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I am loving the new elementary os luna beta release. It is a nice looking streamlined ubuntu based os. I'm using it on an atom powered netbook and it is quite snappy. Some criticize it for being a "mac clone", but I disagree. Yes; it is definitely osx influenced but I still think it's great. Give it a try yall!

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  • 3 weeks later...

So, I spent some time last night and today using elementary OS, and have some general thoughts (please excuse the length, this is sort of like my notepad for articles on my website...lol):

 

PROS

1) Elementary has taken everything I like about Ubuntu and Gnome, and packaged it into one.

2) It is light and fast with excellent response on pretty much everything

3) The included apps are excellent. Midori is incredible fast (faster than Chrome?) and Geary is fast approaching Apple Mail in quality and functionality.

4) The file browser has a very OSX-type look and feel

5) Apart from a few errors here and there, for a beta OS it's running very nicely!

6) The elementary OS team has included windows-like window snapping (drag to top to full screen etc.) This is something that I enabled in OSX with the BetterTouchTool, and I'm so glad to see it added by default!

 

 

NEUTRAL

1) The general icon set is a little too...cutesy for me. No big deal, Linux is EASY to customize in this way!!

 

CONS (In my opinion)

1) The desktop is a little bit function-less. Pretty much you can enable some widgets, but no file manager. I understand the reasoning behind this (ChromeOS is the same) but I have such a heavy reliance on my desktop alias folders that I'm a little disappointed about this - it's the little things like this that stop me making a full Unix switch...

There is a fix for the last stable version (jupiter) found here. I'm definitely going to be trying it out!

 

2) There is no minimize option for windows. Well, that's not entirely true, you can click on the dock icon and have it minimize, but they've gone for a close/maximize only toolbar combo. More on that here.

 

DOCK

I like the dock overall. It has much of the same functionality as is found on OSX's dock - you can pin and unpin apps, see what's running as well as change the look and feel. Perhaps once I have changed the icons I will feel more enthused by it?

 

INDICATORS

As with OSX and other Linux distros, you can have indicators in the top toolbar. I love these, because they give you so much information without taking up space! Definitely would be a deal-breaker if these weren't there, so kudos for that!

 

BROWSING

I'm nearly convinced that Midori is the fastest browser I have ever used. It truly is night and day compared to Firefox on OSX (and I only have a plugin or two on that). It still has bookmark and download functionality, as well as a private browsing mode. I think some speed tests are in order here...

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So I finally got around to installing elementary OS on a hard-disk, and HOLY MOLY it's fast!!

 

Running on a Caviar Blue 5400RPM 2.5" drive, it boots to a usable desktop much faster than OSX on my SSD. The Midori browser continues to impress me - since 95% of my daily work is via browser, it's nearly enough to convert me! I think I will do a side-by-side video test tomorrow and post the Youtube Link, but so far I'm very impressed!

 

Some screenshots (more to come):

 

A very OSX-esque System Settings

efdc3512-6219-4c84-8299-5b326a3c0a6f_zps4b84009c.jpg

 

A lovely medium opacity for Terminal

Screenshotfrom2013-02-21192636_zps441769b5.png

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I hear ya on the desktop thing. I'm not sure where I stand on it. I also like using my desktop when sorting through things... but hate hate hate having a cluttered mess (a place for everything; everything in its place)

 

I do like the web browser BUT no flash video. I assume that's in the works.

 

Love it though. Not at all clunky like I found Ubuntu.

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I hear ya on the desktop thing. I'm not sure where I stand on it. I also like using my desktop when sorting through things... but hate hate hate having a cluttered mess (a place for everything; everything in its place)

 

I do like the web browser BUT no flash video. I assume that's in the works.

 

Love it though. Not at all clunky like I found Ubuntu.

 

Well, as far as the desktop goes, I hear there is/will be a way to reactivate it, so I'll definitely be checking it out.

 

Re: flash - I read reports of people getting it working by installing flash support for Firefox, and then directing Midori to the Firefox plugin. I gave it a try, but it didn't work. I could have done it incorrectly, and the reports were from people using Jupiter, so something might have changed. Either way, I can't imagine there not being something in the works - it would only be detrimental to their efforts if it wasn't enabled.

 

Definitely a nice OS overall. Once I get my hack up and running (and some pressing work finished), I'm going to try switching over to elementary for a full week, and see if it's not usable in the long run...

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