Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta Frustrations

by Mike on March 27, 2012 · 10 comments

in Reviews

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta

This article is a list of several frustrations that I experienced in the first 30 minutes, nothing major just small issues. Overall the desktop is nice to look at and works efficiently. Part of if is simply getting used to the changes.

It is easy to gripe about stuff, so why not tell the developers at Ubuntu, what I don’t like, there are a lot of things about the new desktop that I do like…but this is a gripe session. OK, so there are a few things that are frustrating. This is one, every time I turn around the screen is locked.

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta

 

Sure, it is an easy fix, I just wish it was an option at install as I hate this feature. All you have to is access “System Settings” icon and “Brightness and Lock” and click it off.

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Screen Lock Options

If I could talk with Mr. Ubuntu, I would say…”Give me a break, there is absolutely nothing on this system that is worth protecting and when I do want to protect it from my cat, he is destructive, I will set it up when I want to!

I guess that is why I hate Windows, I do not like Mr. Windows making decisions for me, let me set it up the way I want.

 

So I go to the Ubuntu Software Center and I can see that the terminal is installed…but how do I get to it?

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Software Center

You know, sadly I could not figure out how to open a terminal except from a shortcut:

Ctrl+ALt+T

Works great but what about the other apps I want to open?

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Terminal

 

If I wanted to save this I can right click the icon in the menu and save it to the menu.

Adding Terminal Icon To Ubuntu 12.04

I can also remove icons that way too.

 

I am not sure what to think about adds for magazines and software inside Ubuntu. I not against Ubuntu getting the resources they need, I just do not want more desktop invasion. To tell you the truth, I will probably install applications from the command line as it is faster and I do not have to deal with this….just not sure what to think. Is Ubuntu desperate for financial resources…isn’t this what Mandriva did in their desperate times, didn’t help them much. Hey I would rather pay $20 and be free of adds…guess I need to donate.

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Ad

 

You know, I asked it to update everything on install…doesn’t look like it did. Oh, well maybe that will get fixed later.

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Update

 

I know there is a lot of talk about the menu, it certainly takes getting used to. Initially, it is going to be frustrating. When you open an application the menu for that applications merges into the bar at the top. You can see by placing the cursor over the bar the menu shows up…easy enough once you discover it.

Ubuntu 12.04 Beta Terminal Menu Bar

Those are the initial frustrations I found after 30 minutes, I need to spend more time digging into the new desktop which I basically like even with the frustrations.

 

{ 10 comments }

Alan Pope March 27, 2012 at 5:54 am

“Works great but what about the other apps I want to open?”

Click the Ubuntu icon in the top left.

4nth0ny March 27, 2012 at 7:57 am

“You know, I asked it to update everything on install…doesn’t look like it did. Oh, well maybe that will get fixed later.”

This is not something that needs to be “fixed later”. Since this is a beta under active development, there are updates constantly available. Also, if you want apt to install all available updates, you need to use the command “apt-get dist-upgrade” rather than “apt-get upgrade”.

Rob March 27, 2012 at 8:01 am

True, the article does seem a little bit inflammatory. I would think anyone who’s willing to install a beta version of a distribution would be a little bit familiar with its current state of development.

Alex Barringer March 27, 2012 at 8:12 am

The rants, I have heard them all before. However, there is no Mr. Ubuntu, it’s Canonical you are to take issue with. Then again, this 12.04 LTS is what? A beta? Of course there are going to be problems with it, that is why it’s in beta testing right now. People seem to confuse betas with good working mature products, especially if they are “free”.

It will be awhile before the 12.04 LTS is stabilized and out of beta testing, until that time, you’re more than welcome to sound off on Ubuntu’s forum on their LaunchPad page.

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu

You can also submit these bugs to them as well, as what beta testers are supposed to do (you know?)…

If you’re having this much trouble with Ubuntu’s new interface perhaps you should use an off-shoot distribution called Linux Mint instead and wait for their beta to be release as LTS, which will be version 13 over there. Their current release is Lisa, version 12. Which is a very nice build and easy to use. I would say, it’s a lot easier than Ubuntu 11.10 and the new 12.04.

Take a look, if you haven’t already.

http://www.linuxmint.com/

Andrew Yeomans March 27, 2012 at 8:21 am

Update on install – actually this is something that ought to be fixed. It applies to older Ubuntu systems too. After the initial install, despite ticking “install updates”, there is a mound of further updates to install. And it’s not just the ones released in the last few minutes of a beta.

django March 27, 2012 at 1:18 pm

Please,
move over to a real Operating System like Linux Mint, Debian or OpenSuse (preferabbly with Lxde or XFCE4 desktop) and all your problems will vanish.

carolinason March 27, 2012 at 2:12 pm

i can fully commiserate.

Rex Djere March 27, 2012 at 6:06 pm

Great article Mike! I’m looking forward to 12.04. I just installed 11.10 for a family member, and this gives me a great heads up on what to expect in the next version.

CaptainDangeax March 28, 2012 at 12:46 am

Hi there.

I loathe the Unity and the standard gnome3 GUIs found in the latests Ubuntu. After many years of KDE1, 2, 3 and 3.5, I never get used to KDE4 and went to Gnome at this time.
Now I find my happyness using Cinnamon, the GUI of Linux Mint. For sure I will be using Ubuntu 12.04, but thru its LinuxMint flavor…

Stephen Green April 20, 2012 at 5:44 am

It is all about change, newb’s face a challenge, a new UI, hardware issues and such. But we can all agree it’s well worth it..

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