Gnome-Shell vs Unity
It’s been almost a year now since Gnome team started to work on Gnome 3, which is the next Gnome desktop environment base. Gnome has also been working on Gnome-Shell which is the main desktop environment for Gnome 3. Gnome-Shell is trying to bring a better experience and friendliness to the user by implementing new desktop system and features. However, Ubutnu developers have seen that Gnome intentions for the desktop differs from theirs, so they started Unity.
A recent screenshot of Gnome-Shell showing opened windows
Basically both Gnome-Shell and Unity are user interfaces built on the Gnome 3 base. However, each delivers its own distinct experience. Gnome-Shell based their GUI on Mlutter, a composing window manager. When Ubuntu started development on Gnome 3 for Unity, it based its development on Mutter as well, and they have released Unity interface for Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook edition.
However, the experience was worse than ever, laggy, buggy, and trashy! Neither users were satisfied, nor the developers! That’s why they ported compiz to Gnome 3! Beta testers of the upcoming Ubuntu release – including me – all agree that there has been major improvement, it became snappier and more responsive.
An recent screenshot of Unity showing workspaces
Even though Unity seems doing better – performance-wise – so far, it still has its problems. The most critical one would be the fact that no one will be able to run a fully featured Unity if you do not have a proper graphics card and would drop you on a Qt-implemented Unity, a.k.a Unity 2D! Gnome-Shell, on the other hand, because of Mutter it doesn’t take advantage of the graphics card to the max like Compiz with Unity. Gnome-Shell and Mutter is more like Gnome 2.x and Metacity or KDE and Kwin.
Which will win in the end? That question will remain till Gnome’s Gnome-Shell release in March and Ubutnu’s Unity release in April. … but what do you think?
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for some reason , both looks like jolicloud to me
while the pic of Gnome-shell somehow reminds me Android 3.0 .. looks like a tablet interface than a desktop one .. going for touch support ?
JiMMaR
January 19, 2011
The provided screenshots are only showing one part of the UI, if you’re interested, you can look in here for gnome3 and here for unity.
Developers of Unity definitely had the idea of tablets – and netbooks mainly – in mind when they designed the interface. They also have developed the uTouch, the piece of software that enables mutlitouch on ubuntu. However, the experience will slightly differ from when it’s installed on a netbook/tablet or on a desktop/laptop, only to provide better experience.
As for Gnome-Shell, I can’t say so since I’ve never heard the word ‘tablet’ mentioned. But – I think – because many people think that tablets are the “future”, they’re going to heed to it! BTW, it’s UI is not much of a tablet UI, they usually have larger icons – just like Unity’s. Also the fact that they have implemented mouse-only features! I think they’re just trying to bring another practical, yet modern, UI!
Thanks for dropping by.
AnxiousNut
January 19, 2011
If anyone is interested, a new site has just launched specifically for Gnome-Shell: http://gnome3.org
AnxiousNut
January 19, 2011
so in short, they’re the same thing. but one is more standard than the other and doesn’t rely on graphics cards as much. personally, I’m siding with gnome-shell simply because desktops are their business (and has been for years), and that looks aren’t the only driving factor for them.
but ether way, a weird GUI is coming to desktop pcs. I think everyone including microsoft will follow suit eventually (assuming that it survives that long).
SirGaga
January 19, 2011
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KDE, improved! | Q8GEEKS.ORG
January 19, 2011
Gnome is way better for Desktops and Laptops. Unity should stick with netbooks and tablets or whatever.
Fencer Darkwind
January 19, 2011
+1 , and btw, they only did that because OS X is doing it!!
It’s the truth; they announced that they’re going to be using the interface for all one day after the back to the mac event where the new OS X UI was shown!
I hate that fact, but it’s the truth.
AnxiousNut
January 20, 2011
Then join the Debian side
, a lot better than Ubuntu.
Fencer Darkwind
January 21, 2011
… and who exactly said I am an Ubuntu guy anymore? The only reason why I’m following its news daily is because it’s THE popular linux.
And BTW, expect an Ubuntu bashing post in the future, I’ve been collecting data for months now! XP
Though I’d keep one Ubuntu installation on my netbook with my own UI, just to know how things are going! … and help noobies!
AnxiousNut
January 21, 2011
Then whats your Linux distro currently? Hopefully not an RPM distro. If you’re not using Debian, then I suggest you do. It doesn’t have any bloat like Ubuntu and its releasing a new version soon.
Fencer Darkwind
January 21, 2011
Noooo!!!
YES, Squeeze! I’m waiting for it, and this is the only reason why I still have 10.04 on my main PC! I know I can install Lenny and then do apt-get fullupgrade, but I don’t like to do release upgrades. I also have CrunchBang Linux on my secondary Pentium II PC.
AnxiousNut
January 21, 2011
You could visit the http://gnomeshellreview.wordpress.com, has lots of information updated GNOME-Shell.
Enrique
February 17, 2011
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