I’m just screwing around with the OS, but I have to say, I’m a bit perplexed.

I wanted to install GIMP and LibreOffice, so I clicked on the AppCenter only to find out it couldn’t find either of them. Which is bizzarre, because I can install both using apt just fine. As it turns out, the AppCenter only has 51 curated applications, completely ignoring the abundance of programs already available in the Ubuntu repositories, making the AppCenter a bit useless.

Then there’s the desktop. I’m not entirely sure why I’m not allowed to have icons on it. macOS has desktop icons. As does Windows. Hell, almost every OS with a GUI does. Apparently, there’s something called Elementary Tweaks which lets you enable them, but why would anyone have to jump through hoops to enable this basic functionality?

I guess I just don’t understand who this OS is meant for.

  • hergeirs
    279·
    3 years ago

    Let’s try to be respectful of each other. I’m sure the devs of Elementary have their own vision and goals of their platform. They give their users an option to use their work for free and with no obligations. Why on earth would you bash their work when you obviously are not their target demographic.

    It’s really not fair to call their users stupid either.

    I really expected to find more evolved discussions on lemmy compared to reddit. Let’s stop the silly, meaningless bashing of opposing opinions or even worse personal attacks. Let’s not let this platform devolve into mob mentality.

    And by the way I’m not the target demographic either. I’m a software developer using arch wherever I can.

    • WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.world
      13·
      1 year ago

      Did OP edit their post? I don’t see any of that aggressiveness there now, nor is the word stupid in the post.

      • Eelviny@feddit.nl
        101·
        1 year ago

        Lemmy strikes again with a 2 year old post, probably got edited a while ago ;)

        • doona@aussie.zone
          3·
          1 year ago

          Does Lemmy really push older posts in the algorithm if you edit them? That seems a little flawed.

  • pinknoise
    101·
    3 years ago

    I think elementary is meant for old seniors, young children, people with a masters in business administration and ex-apple cultists. Not serious users.

    • onlookerOP
      1·
      3 years ago

      old seniors, young children, people with a masters in business administration and ex-apple cultists

      Are people with a masters in business administration not tech savvy?

      • pinknoise
        41·
        3 years ago

        The point was that they have the intellect and gullibility of a child. Also I didn’t want to bash elementary, I just wanted to say they don’t really target “power users”. (In case that was a bit unclear)

  • ksynwa
    7·
    3 years ago

    I have always thought that elementaryOS is a bit crap but the last time I installed it was a while back. I think it’s just better to install Ubuntu instead.

  • N0b3d
    7·
    3 years ago

    macOS has desktop icons. As does Windows. Hell, almost every OS with a GUI does

    It doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. I haven’t used elementary, but I use Openbox as my window manager and that doesn’t allow desktop icons either (lxde does, I believe and that uses Openbox as its window manager). It could be that you can use a different desktop environment, if icons are that important to you.

    • onlookerOP
      3·
      3 years ago

      You’re right, but elementary is clearly targeting users who are familiar with the macOS interface. And as I’ve mentioned, macOS does allow you to use the desktop as a place to store shortcuts, documents, etc. That’s why I find this design decision so baffling. If you’re trying to accomodate former Apple users, why take that feature away from them?

    • pinknoise
      2·
      3 years ago

      lxde does, I believe and that uses Openbox as its window manager

      Yes they do, LXDE’s file browser (pcmanfm) can display a folder “on the desktop” (and also a wallpaper iirc) if launched with --desktop

  • sgtnasty
    5·
    3 years ago

    I was going to write up all my thoughts but I will summarize:

    • bugs
    • music crashes
    • inconsistent UI (GNOME apps v Granite)
    • vala (prob not the best choice of example languages)
    • bugs
    • no support for NVIDIA optimus
    • very poor support for NVIDIA

    The trend seems to be: add 1 feature from macOS and call it a major release (gestures) Overall I am very disappointed, I was hoping for much more from “Odin”

  • C​​​
    4·
    3 years ago

    yeh if you want flathub apps in the appcenter you need to go to flathub.org, download an app from there and you can choose the option to show other flathub apps (although it took a while for me)

  • Sr Estegosaurio
    3·
    3 years ago

    Idk, I personally do not like they’re chooses about the icons and that. But I have to say that the interface looks really good at all. I would install it on a non techy person computer, like for example my father’s.

  • linkert
    2·
    3 years ago

    Don’t quote me but Gala is based on Mutter which back when had some janky desktop icon implementation using Natilus. It was removed because it was less ideal implementation.

    eOS team is all about (at least outwardly) having features be well implemented and standardized - see their dark theme implementation for instance, they would rather invent a good implementation over implementing half-baked ones even if the halfbaked one might have more adoption.

    I thing the Solus team with Budgie DE quite recently reintroduced desktop icons in a more sane implementation.

    Like I said, don’t quote me on this, not that invested.

  • Bilb!
    1·
    3 years ago

    I don’t get it either. I don’t see even one point in favor of using Elementary OS.