Re: gnome-panel & gnome-applets?

[Dave Neary <dneary gnome org>]

Hi Jon,

On 12/24/2010 12:32 AM, William Jon McCann wrote:
> It is important to note that there is no such "classic mode".  There
> is a fallback mode for when 3D support is not available.

Do you have any figures on what percentage of Linux users will have the 
3D capabilities necessary? Just wondering.

Here in the office & at home, I have 6 computers running GNOME, and of 
those 6, I believe only 2 support accelerated 3D to an acceptable level.

The 5 computers are:
 * Mac Mini PPC, running a quite old Ubuntu (no 3D)
 * Samsung NC20 (Integrated on board Via graphics chip - no 3D - got 
this to run Moblin, didn't work, currently running Ubuntu 9.10)
 * Dell Latitude D420 (Intel graphics, should work, but 3D stuff runs 
really slowly, currently running Ubuntu 9.10)
 * Dell Optiplex 360 (ATI chip, no 3D)
 * Dell Latitude E6500 (Intel chip again, 3D works fine, running Ubuntu 
10.04)
 * Lenovo Ideapad, running MeeGo 1.1 (3D fine)

I would like to be able to upgrade a distro some time in the next few 
years on at least some of these (the Mac Mini & D420 are close to 
retirement, but the Optiplex will live on, as will the netbooks), and I 
would like to be sure that the desktop of my choice will provide a 
reasonable level of functionality.

When you say "there is no classic mode, only fallback", what I hear is 
"fallback will be hobbled, but that's OK". Do I understand your position 
correctly?

> People who don't desire such changes are not obligated to make them.

I'm all for change, but too far too fast just means you lose your 
feathers and plunge to your death in the Aegean sea.

I ask about figures because if only 40% of our current users (the ones 
already passionate about GNOME) will be able to actually use GNOME 3, 
that is a PR disaster waiting to happen, and we need to be aware of it. 
Having a feature complete fallback seems like a good way to do that. 
Alternatively, perhaps we should be working with XFCE to make that our 
fallback, if we don't have the resources?

Cheers,
Dave.

--
Dave Neary
GNOME Foundation member
dneary gnome org
Jabber: nearyd gmail com