GNOME 3 Beta: A New Linux Desktop Experience
GNOME Desktop Environment: Beta Release Overview
A beta version of the upcoming GNOME desktop environment has been made available for evaluation. This release precedes the final version, which is anticipated to be launched in April.
Given GNOME’s widespread adoption as the favored graphical user interface across numerous Linux distributions, a detailed examination is warranted.
GNOME 2 and its Legacy
A significant number of Linux users are currently operating with GNOME 2. It gained prominence through its inclusion in Ubuntu, the most widely used desktop Linux distribution.
KDE serves as GNOME’s primary alternative, frequently chosen for its aesthetic appeal and extensive customization options.
Ubuntu 11.04 and the Future of GNOME
The forthcoming Ubuntu release, version 11.04, is slated to incorporate GNOME 3. However, it will utilize a bespoke “Unity” shell rather than the standard GNOME-Shell presented in this beta.
This means users of Ubuntu 11.04 will experience a modified GNOME 3 environment, tailored to Ubuntu’s specific design preferences.
The core functionalities and underlying technologies of GNOME 3 will still be present, despite the alterations introduced by the Unity shell.
A Shift in Paradigm: GNOME 3
The traditional desktop experience is undergoing a transformation – a point frequently highlighted by commentators and bloggers examining the latest GNOME 3 beta release. This desktop environment presents a redesigned interface, potentially requiring a period of adjustment for new users.
A learning process is anticipated, as the conventional desktop layout, complete with its taskbar, window controls, and application menu, is being replaced by a substantial redesign. A significant portion of this new design is implemented using JavaScript.
Multiple desktops remain a core feature, consistent with the Linux experience, and navigation between them is still achievable using the Ctrl+Alt key combination alongside the arrow keys (now utilizing up and down, rather than left and right). The customary system tray area is also retained, although the system clock has been repositioned to the center of the bar.
This bar, representing GNOME 3’s closest equivalent to a Windows (or GNOME 2) taskbar, displays only the currently active application. It lacks the extended menu functionality found in Mac OS X, however. Despite reports encountered elsewhere, I was still able to cycle through open windows using Alt+Tab.
Notifications are now presented at the bottom of the screen. Upon startup, a visually appealing prompt appeared, requesting a connection to a wireless network. The desktop environment is aesthetically pleasing and appears to prioritize application usability, offering ample workspace.
It is important to note that GNOME 3 maintains compatibility with all existing GNOME applications, ensuring that current software will function without requiring updates. Conversely, Compiz, along with other compositing or window managers, are no longer supported. Mutter is now utilized, though its performance was less impressive and exhibited noticeable lag on my system (this can be disabled).
While visual appeal is a priority, animations are less crucial. Therefore, I will reserve final judgment until the official release.
The Activities Overview
Initially, launching applications in GNOME 3 might seem unconventional. The system employs its Activities window, situated in the upper-left corner of the screen, for this purpose. A simple mouse hover, or click, causes the desktop to recede, revealing a streamlined interface.
This screen presents several functionalities. Active windows from your current desktop are displayed alongside a comprehensive list of installed applications.
Key Features of the Activities Window
- On the left side, a dedicated area allows for pinning frequently used applications and locations for rapid access. Currently running applications are also shown here.
- The right side features a Find function, enabling users to locate folders, documents, and initiate application launches.
Right-clicking on an application provides the option to add it to your favourites. However, this option is not available when searching for a folder, a limitation that may inconvenience users accustomed to quick folder access.
In the version tested, direct browsing of drives within the Activities window proved impossible. Instead, folders could be located via search and subsequently opened in a dedicated file manager on the desktop.
Despite this minor inconvenience, the Find box operates effectively. The design prioritizes a clean and minimalistic user experience by minimizing the number of panels and available options.
Appearance and User Experience
The visual design of this desktop environment is likely to evoke strong opinions, with users tending to either embrace it or find it unappealing. However, once familiarized, accessing the main panel is achieved with a straightforward mouse click. A subsequent click retracts the panel from view.
Those who prefer keyboard navigation will appreciate that the "Super" key (also known as the Windows key) can also activate this functionality, while pressing the Esc key will dismiss it.
Interface Elements
The Activities trigger, positioned in the top-left corner, provides a visual counterpoint to the network manager located in the bottom-right. The remaining corners of the screen are intentionally left uncluttered.
Managing windows and virtual desktops is a simple process, utilizing drag-and-drop functionality. Selecting a desktop displays all currently open windows within the Activities overview, arranged in a tiled format for convenient browsing.
Window Management
Notably, GNOME 3 omits traditional minimize and maximize buttons from its windows. This is largely due to the absence of a designated minimize area. The omission of a maximize button is compensated for by the inclusion of a window snapping feature reminiscent of Windows 7’s Aero Snap.
Windows can be quickly snapped to either side of the screen by dragging them to the left or right, or maximized by dragging them to the top edge.
Having transitioned from Windows 7, I initially missed this particular feature within the Linux environment. Its implementation within GNOME 3 is a welcome addition, regardless of its origin.
Final Thoughts
The experience is undoubtedly unique, and it has the potential to enhance productivity, though a period of adjustment will likely be necessary. Given that this is currently only a beta version, a more definitive evaluation will be reserved until the official release anticipated in April.
Currently, it presents a compelling and innovative approach to the contemporary desktop experience.
Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions on GNOME 3 by obtaining a live USB image and consulting the guidance available on the official GNOME 3 website.
We are interested in your perspectives on the new GNOME desktop environment. Do you have a preference for KDE, or another desktop environment? Please share your reasoning in the comments section below.
