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Ubuntu 11.04 Unity keyboard shortcuts have a distinct Windows 7 flavor
- The super key, which typically refers to the Windows key on most standard keyboards, invokes the Unity Launcher -- on Windows, this would call up the Start Menu
- Super + 1/2/3, etc. launches the app in that position on the Unity dockbar -- much like the Windows 7 feature
- Super + D minimizes and restores all windows -- a hotkey combo in Windows since XP
With WUBI making it so easy to install and dual-boot Ubuntu from within Windows and an easy profile data import tool offered during setup, Canonical is doing its best to entice defectors.
Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsRollinsFeb 26th 2011 12:31PM
They're even making it so dragging windows to either side/the top results in Aero Snap style window tiling. The..."inspiration" here is rather blatant. Not that I necessarily have a problem with it.
johnmoody1966Mar 1st 2011 3:40AM
@Rollins Linux has had that feature....BEFORE windows came out with it...
SilverWaveFeb 26th 2011 2:09PM
Heh think I will be sticking with 10.04 for a good long while :-)
I can afford to let things settle out before jumping.
komentraFeb 26th 2011 4:33PM
This is good news. I also can't help but notice their application launcher heavily resembles OS X Lion's Launchpad. I have no problem with that, who cares, just take the best of both worlds and throw it together and I'll finally try it.
Peter KirnFeb 27th 2011 12:49AM
Super+D has long been a GNOME shortcut. Yes, it's consistent with Windows - but it's also far from a recent addition. Using the super as a modifier otherwise is hardly, hardly news, and not Windows 7-specific. In fact, these kind of launchers (and window tiling) have been around since the early 90s in various forms, in Windows, in Mac OS (Classic) shareware... all over the place.
These are precisely the kind of ideas that need to be borrowed. They border on basic operating conventions.
RollinsFeb 27th 2011 10:29AM
@johnmoody1966
How about this: the choice to have said options set by default is a nod to Windows 7. No major Linux distribution that I've used has had Aero Snap style features set on by default. Compiz having it buried in its configuration settings != openly presenting said feature to the user.
Also, "Linux" doesn't have anything. The kernel is just that. Maybe some window manager has it, but it doesn't magically make it a feature of Linux as a whole.
johnmoody1966Feb 27th 2011 3:12AM
Linux has had the keys for years. Just bound to different functions. They just changed the functions to suit Windows users. Linux has had the Aero glass features for years as well. Its called Compiz Fusion. Windows took the inspiration from that. And there are literally thousands of docks for all versions of linux. If one wanted they can make Ubuntu look exactly like windows. If you chose to do so.
mttrmkFeb 28th 2011 8:43AM
@Rollins If you would be so kind as to try kubuntu 10.10 you'll see that "aero snap" is set on by default.
RollinsFeb 27th 2011 10:30AM
Ugh, it posted it as a reply to the wrong person. Was meant for johnmoody1966.
Luis Fernando Planella GonzalezFeb 27th 2011 4:47PM
Please, please.
Stop thinking that Windows has invented everything it uses.
Lots of ideas from Windows were borrowed from other environments as well.
I remember Apple complaining that AWN copied it's panel. But take a look at Project Looking Glass's panel: http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/leopard-dock-resembles-suns-project-looking-glass/
No single company or individual has all creative power to invent everything. That's true for the human knowledge. Every one invents small parts, which when summed, forms our knowledge (and technologies for that matter).
motangFeb 28th 2011 1:18PM
Those shortcuts are used a lot by me in Win7, glad to see them make their way into Unity.