* Posts by Tim

1 publicly visible post • joined 27 Apr 2009

Jackalope gets jaunty with Ubuntu nip and tuck

Tim
Linux

Interesting

Camilla... thanks for the entertainment.

My biggest complaint about Jaunty is with the implementation of Pidgin. I'm not sure if it's just because of the new notification system or what. I like the notifications... and I heartily agree that you should be able to click on the notifications or links within the notifications to open the associated application, but Pidgin's icon is changed to a mail folder that looks like an email client. Instead of being able to double click on the icon and reopen my contact list, it does nothing with a double click. A single click brings up a box that shows the pidgin messenger, then I can click that link to reopen my contact list. The icon also no longer shows my status.

Jaunty also didn't offer to import any of my settings from 8.10 or Windows XP, though 8.10 always offered to import settings when I installed it.

I was amazed at how fast Jaunty boots.. about 12 seconds on my laptop, and I think the new login screen is AWESOME! But what the heck is up with the boring default wallpaper and theme? Where's the new artwork that's been worked on for the past 3-4 releases? I like the new-wave theme, and that would been a better choice for a default theme. They need the rest of the artwork to match the login screen and it'll be great. The usplash theme kinda sucks to me and wasn't worth their effort to update, though I guess in 9.10 when it swiches to plymouth we might see something neat.

I can understand the release having 2.6.28 kernel, but I think they should release 2.6.29 to the repositories instead of just updates to the 28 release.

Openoffice was a decent upgrade, that was highly annoying also that they didn't offer a direct upgrade from 2.4 on Intrepid. I'm glad to see the latest versions of gimp, pidgin, and vlc (available at least) Speaking of VLC... why the heck isn't it a default application?

To do a dist-upgrade from 8.10 it wanted me to download 800mb of updates. I had already downloaded the iso though, so I did a fresh install, then to download the applications I needed, skype, java, flash, VLC, k3b, codecs, etc... was about 512mb. I mean yeah, 700+512 > 800mb to update... but I really don't understand why if I already have firefox 3.0.9, openoffice 3.01, the latest flash and java, and codecs... why my dist-upgrade was 800 freaking MBs?

Anyway... overall, yes I like Jaunty. Could it have been better... probably. The whole Intel video driver fiasco... wow. I'm not sure what to do with my netbook now, install jaunty and go through the hassle of tweaking the crap out of the xorg.conf and loading various intel drivers, or stick with 8.10 for now. I want to get it all set up and nice grub splash screen and themes for my wife. (pink everything basically, including the wind)

Well, I thought I was done, but one more thing. Grub splash screens. Why doesn't Ubuntu include, 1 a grub splash screen at all, 2, a nice looking Ubuntu logo'd splash screen. By default the menu is hidden, but I would like a menu. Multiple OSes usually, but even if it's just for selecting multiple kernels. Or the memtest.

Also, what about offering an upgrade install. Like redhat/fedora always had (has still?) where you boot from the cd, start installing, and it detects a previous install and asks if you want to upgrade it. Installs over the top of the old one, updating the applications and keeping either your old config, or at least making a backup copy of it.

Ok... rant finished.