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Ubuntu on tablets

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Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#51

Post by andmarios »

I am a bit tired of how much Ubuntu gets promoted compared to other Linux based solutions.

Here is a video of KDE's Plasma Active running on a Nexus 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7isMAmwW0

It is a real use video, there aren't any fancy photos, there isn't any CG in the video in contrast with Canonical's page.

Plasma Active is being actively developed for about 2 years now and KDE 4 was developed from the ground up to be able to adapt to various form factors.

Since most Linux applications run on many different architectures, with such an approach you can keep your low power ARM based tablet and run all your desktop software -albeit a bit or more slower.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#52

Post by trumbitta2 »

I use unity for the fullscreen windows / mac-like menus. In fact, I:

- use gnome-do instead of unity dash

- use docky in panel mode as my beloved taskbar

- keep the horrible unity sidebar well hidden on the left

And I am happy so far.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#53

Post by pajju »

They learnt everything from others by launching late, but added most of the good design patterns. Great work all together. Worth mentioning, Ubuntu is emerging as perfect web platform with tight integration with web-services.

"And now web applications are first class citizens too, wow. I was waiting for this to happen fast."

At this stage they need:

1. More Partners.

They must have strong tie-ups with OEM partners, who can make in-expensive devices, otherwise its not going anywhere. Get those chinese manufacturers.

2. Please NO device fragmentation and open strict standards among OEM's.

3. Nokia backing up this project?

Isn't this the best time for Nokia to make Ubuntu powered devices? I think so.

Under the current circumstances, Ubuntu and Nokia can make a good win-win fit. Nokia maybe can now come back strongly, instead of believing in a closed ecosystem like windows, which is not going anywhere.

3. Get Funded.

4. Apps. Quality and tested apps.

Can this happen with Open Source methodologies? Debatable. :)

All together this is great progress in a short span. Incredible team-work, lets not forget this comes from Open Source World. Love this, Made my day.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#54

Post by kombine »

rufugee wrote: post #21

As much as it pains me to admit it, I'm now using Cinnamon as a desktop environment. I really, really wanted Unity to work, but I've had continued performance problems which make it ultimately unusable for me. I understand Ubuntu's need to turn a profit, but I really wish they'd focus on making Unity stable and performant before chasing down these other opportunities... Disclaimer: I run three monitors, so I'm probab…

I tried to use Cinnamon and it was a very poor experience. It is very immature, simple things that are the norm on existing desktop environments are not there. I can't say I use Unity too much, I'm more of a KDE user, but Unity is a lot more stable.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#56

Post by sweetdreamerit »

rufugee wrote: post #21

As much as it pains me to admit it, I'm now using Cinnamon as a desktop environment. I really, really wanted Unity to work, but I've had continued performance problems which make it ultimately unusable for me. I understand Ubuntu's need to turn a profit, but I really wish they'd focus on making Unity stable and performant before chasing down these other opportunities... Disclaimer: I run three monitors, so I'm probab…

i moved to xfce after one year of troubles with Unity

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#57

Post by tinkmasterflash »

yareally wrote: post #32
tinkmasterflash wrote: post #4

I don't even use Ubuntu for the desktop or the laptop, what motivation do I have to use it on a phone or tablet? How about making Unity less than an unholy mess before branching out into other form-factors?

You're commenting (and just created an account) on a site called hacker news and you cannot think of something to do with it? - build apps or port apps to work better on it. I can also do this without having to resort to Java like Android if I want to do things the recommended and supported way. I am also guessing that running su/sudo on it will not feel like an ugly hack to do like it is on Android[1] since it shoul…

Thanks for your insights however the slight at my new account is not very welcoming.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#58

Post by mtgx »

orofino wrote: post #44
rufugee wrote: post #21

As much as it pains me to admit it, I'm now using Cinnamon as a desktop environment. I really, really wanted Unity to work, but I've had continued performance problems which make it ultimately unusable for me. I understand Ubuntu's need to turn a profit, but I really wish they'd focus on making Unity stable and performant before chasing down these other opportunities... Disclaimer: I run three monitors, so I'm probab…

I'm not using Unity, so I won't talk to that point, only the phone/tablet opportunity you think they should be ignoring. Apple is already a heavyweight in this area and Google/Samsung have a dominant second place. Viable tablet alternatives need to establish a foothold now, before there is too much lock in from the existing entrants. Every iOS or Play app that I buy will make me (as a consumer) less likely to switch…

I actually think the tablet market is a lot more open for the taking than the smartphone market, contrary to what many tech writers thought a while ago that it's just going to be an "iPad market" just like the iPod market.

The smartphone market is almost 1 billion units per year now (or will be this year), with the potential for 3-4 billion units. The tablet market is only around a 100 million market right now, with the potential for at least 2 billion units per year.

The biggest chunk of these markets will belong to free and open source operating systems like Android and Ubuntu, so Ubuntu definite has a chance here. But most of the those markets will be lower-end devices, obviously, and Android can already work on very low-end hardware. Plus it has a much bigger momentum. If Ubuntu wants to have a significant market share of that, it needs become as "lean" as possible on low-end hardware, and make sure it makes people excited about it, so it gets a lot of buzz/marketing for free.

Re: Ubuntu on tablets

#60

Post by firefoxman1 »

bitsoda wrote: post #42

I still don't understand the tablet form factor. I concluded that it's not for me some time ago, but am waiting for the general population to come around to one glaring flaw: you have to hold it. For me, it doesn't matter how light a tablet is. A five pound laptop will always feel lighter since it will effectively weigh nothing because it's always on some kind of platform during use, either my lap or a flat desk/tabl…

Right now they're pretty useless, I agree.

But watch a couple clips for me:

http://youtu.be/Jx7VNP5UO2k?t=5m9s (at 5:09) http://youtu.be/5jzAAPccBaU?t=2m27s (at 2:27)

That's the future. That's when the tablet becomes extremely useful. Productive-yet-portable in a way a laptop can't be. What I think the Microsoft guys really nailed is that the tablet is ultimately just another tool. The "post-pc" era still has plenty of PC's in it; they just work alongside tablets and phones.

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