Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE)

[ponder]

Click for bigger image,


http://blog.linuxmint.com/ More at this link,

For this, we developed “MGSE” (Mint Gnome Shell Extensions), which is a desktop layer on top of Gnome 3 that makes it possible for you to use Gnome 3 in a traditional way. You can disable all components within MGSE to get a pure Gnome 3 experience, or you can enable all of them to get a Gnome 3 desktop that is similar to what you’ve been using before. Of course you can also pick and only enable the components you like to design your own desktop.

The main features in MGSE are:

The bottom panel
The application menu
The window list
A task-centric desktop (i.e. you switch between windows, not applications)
Visible system tray icons
MGSE also includes additional extensions such as a media player indicator, and multiple enhancements to Gnome 3.

As you can see it’s a mix of old and new. It’s a brand new desktop but with traditional components. We’re excited about the new technology but it’s important everyone feels at home. So a Mint desktop looks and behaves like a Mint desktop and this one feels both like Gnome 3 and the traditional Linux Mint desktops that preceded it. You can launch applications from the top left, easily switch between applications and workspaces using the window list or keyboard shortcuts, keep an eye on your notifications at the top and access Gnome 3 features like “activities” from the top-left corner.

This actually looks pretty cool.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

A bit of both worlds--choice is King!

But there are other projects that are embracing Gnome 3.x on top of Ubuntu 11.10 in entirety: RIOME, PINGUYOS, etc--check out the UbuntuForums.

if these projects are successful (actually Mint has been top on DistroWatch for last 7 days already...), it probably spells doom for Unity? What do you think?

 

[ponder]

if these projects are successful (actually Mint has been top on DistroWatch for last 7 days already...), it probably spells doom for Unity? What do you think?

Well Ubuntu is kinda going it alone with Unity whereas everyone is going Gnome3 which means Gnome will have the most contributions/support. I think Ubuntu shot themselves in the foot. I don't like either of them but find Gnome3 better than Unity.

 

[MyWorld]

Looks more like KDE now than anything Gnome like, but I'm not complaining!

Will have a test drive of this once it hits the servers, from the screenshots I've seen it looks like they made quite a few "adjustments" to the interface and I like what I see.


EDIT:
Just saw this on the Mint blog:

As other distributions adopted new desktops such as Unity and Gnome 3, many users felt alienated and consequently migrated to Linux Mint. We recorded a 40% increase in a single month and we’re now quickly catching up with Ubuntu for the number #1 spot within the Linux desktop market.

We still need a reason to argue that Ubuntu dropped the ball with regards to Unity?
From the blog it seems that Gnome 2 is now abandoned, pity, and now we can see the reasoning behind them (Mint) heavily customizing the UI in Gnome 3.

 

[ponder]

We still need a reason to argue that Ubuntu dropped the ball with regards to Unity?

Clem from Mint actually listens to what the users want. Ubuntu on the other hand has adopted the approach of showing it's users a toffee!

 

[Smiley_lauf]

ego reigns I guess--Shuttleworth wants to build an empire...

 

[ponder]

I just installed this on Ubuntu and it's pretty cool I have to say.

If you want to try it look at this- http://www.webupd8.org/2011/11/try-new-mint-gnome-shell-extensions.html

 

[SlickNick]

Here's a vid. So soothing.

[video=youtube;wrFdPGw4YJU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrFdPGw4YJU[/video]