Tom's Hardware Review

***bob*** · #1 21st March 2012, 12:52 PM

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...view,3155.html

Certainly not the kindest review I've read, but it's the most in-depth and at least seems to be an even-handed attempt at comparing Fedora, Ubuntu and Windows7. Also, there's a lot of tweak tips mentioned, which is worth the read if for nothing else.

dragonbite · #2 21st March 2012, 02:34 PM

I found this on on Tom's Hardware article Fedora 16 And GNOME Shell: Tested And Reviewed and thought it was an interesting conclusion.

Quote:

Conclusion
The only thing really wrong with Fedora 16 is the choice of GNOME 3 as its default desktop environment. This distribution is for the people who make Linux, not for the Win/Mac converts. GNOME Shell is most obviously intended for the uninitiated masses, not the developers. Putting aside any gripes we may have with it, from it's very inception, GNOME 3 simply wasn't the right fit for Fedora.

Do you think this is an accurate overall view of not only Gnome 3 but Fedora as well?

sea · #3 21st March 2012, 02:59 PM

Acutaly, its just the same bob had linked:
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=277859

dragonbite · #4 21st March 2012, 03:18 PM

I like the Conclusion part:

Quote:

The only thing really wrong with Fedora 16 is the choice of GNOME 3 as its default desktop environment. This distribution is for the people who make Linux, not for the Win/Mac converts. GNOME Shell is most obviously intended for the uninitiated masses, not the developers. Putting aside any gripes we may have with it, from it's very inception, GNOME 3 simply wasn't the right fit for Fedora.

How accurate of a depiction do you think this is?

BBQdave · #5 21st March 2012, 03:31 PM

That was my question too, and I think a good point of interest. Who is Gnome 3 for.

Users looking for sparkly and chewable are just going to go get an iShiny. People that have an interest in GNU/Linux, workflow, configurable UI's... Gnome 3 is an odd fit

***bob*** · #6 21st March 2012, 03:33 PM

Yep, I got there first, plus I put mine in the correct Forum ('cause I made that one, so I know it's right

).

Anyway, it's a good topic for discussion.

***bob*** · #7 21st March 2012, 03:38 PM

Then again, it's one of Fedora's Core Values:

Quote:

We believe in the power of innovation and showing off new work in our releases.

So, if it's new and innovative, isn't it Fedora's responsibility to include it? (Of course, Grub2 was a tad late. )

bbfuller · #8 21st March 2012, 03:46 PM

I believe that it comes back to something I posted 4 years or more ago.

Fedora can't make up its mind if it wants to be a distribution or a test bed and I don't see how it can be both.

I really don't think Fedora does Linux any favours by promoting itself as a "distribution" and then leaving newcomers faced with what they have seen as the main Fedora desktop for the last year. They are not alone in the promotion stakes either. You have to wonder if the magazine reviewers who talk it up have ever watched someone who just wants to use a computer try to convert.

I've no doubt Gnome 3 has its place, but not in a distribution - yet.

Having just had a taste of Gnome 3, I'm rushing back to KDE.

BBQdave · #9 21st March 2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob

So, if it's new and innovative, isn't it Fedora's responsibility to include it?

I agree. Just wish the extensions and tweaks (which are now readily available) would have been there from the start. And too, I'm an old Mac ppc user that was abandoned (hardware, software, and services) for the new and innovative, so I guess I am a little leery when presented with Gnome 3 (partly functions, not supported on my old hardware).

And through the process of transition from Mac os9 to osX (ppc to intel), programs (new versions) became less functional and more expensive. Not saying that is what is going on with Gnome 3, just that my ears go up when presented this new shiny thing that limits function and ability to configure.

For me, the curious part is how Gnome 3 will be transitioned into RHEL; which the article suggest fedora as RHEL testbed?

aleph · #10 21st March 2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQdave

That was my question too, and I think a good point of interest. Who is Gnome 3 for.

It's official: GNOME is not for humans.

***DBelton*** · #11 21st March 2012, 04:00 PM

That article pretty much sums up my experiences with F16 and F15/16/17 with Gnome 3 shell as well.

I tend to agree that the Gnome 3 shell isn't for a lot of the "power users" that a distro like Fedora has tended to attract in the past. Gnome 3 shell just doesn't sit too well with people that are used to being able to configure their desktop how they want it, instead of how the developers say is the best for them.

Now, I really love Fedora as a distro, and I know that Fedora and Gnome are 2 different things and you can run Fedora without using Gnome. But a lot of people don't realize they are separate entities, so a bad experience with Gnome sends them away from Fedora and to another distro (or back to Windows). Fedora promotes Gnome as the default desktop, and I have seen a lot of people that don't realize there is any other desktop available for Fedora.

Fedora including Gnome 3 is great. It falls in with the "new and innovative" that makes Fedora a distro I like. The issue is that Gnome 3 really isn't ready for public distribution, and Fedora promoting it as the default desktop, even though it has numerous issues.

I know Fedora (and Redhat) have always been Gnome-centric distros, but maybe it's time for them to look at some other desktop. I have a feeling they are going to be in for a rude awakening when Gnome 3 hits RHEL anyway. (I already know of approx 1500 desktop machines that will toss Gnome when it hits RHEL)

***DBelton*** · #12 21st March 2012, 04:25 PM

A very good topic for discussion (as long as I can keep my Gnome 3 bashing in check

)

That is a very good review, one of the best and most unbiased reviews I have seen. It tells it like it is, and presents both sides to some of the arguments. The author of the article, Adam Overa, really presents things in a good way. I like his style

**Finalzone** · #13 21st March 2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBelton

Fedora including Gnome 3 is great. It falls in with the "new and innovative" that makes Fedora a distro I like. The issue is that Gnome 3 really isn't ready for public distribution, and Fedora promoting it as the default desktop, even though it has numerous issues.

Real issue are some users habit on their desktop environment nothing more. it happened before in several deskop environment in the past and it won't be the last time. Recently I let some people especially teenagers using my laptop running Gnome Shell who are yet to complain about usability other than looking for menu.

BBQdave · #14 21st March 2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finalzone

Real issue are some users habit on their desktop environment nothing more.

Maybe

I guess I could chuck well over a decade of graphic design workflow experience (multitasking-DE), and embrace one task at time graphic design on a tablet UI on a desktop... with a keyboard... and a mouse...

dragonbite · #15 21st March 2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finalzone

Real issue are some users habit on their desktop environment nothing more. it happened before in several deskop environment in the past and it won't be the last time. Recently I let some people especially teenagers using my laptop running Gnome Shell who are yet to complain about usability other than looking for menu.

I think Gnome 3 is beyond desktop habits and what one is familiar with, otherwise would the complaints be lasting this long? How long before Gnome 2 and KDE 4 complaints died down?

Surprisingly, with all this hoopla going on about Gnome shell, Unity and KDE 4 years ago Microsoft is poised to do the exact same thing with Windows 8!

One would think they would "watch and learn", even if it is to "know thine enemy", don'tcha think?