alex285Either if we use macOS or Windows10 or GNOME, we’ll find annoyances on the desktop, and that is normal, nobody’s perfect
Besides we get updates, and developers & designers change some things that initially thought there were good ideas. For example AppMenus in GNOME that are dropped in 3.32
However there are stuff happening in Linux desktop that are way beyond the meaning of word “annoyance” and go to the point that you are actually laughing!!
Those are the default virtual desktops that is a grid similar to Ubuntu Unity or KDE Plasma. It is pointless to describe how bad the grid is, specially if we want to use more than 4 workspaces, and so Cinnamon is a “dead” desktop for someone who is used to work with multiple workspaces and overview
Now to shortcuts..
While we have a 2x2 grid here’s how default shortcuts work
- Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right will switch to 1–4 workspaces
2. Ctrl+Alt+Up will switch to Grid Overview. To exit we can either C+A+Up/Down, or Esc / Enter
3. Ctrl+Alt+Down will switch to Windows Overview. To exit we can C+A+Down/Up or Esc / Enter
4. When we are on Grid Overview and we Up/Down/Left/Right ..well, after extensive testing, I haven’t figured out what the hell is happening, and I’m pretty sure Cinnamon devs don’t have idea either..
The first thing is that if you have a visual representation of a grid, then why Left/Arrows switch to Up/Down boxes? The second is how someone could spatial memorize the Up/Down for Grid/Windows Overview?
And of course on a List Workspaces design, that every major desktop publisher uses, there is the concept of single Workspaces / Windows Overview view
That last is something that Linux desktop developers should realize. People are using multiple-desktops at the same time, and when devs mess up standard workflows, make users life tough to adjust
Best Mint Workspaces Moment!
Ok this this the part that if we survive it, then we laugh at it! When we switch workspaces with keyboard there is a sound effect, that literally scared the hell out of me!! Wanna listen??
GNOME Design Police!
I’m not the biggest fan of GNOME Shell design, specially regarding the feature-less Dock that has not options for show/hide, windows previews & peeking, indicators, quick launchers etc, but extensions like Dash to Dock, Dash to Panel, Tray Icons etc, will save the day
And yet GNOME is by far the top Linux today, not just because is default on Ubuntu and Fedora (Arch users use Shell too, rt?) but because is the most and only really polished Linux desktop today. In some aspects it is more polished than W10 too!
The mess with workspaces on Mint would had never happened in GNOME. And it is not just Cinnamon workspaces mechanics. Using it just for a single day, I found a huge amount of annoyances.
For instance another crazy thing Mint has by default, is “Alt” key as window compositor (same in Plasma!!), which prohibits functionality of apps that make use of Alt+Mouse!?! ..like almost all graphics programs!!
And it is not just the design annoyances. There are lots of actual bugs too, like some issues with appIcons on Taskbar, that I will forgive because it is still on beta
One thing I cant forgive and made me lose lots of time, was an issue with XPlayer that was playing my video sound incorrectly always on the same frame!
Because that was one of my first exports on Resolve, I thought the issue was there, and I re-render 4 times till I figured out it was just a bug on XPlayer
My Review :p
I’m not going to review Mint 19.1, but I must say that it is a huge improvement over last year I had tried it, and while I was used to say “Mint is the worst Linux today”, I’m totally taking that back now!
However the problem with Mint is the exact same problem with elementary. It is a system that is based on Ubuntu, that has to compete Ubuntu, and moreover has to compete GNOME, that has larger community and support, with more active development. That last means that in every release the gap grows bigger
Anyway, it is free to get and install it, and if you like you can keep it ..and die alone :p