Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark Released
Canonical has made available the download links for Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark". It comes with a range of new features, changes, and improvements including GNOME as the default desktop, Wayland display server by default, Optional X.org server session, Mesa 17.2 or Mesa 17.3, Linux kernel 4.13 or kernel 4.14, new Subiquity server installer, improved hardware support, new Ubuntu Server installer, switch to libinput, an always visible dock using Dash to Dock GNOME Shell extension, and Bluetooth improvements with a new BlueZ among others.
Why is this considered insightful? You think some features are missing, incomplete or implemented inconvenient? Fine. Name them and make a constructive proposition to change it. You do not like how GNOME is governed? Fine. Explain and aim for a change. You do not like GNOME? Fine. Don't use it. There are other options available. Unfortunately, you made a micro statement without giving a reason.
Everything about GNOME Shell is missing, incomplete or inconvenient, by design. The defaults are just unbearable. I need to install 10 different extensions to get some basic usable desktop, and they are often either not maintained any more, crashing or simply not installing because of version conflict. I have to use tweak tool to enable some features that GNOME devs think (for some stupid reason) are not needed. So how's that good f or average user with little Linux experience? Even after all those tweaks and extensions it is slow, ugly and lacking in functionality. The default apps set sucks. Evolution? Oh please, what a joke.
What is the target audience for GNOME? Linux hardcore users like me? I don't need the idiotic simplicity, I need a functional customizable, beautiful desktop. Users with little PC or Linux knowledge? I bet they'll run away from it first hour of use. With the dynamic desktops and lack of minimize button.
Now, suppose they learned somehow about extensions.gnome.org. They go there and try to install some - NO. You need first the browser extension. Alright, got it. Can be proceed? NO. You need some bullshit crap called chrome-shell which installation instructions far from obvious for average user.
It's fucking pathetic. I am Ubuntu user for 12 years, quite loved Unity (despite the bugs and rough edges it's perfectly usable desktop), now switched to Kununtu and never looked back. It's amazing, far more into the Linux Desktop 2017 than any GNOME disaster would ever be.