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Switched My Mother to Ubuntu From Vista

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sathyan said:
lxskllr,

could you post the hardware used in this Ubuntu build? am exploring doing the same
thanks
Click to expand...

I'll have to get back to you in a few days. I rebooted her machine, and Teamviewer didn't come back up. I guess that's what happened anyway. Her computer's AWOL. Here's what I remember for some rough specs...

Some kind of lenovo laptop
1.8ghz Pentium dual core(Core2)
2gb ram
120gb hd I think. It feels slow.
Intel chipset
Purchased in 2007 if I remember right.

edit:
Here's the output of lshw...

Code: 
description: Notebook
    product: 076804U (Intel)
    vendor: LENOVO
    version: 3000 N100
    serial: L3KM102
    width: 32 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.4 dmi-2.4 smp-1.4 smp
    configuration: administrator_password=disabled boot=oem-specific chassis=notebook cpus=2 family=Lenovo frontpanel_password=unknown keyboard_password=unknown power-on_password=disabled sku=Intel uuid=CF9EFC99-C8C4-11DB-8E59-000FB0D3D961
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: CAPELL VALLEY(NAPA) CRB
       vendor: LENOVO
       physical id: 0
       version: Not Applicable
       serial: 41W8025Z1ZCZ97397VF
     *-firmware
          description: BIOS
          vendor: LENOVO
          physical id: 0
          version: 63ET62WW
          date: 04/30/07
          size: 95KiB
          capacity: 960KiB
          capabilities: isa pci pcmcia pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot acpi usb agp biosbootspecification
     *-cpu:0
          description: CPU
          product: Genuine Intel(R) CPU           T2060  @ 1.60GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 4
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.14.12
          serial: 0000-06EC-0000-0000-0000-0000
          slot: U2E1
          size: 1600MHz
          capacity: 2048MHz
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 133MHz
          capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon bts aperfmperf pni monitor est tm2 xtpr pdcm cpufreq
          configuration: id=0
        *-cache:0
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 5
             slot: L1 Cache
             size: 32KiB
             capacity: 32KiB
             capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back
        *-cache:1
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 6
             slot: L2 Cache
             size: 1MiB
             capacity: 2MiB
             capabilities: burst external write-back
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.1
             width: 32 bits
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.2
             width: 32 bits
             capabilities: logical
     *-memory
          description: System Memory
          physical id: 13
          slot: System board or motherboard
          size: 2GiB
          capacity: 3GiB
        *-bank:0
             description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous
             physical id: 0
             slot: M1
             size: 1GiB
             width: 32 bits
        *-bank:1
             description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous
             physical id: 1
             slot: M2
             size: 1GiB
             width: 32 bits
     *-cpu:1
          physical id: 1
          bus info: cpu@1
          version: 6.14.12
          serial: 0000-06EC-0000-0000-0000-0000
          size: 1600MHz
          capacity: 1600MHz
          capabilities: ht cpufreq
          configuration: id=0
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.1
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.2
             capabilities: logical
     *-pci
          description: Host bridge
          product: Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub
          vendor: Intel Corporation
          physical id: 100
          bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 03
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 33MHz
          configuration: driver=agpgart-intel
          resources: irq:0
        *-display:0
             description: VGA compatible controller
             product: Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
             configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
             resources: irq:16 memory:d0200000-d027ffff ioport:1800(size=8) memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0300000-d033ffff
        *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
             description: Display controller
             product: Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: memory:d0280000-d02fffff
        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
             version: 02
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
             resources: irq:43 memory:d0340000-d0343fff
        *-pci:0
             description: PCI bridge
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:40 ioport:4000(size=4096) memory:84200000-843fffff ioport:84400000(size=2097152)
        *-pci:1
             description: PCI bridge
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:41 ioport:3000(size=4096) memory:d0000000-d00fffff ioport:84000000(size=2097152)
           *-network DISABLED
                description: Wireless interface
                product: PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection
                vendor: Intel Corporation
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
                logical name: wlan0
                version: 02
                serial: 00:19:d2:c5:51:d9
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
                configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwl3945 driverversion=3.2.0-24-generic-pae firmware=15.32.2.9 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abg
                resources: irq:42 memory:d0000000-d0000fff
        *-usb:0
             description: USB controller
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:23 ioport:1820(size=32)
        *-usb:1
             description: USB controller
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:19 ioport:1840(size=32)
        *-usb:2
             description: USB controller
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:18 ioport:1860(size=32)
        *-usb:3
             description: USB controller
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:16 ioport:1880(size=32)
        *-usb:4
             description: USB controller
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:23 memory:d0544000-d05443ff
        *-pci:2
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1e
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
             version: e2
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
             resources: ioport:2000(size=4096) memory:d0100000-d01fffff ioport:80000000(size=67108864)
           *-network
                description: Ethernet interface
                product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
                vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
                physical id: 1
                bus info: pci@0000:05:01.0
                logical name: eth0
                version: 10
                serial: 00:0f:b0:d3:d9:61
                size: 100Mbit/s
                capacity: 100Mbit/s
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
                configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.28 duplex=full ip=192.168.1.35 latency=64 link=yes maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 multicast=yes port=MII speed=100Mbit/s
                resources: irq:21 ioport:2000(size=256) memory:d0100000-d01000ff
           *-pcmcia
                description: CardBus bridge
                product: CB1410 Cardbus Controller
                vendor: ENE Technology Inc
                physical id: 4
                bus info: pci@0000:05:04.0
                version: 01
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pcmcia bus_master cap_list
                configuration: driver=yenta_cardbus latency=176 maxlatency=5 mingnt=192
                resources: irq:16 memory:88000000-88000fff ioport:2800(size=256) ioport:2400(size=256) memory:80000000-83ffffff memory:8c000000-8fffffff
           *-firewire
                description: FireWire (IEEE 1394)
                product: R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller
                vendor: Ricoh Co Ltd
                physical id: 6
                bus info: pci@0000:05:06.0
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm ohci bus_master cap_list
                configuration: driver=firewire_ohci latency=64 maxlatency=4 mingnt=2
                resources: irq:22 memory:d0100800-d0100fff
           *-generic:0
                description: SD Host controller
                product: R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter
                vendor: Ricoh Co Ltd
                physical id: 6.1
                bus info: pci@0000:05:06.1
                version: 19
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
                configuration: driver=sdhci-pci latency=64
                resources: irq:23 memory:d0100400-d01004ff
           *-generic:1
                description: System peripheral
                product: R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter
                vendor: Ricoh Co Ltd
                physical id: 6.2
                bus info: pci@0000:05:06.2
                version: 0a
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm cap_list
                configuration: driver=r592 latency=0
                resources: irq:23 memory:d0101400-d01014ff
           *-generic:2
                description: System peripheral
                product: xD-Picture Card Controller
                vendor: Ricoh Co Ltd
                physical id: 6.3
                bus info: pci@0000:05:06.3
                version: 05
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm cap_list
                configuration: driver=r852 latency=0
                resources: irq:23 memory:d0101800-d01018ff
        *-isa
             description: ISA bridge
             product: 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-ide
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7-M Family) SATA Controller [IDE mode]
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
             logical name: scsi0
             logical name: scsi1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0
             resources: irq:19 ioport:1f0(size=8) ioport:3f6 ioport:170(size=8) ioport:376 ioport:18b0(size=16)
           *-disk
                description: ATA Disk
                product: HITACHI HTS54161
                vendor: Hitachi
                physical id: 0
                bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/sda
                version: SBDI
                serial: SB2D41E4JR3JSE
                size: 111GiB (120GB)
                capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
                configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=95f3457a
              *-volume:0
                   description: Extended partition
                   physical id: 1
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
                   logical name: /dev/sda1
                   size: 25GiB
                   capacity: 25GiB
                   capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
                 *-logicalvolume:0
                      description: Linux filesystem partition
                      physical id: 5
                      logical name: /dev/sda5
                      logical name: /
                      capacity: 23GiB
                      configuration: mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,user_xattr,barrier=1,data=ordered state=mounted
                 *-logicalvolume:1
                      description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                      physical id: 6
                      logical name: /dev/sda6
                      capacity: 2037MiB
                      capabilities: nofs
              *-volume:1
                   description: Windows NTFS volume
                   physical id: 2
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
                   logical name: /dev/sda2
                   logical name: /media/HD
                   version: 3.1
                   serial: d44f80b0-b88a-2f42-855c-80a4251def96
                   size: 86GiB
                   capacity: 86GiB
                   capabilities: primary bootable ntfs initialized
                   configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2007-03-27 13:41:45 filesystem=ntfs label=HD modified_by_chkdsk=true mount.fstype=fuseblk mount.options=rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,user_id=0,group_id=0,default_permissions,allow_other,blksize=4096 mounted_on_nt4=true resize_log_file=true state=mounted upgrade_on_mount=true
           *-cdrom
                description: DVD-RAM writer
                product: DVDRAM GMA-4082N
                vendor: HL-DT-ST
                physical id: 1
                bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/cdrom
                logical name: /dev/cdrw
                logical name: /dev/dvd
                logical name: /dev/dvdrw
                logical name: /dev/sr0
                version: HA01
                capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
                configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
        *-serial UNCLAIMED
             description: SMBus
             product: N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: ioport:18c0(size=32)
     *-scsi
          physical id: 2
          bus info: usb@2:1
          logical name: scsi2
          capabilities: emulated scsi-host
          configuration: driver=usb-storage
        *-disk
             description: SCSI Disk
             product: psc 2175
             vendor: HP
             physical id: 0.0.0
             bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0
             logical name: /dev/sdb
             version: 1.00
             capabilities: removable
             configuration: ansiversion=2
           *-medium
                physical id: 0
                logical name: /dev/sdb
  *-remoteaccess UNCLAIMED
       vendor: Intel
       physical id: 1
       capabilities: inbound
 
Last edited:
AnitaPeterson said:
Hmmmm.... Interesting.

Does anyone here (apart from new AT users!) have any experience with this OS?
Click to expand...

I guess you read the wiki? It's based on Ubuntu, so it has a good base system. I'm generally opposed to running look-alike systems. GNU/Linux will never be Windows, and no matter how close you get with the gui, a user will eventually run into that fact. My thoughts are that can create more confusion since it looks very close to Windows, but isn't... If you start with something that obviously isn't Windows, it won't be as much of a surprise when the differences appear.

Using a de like Xfce, and Lxde will be very similar to classic Windows, and shouldn't be hard to learn. Unity and Gnome3(as well as the smaller desktops) could be a little more strange.

So... While I haven't used it, I'm philosophically opposed to the concept. We all need to learn new things, and that applies as much going from Windows to Windows(Seen Win8?) as it does any other system. Using cheaters delays the inevitable, and can ultimately make it harder. I think any classic computing desktop would be as easy for someone new, and you aren't tied into one company to provide the experience.

Ultimately, the best person to decide is you, or the person you're building for. I was going to download the iso, but they don't have a torrent option, and I've downloaded a lot of isos lately. I'm tired of trying different distros :^D
 
Great points, but you went above and beyond my question, and I realized that I wasn't explicit enough... I was wondering if anyone here had prior experience with that particular Linux flavour (Zorin-OS), because A) the person recommending it was a complete AT newbie, with 1 post to his/her account (which is always a red flag for me!) and B) I remember the whole Xandros debacle....

You're right as far as the user interface goes... To be honest, there's much to be said here. Obviously, the user's preferences and personal taste are paramount.

I see you mention XFCE, but I'm not sure which particular OS uses this interface.

As far as market fragmentation goes, the only Linux OS that I can see getting substantial notice is Ubuntu.... If the project of running Ubuntu on Android phones/tablets comes to fruition, we might finally get something that turns the market on its head.
 
AnitaPeterson said:
I see you mention XFCE, but I'm not sure which particular OS uses this interface.
Click to expand...

Xfce should be installable on any distro, but Xubuntu is one I know of that ships it as default. I use it on Debian.

For Zorin, I've been seeing it around the web lately. There's something behind it. Whether that something is astroturf or not, I don't know :^D I don't think you'd have to worry as much about support as you would with Xandros. I haven't seen myself, but I suspect it uses the Ubuntu repos, and maybe has one or two of their own for specialized stuff. If they completely disappeared, you could probably keep getting updates through Ubuntu.

I agree regarding Ubuntu. They have potential to do great things on the desktop. I don't care for the Unity desktop, but it's lovely, and may be appealing for new users. Ubuntu also provides a good target for 3rd party devs. I like that they're taking an Apple approach, and combining several technologies in a complete package. That makes it more desirable than any one portion alone. If they can provide a smooth experience, it'll give people that like Apple a freer, and more flexible setup, and it should also save them money. They could have the Apple experience without the huge markup.
 
lxskllr said:
and she has a minor problem I anticipated; The stupid global menus, and the ass backward window buttons. GUI elements should never change content or location. You'd think the retards running "usability studies" would understand that, but I guess they get lost in their great ideas, and lose sight of the purpose of a computer. Contextual gui elements are an automatic fail. If you don't need them enough to be continuously visible, you don't need them at all. Hide them in a menu somewhere. The ass backward buttons can be more easily adapted to but the dock/button locations should have an easy location switcher built in.

My mother seemed to understand the concept when i showed her, but there's gonna be a lot of moments staring at the screen in doubt. I know that because I'm fairly adept with computers, and I found myself staring at the screen wondering where the menu was. I would have installed Xfce, but I figured Unity would be prettier for her. Oh well. At least I won't have to worry about the Fwd fwd fwd fwd emails from her friends that could be carrying a nasty payload. Now I just need a good remote support solution. I'm looking at NoMachine. Do any of you have experience? I need something that can be run without any interaction from my mother. Trying to talk her through anything computer related is enough to get me digging through the cabinet for my razor blades :^D

http://www.nomachine.com/products.php
Click to expand...

NoMachine is nice, fairly stable and easy enough to use.

I still cling to SSH though.
 
lord_emperor said:
Sounds like she's really having difficulty with Unity. Why not have her try Kubuntu or Mint KDE?
Click to expand...

I haven't had any complaints since this thread has been made. I still want to get a native support solution, but Teamviewer has been working well, so it slips my mind.

I guess the question is "Would you do anything differently?". I'm not sure. My mother is somewhat unique(I think) because she does NOTHING with a computer but read email, browse the web, and print emails(sigh...). I picked Ubuntu cause I thought it was pretty, and also to force ME to use it. Odds are if I have to support GNU/Linux for people, I'd be supporting Ubuntu, so this would help keep me up to speed. Unity is a bit heavier than necessary though, so I think a stripped Lubuntu would be an option. If my Unity desires above were removed, I'd go with Lubuntu.

Back to "Why not Debian?" I think one of the things I was afraid of was forgetting something, and having my mother hit a brick wall. With Ubuntu you pretty much install, and you're done. Debian requires a bit more. It isn't hard, but sometimes things get forgotten, and if I'm not there to do it, it wouldn't get done. I guess it goes back to the familiarity thing.
 
lxskllr said:
I guess you read the wiki? It's based on Ubuntu, so it has a good base system. I'm generally opposed to running look-alike systems. GNU/Linux will never be Windows, and no matter how close you get with the gui, a user will eventually run into that fact. My thoughts are that can create more confusion since it looks very close to Windows, but isn't... If you start with something that obviously isn't Windows, it won't be as much of a surprise when the differences appear.

Using a de like Xfce, and Lxde will be very similar to classic Windows, and shouldn't be hard to learn. Unity and Gnome3(as well as the smaller desktops) could be a little more strange.

So... While I haven't used it, I'm philosophically opposed to the concept. We all need to learn new things, and that applies as much going from Windows to Windows(Seen Win8?) as it does any other system. Using cheaters delays the inevitable, and can ultimately make it harder. I think any classic computing desktop would be as easy for someone new, and you aren't tied into one company to provide the experience.

Ultimately, the best person to decide is you, or the person you're building for. I was going to download the iso, but they don't have a torrent option, and I've downloaded a lot of isos lately. I'm tired of trying different distros :^D
Click to expand...

And I'm even discovering, in my Ubuntu 12.04 playground I'm making out of this dual-boot system, that you can get a very unique, yet Windows-inspired, Gnome Shell 3 installation running.

Start with Ubuntu 12.04, install GS3.4, use the Gnome3 Team PPA for supporting packages, then run wild with Gnome Extensions and playing around with the settings.

Should be a lot easier than the time I've been having trying to get my ideal setup (decidedly not Windows like, in my case). But, a triple-monitor setup across dual GPUs tends to make anything and everything a little more complicated than necessary, regardless of the OS.

So much for easing myself back into Linux (never was an experienced user by any means, but I could muck around just fine, as long as I had google) after an extended time without touching it on a PC.
Hey, you want to play around with Linux? Welcome to the nightmare that is getting SLI + triple-monitor configured correctly, and working with interface tweaks and extensions that were geared for single-monitor environments.

Makes for quick learning though. 😀
 
Unity is... weird.

I've come upon this conclusion after using it for the past week+. It's pretty noob friendly in the sense that the launcher really makes it easy to find your programs; there's no sifting through a dropdown menu. Out of the box it also worked pretty well for me. The issues I had were mainly due to drivers and putting it on a laptop, so most people won't have the difficulties that I had in toning down the power consumption. The good news is that Ubuntu is now equal to my Win7 power consumption 😀

The "weird" part:

Unity isn't for noobs. Say what? Yea, it's really not for noobs. It isn't a desktop interface like Gnome. To get the most out of Unity, at least 12.04+, you really have to start using the HUD. Generally speaking, most "noobs" will go straight for the mouse/pointer and start going through the GUI to find what they need. With HUD you rarely have to take your hands off the keyboard -- there can be some significant improvements here, but it's still pretty amazing just how many doors HUD can open. For example, I use Unity's launcher to launch all of my applications, HUD to shut down my PC, open my browser and even go to my specific URLs. IMO, it's the best thing that's been added to Linux since the introduction of the all-in-one software updates. It really is that good.

Perhaps my opinion of it is inflated because I'm using it on a laptop, specifically a ThinkPad where the keyboard is the most magical thing on the planet, but the speed at which my general computing is done has increased dramatically. Not having to take your hands off the keyboard is brilliant. I can't overstate this.

Though there are a few kinks that I think have to be worked out:

- I'd like the response time of HUD to be a bit snappier. I find that I have to wait half a second to get the drop down list to close a tab in Chromium. This might have to do with the conservative settings I'm using.

- "Minimize" doesn't seem to be there regardless of the program. Not a huge deal as you can make a keyboard macro for it, but would still be nice.

- Unity's launcher and HUD seem to be a bit redundant. If I can launch a web browser and go straight to pandora by hitting alt + typing "pa" then do I really need Unity's search feature? I'd like to see some streamlining done here. Instead of using HUD only to do specific application-related tasks, I'd like it to have the capability of launching said applications as well. I understand this might run the risk of HUD becoming a bit convoluted, but I still think there could potentially be a way of combining the two. Perhaps alt+a for HUD>applications. This does make Unity's search feature a bit redundant, but Linux is about choice after all, isn't it? 🙂

I seriously urge you guys to give it a go. Hide your Unity launcher, permanently if you can. Start using the super and alt keys and once you've become accustomed to it you'll learn to love it. As much as Unity is attempting to become tablet friendly, the HUD+launcher search features have made Ubuntu a typists dream.
 
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