On Wed, Nov 09, 2011 at 07:41:38AM -0000, Mark Shuttleworth wrote:
>On 08/11/11 19:31, kfsone wrote:
>> However: The direction and changes of 11.x *suggest* to us that Ubuntu
>> is swapping from desktop to sub-desktop focus for it's primary
>> distribution.
>
>No. What's happening is that the new form factors are being integrated
>into Ubuntu, just as they will be integrated into MacOS and Windows.
>We'd just like to be ahead of the curve. Some day, you will be able to
>carry a phone, and dock it to a keyboard, mouse and display and use it
>as a full desktop with all your apps and data. Or use it as a tablet, in
>a different dock.
So, if I understand correctly, you're saying that there will be *one*
interface that will work across tablets, phones, and desktops? I certainly
hope not, because tablets, phones, and desktops are *physically* different
interfaces. It's like trying to emulate a mouse with a joystick, or vice
versa---it's possible, but it just doesn't work well.
A keyboard and mouse provide a very rich physical interface. Tablets and
phones offer more portability at the cost of a more restricted physical
interface. I don't *ever* want to have those restrictions when I'm using a
keyboard and mouse.
Trying to force different physical interfaces to use the same GUI is dumb.
At best, it'll be a lowest-common-denominator that never helps users kick
ass[*].
On Wed, Nov 09, 2011 at 07:41:38AM -0000, Mark Shuttleworth wrote:
>On 08/11/11 19:31, kfsone wrote:
>> However: The direction and changes of 11.x *suggest* to us that Ubuntu
>> is swapping from desktop to sub-desktop focus for it's primary
>> distribution.
>
>No. What's happening is that the new form factors are being integrated
>into Ubuntu, just as they will be integrated into MacOS and Windows.
>We'd just like to be ahead of the curve. Some day, you will be able to
>carry a phone, and dock it to a keyboard, mouse and display and use it
>as a full desktop with all your apps and data. Or use it as a tablet, in
>a different dock.
So, if I understand correctly, you're saying that there will be *one*
interface that will work across tablets, phones, and desktops? I certainly
hope not, because tablets, phones, and desktops are *physically* different
interfaces. It's like trying to emulate a mouse with a joystick, or vice
versa---it's possible, but it just doesn't work well.
A keyboard and mouse provide a very rich physical interface. Tablets and
phones offer more portability at the cost of a more restricted physical
interface. I don't *ever* want to have those restrictions when I'm using a
keyboard and mouse.
Trying to force different physical interfaces to use the same GUI is dumb. common- denominator that never helps users kick
At best, it'll be a lowest-
ass[*].
The KDE folks have a much more promising idea:
https:/ /en.wikipedia. org/wiki/ Plasma_ %28KDE% 29
The idea is to let the same applications use different interaction models,
depending on what kind of workspace they're running on.
[*] http:// headrush. typepad. com/creating_ passionate_ users/2005/ 05/users_ dont_care. html