of Tony Stark??



Could you imagine if they finally came up with see-through monitors so you could literally reach your hand into a monitor and grab invisible 3D objects and carelessly throw them around? Nobody else sees this except for Microsoft? With all the Linux leaders of the PC nation, really? Well Canonical saw it and luckily they jumped right on. One of the BEST well received Linux distros decided, “Well, its either us or living in the past...” Even though they have not been received well, even bumped down to 2nd place on the DistorWatch. Lol, like thats going to matter in the next 5 years. Even if Ubuntu gets bumped down to LAST place, just mark my words, and watch. Watch how all of a sudden they come up with the most amazing monitor set ups and EVERYONE wants one... The only operating system that works on it is Windows 8.1? Excuse my French, but F dat* Thank you Ubuntu for stepping up to the plate, on all of our toes, and into the future. If it weren't for you I would actually be a little concerned with the technological field. Just look at Intel.



They began to implement UEFI specifications in their motherboards and Linux users haaaate UEFI... Um, have you ever taken a look at the UEFI documentation? Its GENIUS. There are so many major new benefits to using UEFI to replace the Legacy BIOS that why wouldn't ANYONE not agree to upgrade their motherboard chips? Well, luckily Canonical joined in on that specification as well. Ahh, phew seriously, you Linux penguin people have me worried with your, “This is not what were used to and/or like!!” How did Linux even come about? Not by having a closed mind. Research, experiment, branch out from “old ways”. I know how Linux can set you in on this mind frame. “The kernel can run on 512MB of RAM, 2-5GB HDD, my video card from 1992 and a potato power supply, and we dont like modifying that unless we have them gooder pataters, BUUUT, come on Linux buddies. Theres more to life than a good southern smashed taters. Ok, Ok, now this is just getting ridiculous.



Anyways, Im just trying light-heartedly make the point that being a part of all the new advancements of computers, and having the convenience, speed, power, etc of inventions is all about allowing the newest ideas that you can manage to give a minute of potential credit to attempt a place of modern advancements. Get with the program. Technology isnt going to stop, slow down, or stay in one place. Having a 3D touch screen computer that I can also use as a power system, while also having a kick ass Linux OS sounds like a dream come true for me, and I'm not even that up-to-date with full control of using Linux. I barely can handle basic CLI control. But I take it slow to learn it correctly and I have come a long way mostly on my own. A self taught enthusiast as most of us begin. Nothing wrong with pointing out the obvious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCzQN...6F2A5&index=29

-MsTroubleShooting

I stopped using Ubuntu because it's bloated. It runs terribly slowly and is frustrating to use.
Of course, if you can afford the top of the line hardware that it needs just to run normally, then use it.

12.04 using gnome fallback and disabling the bloat, running from a 30GB SDD on a core2 quad q8200 with a geforce gts450 it's quick. On the other hand, the default experience, even with the proprietary nvidia drivers, was a deplorable mess and you couldn't pay me enough to use Unity on a desktop (all the other OS2/Win95 paradigm UIs are much more usable).

Ubuntu/Mint are convenient and low maintenance, good for when you feel like using your system more than dicking around with it.

I used to use Slackware, but at some point I just couldn't be bothered any more. If I really feel the need to change something specific, I can still download the source, make the change, compile it, make into a deb package, and install it, but I have done that exactly never in the last few years.

To the OP,

Windows 8... after 25+ years of using a computer I was not able to determine how to switch from one program to another. That UI is utterly retarded and MS should be ashamed of themselves for dumping such a pile of garbage on their dedicated, long time users... not even the courtesy of giving them the option to use the standard Windows interface that they'd been using for nearly two decades. No amount of asskissery will make Windows 8 and Unity unsuck on the desktop. Ever.

I was going to type a long reply but I'll just ask some questions instead:
How does getting rid of a button and replacing it with an area of nothing make a desktop easier to use?
How does replacing a menu which takes up as much of the screen as it needs, whilst allowing you to see other applications in the background, with a menu that covers the whole screen make a desktop easier to use?
Who is going to clean my monitor every day for if I'm touching it all day long?
How does taking my hands off the desk to touch my monitor instead of leaving them on the desk to use a mouse and keyboard help enter data?
How does a touch screen help me watch movies and network virtual machines?
How does Microsoft insisting that its keys be included in Secure Boot help me as a Linux user?
How does making the Linux Foundation/Red Hat/Canonical (or however it will work out) pay for keys to sign bootloaders in order to dual boot with Windows 8 help Linux users?
How am I managing to run whichever Linux flavour I like without EUFI? Will EUFI make my OS run faster? Will EUFI mean I can work faster and make less errors at work? Will EUFI help me watch movies? Will EUFI magically make my Virtual machines run faster?

In short: Why, other than "because it looks cool" would I want any of these things?
I love new technology and I'll buy and use it when it helps me work easier or makes my leisure time more fun or productive.
I don't see anything in Windows 8, Unity, EUFI or Secure Boot that would make life easier for me. I think touch screens, when I can get a 1920*1200 for the same price as one without touch screen, aren't a bad thing apart from finger prints but I'd certainly not replace my touchpad with one or my 3D controller.

Thanks for your responses guys, but see this is exactly WHY I created the blog/thread. Please read my response here: >

I didnt say that there werent major flaws with these OS's. The point is is that theyre NEW.

OK, so when anything is new, it can be buggy, it has problems, etc and it takes some time to fine tune it. Changing a power desktop to an integrated touch system isnt easy Im sure...

The point of the thread is the INNOVATION of the the NEW systems. Yes it takes better hardware. Of course. I have a nice little powerful motherboard and it zips along 12.04 with no problem I honestly do not prefer Ubuntu at all, but my motherboard is so NEW not really any other Linux distros work on it

At first I hated it I was stuck with Ubuntu. So I started researching and thats when I realized, this NEW "stuff" is better.

Just give it some time and it will become obvious. The new Ubuntu and Windows 8 was not created to give their dedicated users a new amazing operating system. Windows 7 works perfectly for that. Every other Linux distro can be a power desktop, but how many can match up to the PC/tablet configuratation? Well, no one yet, BUT soon, soon it will become obvious and its going to have to do with yes nice hardware, big monitors, NEW technology.

Thats the point of the thread. I didnt say Windows 8 or Ubuntu worked well or were great great operating systems at all. Of course they have issues. The point is we should embrace the NEW idea, and not hate it because its different. Its a wonderful concept. Thats it.

What "NEW" idea or concept? That's what I'm asking -- how does anything that Canonical or Microsoft have done help me get my work done faster and more accurately or help me enjoy my leisure time more?
I'd love a second big monitor at home but I bet that this "new" technology will be of the inferior 1920*1024 resolution. I also know that the way I use my desktop at home touchscreen would barely be used. At work I wouldn't mind if my laptop were touch screen but the OS doesn't need to be anything but the XP that's on it as all the OS has to do is display the windows of the applications I use and allow me to switch between then and copy and paste.
Just because something is new doesn't mean it is better.
Explain how any of this is better?
By simply going on about how "new" things are you're as bad as those you seek to criticise for being out of touch.
I love new technology. I've bought a Kindle Paperwhite recently and the e-ink is terrific for reading in all kinds of light conditions without a hint of eye-strain -- much better than reading on an iPad and it's a lot more convenient having one device than carrying a book and one or two spares. See, I looked at a technology, saw how it could help me, and embraced it good and bad (DRM is the price you pay for convenience).
I've a 3D six degrees of freedom controller I use for Google Earth and Second Life -- it cost a fair bit, only works for two applications I use and nobody has one but I love it as it does the jobs I wanted it for perfectly.
So, explain how Unity and Metro are better than XFCE and Windows 2000's desktop? How do they help me work faster and smarter and enjoy my leisure time more?

In other words: NEW == better?

I don't think so... I want to get out more from my desktop computer than from my phone. Why would I then want to degrade my desktop computer to a phone?

Challenge Accepted


I'm going to start off with a short introduction as my rebuttal in our debate. I already made my valid point in my previous response above, but I will go through your questions and give you my best opinions on the matter to respond to your initial reaction. Of course I did not create either of these OS's and I also did not invent UEFI although I wish I did because Intel is worth Billions of dollars and I would have been very happy to be apart of that

Well I honestly dont have much of an argument for this one, but I also do not really see the big deal. When I first got on Win8 I thought the same exact thing, "pshhh, whaaa, wheres the stupid start button!!?" Then I clicked around a little bit, figured it out, and was like, Oh ok good, so before Windows 7 sucked and now theyre trying to make it better...Like Android. I like.

I cant really defend this because I honestly am not sure what you are talking about. This sounds to me like several different features? We can just skip past this if its not that important I mean its got some work to definitely go through I never said it was perfect.

Well the way I invision this is once these major multi-billion dollar companies get done perfecting their hardware interfaces to run this new software technology they will run suitable devices to manage them on. So maybe your current LED/LCD monitor would be ridiculous to finger dabble and reachiing over the keyboard IS bananas.

Imagine something with me please for the sake of science. We have a nice recliner chair with an ergonomic keyboard on each side of your recliner chair split to relax each arm on each arm-rest still able to type, maybe while wearing your Google Glasses. On each side of you you have a a large 27" glass see-through monitor and in front of you you have a huge 50 inch display too far to reach.

With these glass monitors next to you they allow you to handle simple tasks all with a simple touch of your finger. (Even some technology for tablets is being invented to not even have to TOUCH the tablet, just come close enough to the display.) When its time to "work" you can easy flip said business to the front monitor across the desk in front of you and began typing. Even just telling your [Google Glasses] what to do. Even automatically. If you watch the video I added to the end of my first post the technology advancements today are honestly scary. Even though this kind of set up you couldnt imagine not costing a fortune. Even if so do you think rich PC enthusiasts will actually not invent NEW gadgets because YOU cant afford them. Ha. No. But we always catch up. So maybe in 5 years this type of technology wont cost more than your current devices do now. Maybe 10 years (I mean technically it isnt even invented yet). Then imagine how cheap current hardware will cost and how good it can already function now?

How does a mouse and keyboard help you watch movies? Thats basically irrelevent other than doing the same thing you can do on a tablet to watch a movie. Networking? Thats the point to integrate using power devices on a touch enviornment.

You obviously have not read any part of the UEFI specification documentation. That could help you understand alot of the questions youre asking about UEFI. I am not here to spoon feed anyone the answers of what MS/Canonical/Intel are inventing. Im just stating things I notice and trying to help open up the mind set that these billion dollar companies are trying to do something amazing. Not the other way around.

Again I cant be exactly sure what the Key registration is about. Could be a money scheme, could be security, could be proprietary stuff, which I know is against the FSF regulations. What I do know is, yes UEFI infact DOES make your OS run faster, well on bootload anyway. From what I understand UEFI is a virtual machine that replaces BIOS and there is zero file searching or process of preparing the OS to boot. UEFI simply is a small operating system, if you will, thats only function is to find your OS and boot your desktop. Which is why the Win8 commercials advertise boot time in only 6.5 seconds. I have it and it works with 12.04 as well. I hit the on button and 5 seconds later Im typing my password. I turn it off because of my current set up calls for it to be. But thats another topic.

Other than that I can give you 2 links to help answer some of your questions on UEFI:
http://h30565.www3.hp.com/t5/Feature...-Your/ba-p/198
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAnlhkbMang

Im sure people said the same thing about smart phones and tablets when they first were trying to hit the market. Maybe even computers. "What is this crap? You can file paper work like this? How can I write!"

I was going to type a huge post but I see there is no point. You can't tell me how EUFI, Windows 8 UI or Unity would help me because they wouldn't.
What you're telling me is that the time wasted by these technologies is worth it because of some hypothetical future. Your hypothetical future sounds OK but that's not the thing I am saying is useless junk.

Here you go. A perfect example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfztz45hInc

How does that depend upon EUFI, Secure Boot, Windows UI or Unity?

This an interactive kiosk system. It is designed to make information accessible fast and easy, the intended usage is not meant to be more than a few minutes. Now go ahead, work for 8+ hours on a desktop system that is touch based and tell me how your arms feel afterwards. Metro/Unity were designed for small mobile devices with small screens, not for desktop systems. You want to try something new to you and productive? Try to ditch those mobile interfaces and the WIMP (aka Windows 95) interfaces and go for a tiling WM.
Don't get me wrong, those touch interfaces work fine, working on devices they were intended for, like the small screen of my Android phone, but they are not at all designed to work good on 27" desktop systems.

You don't go shopping much do you? Touch screen POS systems have been in use for at least fifteen years now. Although they've always been more popular at restaurants that have a limited menu rather than grocery stores that sell hundreds of different types of items.
In fact, the touch screen info kiosk was the big innovation at Disney's Epcot Centre when it opened in the '80s. They didn't need Unity or Windows 8 back then to do it with either!

P.S: Ubuntu's Unity interface was based on the Ubuntu Netbook Remix interface. An interface specifically tailored for netbooks and MIDs.

If you notice in the video he mentions towards the end that behind the kiosk is a basic computer. So you can put your own OS on whether that be Win, Linux, or MAC.

So when these options become widely available, when things like this start to catch on and everywhere you go there are touch screen computers, because of the convenience, user-simplicity, when companies finally start to implement these specifications on Dell, HP, Apple, Acer... they are going to need an operating system to go on it.

The whole point of the blog I wrote is to be aware that the only option that will be available at this point for this type of system is Win8. And when they finally work out all the bugs, and when it starts to be used on regular daily active systems everywhere you go, if there is no one else MS will have the upper hand and they will have the control they have always sought.

So basically my point is thank god for Canonical jumping onboard with this. Because IT ISNT going to go away. It isnt going to slow down. The companies who are running the Enterprise field today of computer technology WANT this technology. Otherwise I do not think they would make such a wildly drastics change. We can keep bitching about it for the next 4-5 years. Or we can see the potential and try and make it better. Try to get ahead. I would hate to be forced to use a Windows system if I could have possibly used a Linux alternative instead.

Sure there should be skeptism, and sure there should be doubts, but I only see skeptism, and negativity about Ubuntu and Win8, and not enough support. I understand why. reaching over your keyboard is weird. Thats because it wont be set up like this. These operating systems aren't being invented to use in that type of system set up. These OS's are being invented to use in a unique type of enviornment. What doesnt anyone get about that.

I posted this somewhere else I wanted to share as well, and they say the same exact thing, "Win8 and Ubuntu suck now". No!!! Im not saying they are perfect OS's. Im saying the idea they are being created for is amazing! Not that its amazing to use sitting at your desktop set up. They are amazing for what they are TRYING to CREATE. A new virtual system where the future is at your fingertips!

Again, all these systems (Unity, Metro, ...) are designed solely for mobile systems with small screens. They have nothing to do at all with desktop systems. Touch based interfaces exist already for a long time, as already pointed out, and there is a good reason why those systems only reached special types of systems (kiosk, POS, mobile), simply because they are inconvenient for anything else.