OpenOffice dropped from Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04

[brentaal]

OpenOffice dropped from Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04, replaced with Google Docs

According to the latest Ubuntu Netbook Remix Blueprint, the Ubuntu community have decided to drop OpenOffice from the default installation of Ubuntu Netbook Edition for the upcoming Lucid Lynx release, atleast for now. Now documents will be opened by default in Google Docs.

We have previously told you about Gimp being dropped from Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu replacing Google with Yahoo as the default search engine.

The developers have been removing applications that are irrelevant on a netbook. While document editing is clearly a not irrelevant on a netbook, the developers feel that with netbooks being used mostly for internet related works, Google Docs will suffice.

Full article

Edit: Reminder - Canonical replaced the default search engine setting in Firefox from Google to Yahoo just a short while ago.

[Growled Member]

It may be time for me to find another distro. I don't care for the direction Ubuntu is heading.

[markwolfe Veteran]

^^^ Hello. Netbook. Not "Ubuntu" as a desktop.

OO.o is awfully large for a netbook. Perhaps if one requires a local Office app on a netbook, gnumaric and Abiword would be better options. Heck, it is what I use on my desktop.

[ViperAFK]

It may be time for me to find another distro. I don't care for the direction Ubuntu is heading.

Its not like you cant install OO easily on it... And their decision makes sense for a light netbook version of the distro.

[Growled Member]

^^^ Hello. Netbook. Not "Ubuntu" as a desktop.

Oh, I agree it makes sense on a netbook not to include OO. It's just the general direction Ubuntu seems to be going. I don't care for it.

[torrentthief]

yep, they keep removing things to keep the installation under 700mb. People have got dvdrw drives now, there's no reason to keep trying to make it less than 700mb anymore.

[TruckWEB]

The time of small slow SSD drive is long gone for Netbook. The smallest HDD is 160GB.... I don't understand why OO would take THAT much space....

If I can run Microsoft Office 2007 on a Netbook, their is NO reason why I could not run OpenOffice.

[markwolfe Veteran]

The time of small slow SSD drive is long gone for Netbook. The smallest HDD is 160GB.... I don't understand why OO would take THAT much space....

If I can run Microsoft Office 2007 on a Netbook, their is NO reason why I could not run OpenOffice.

It *can* be run. And you *can* install it.

They just aren't going to default to installing it for all users. Just the ones that want it will install it.

[Syanide]

I've actually removed OO.o from my desktop, and now I use Abiword and Gnumeric. I've even thought about not installing a spreadsheet app at all, the last time I used one was almost two years ago, if I remember correctly. Regarding OO.o, untill those 'Renaissance' changes kick in concerning speed, and gui (does everything *have to* look that large? and broken with every third theme?), I don't feel the need for it.

Btw, I don't think anything's set in stone as of yet, especially concerning Google Docs, even though it would suite a netbook well, I guess. I do hope they add Abiword and Gnumeric, those apps are very light, I think Abiword's package files were only 7 MB of download.

@Growled: Whilst I completely disagree with the Yahoo thing (it has a minimal impact on the user experience, and it's really easy to change it), I can see where that's coming from, but Gimp? Seriously? Face it, home users don't need an app like that. For photo album organization and editing, F-Spot is more than good enough (add web album integration on top of that, and that's it, you've covered 90% of users out there). Also, there are always those B-Sides discs which contain all the apps that couldn't make it to the official CD, in case internet is an issue.

I'm actually liking Ubuntu more and more. Lucid seems to be on a good way of becoming a very strong release. Today also saw a very early release of their 'Me Menu' initiative (making the desktop integrate better with social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and message protocols (IMs, e-mail clients)). It's basically a revamp of the current user menu:

[Growled Member]

I guess since I do use Mint and they put their own spin on things, I'll wait and see what they offer before I make a decision. Lucid should be a good release since it's based on Debian Testing rather than the Sid they usually use.

As for OO....they should break in down into individual projects instead of offering it as one big suite.

[Syanide]

Mint is awesome, I don't think I've ever seen a distro get that much of an overwhelming reception (I have yet to find a bad review), and I've installed it on a laptop myself. I guess they listen to the community more than Canonical does, especially regarding the application changes (like Empathy over Pidgin, which I never understood WHY). So yeah, in worst case, Mint will be there as 'Ubuntu - done right' :D

[wahoospa]

I agree Symod. Mint is truly the easiest to install Linux I have ever seen. It is as trouble free as any Linux has gotten to date. Looks really great too.

[Growled Member]

One thing I wish Ubuntu would do is to have a Mint type updater. Ubuntu always updates everything and in the past it nearly always broke something eventually, which is why I stopped using it.

[Syanide]

Can't say I've had those problems, and I have a lot of PPAs enabled. I might be just lucky :D

[Subject Delta]

I don't see what the fuss is about personally, its not that hard to install GIMP and OO if you want it within Linux. Cutting down install sizes and offering the user more control is good in my opinion, although I will admit that one of the things that I am not so keen on with Ubuntu is that due to the attempts to make the installer a bit easier to use, you don't get an option to customise your install and install the packages you want.

[tiagosilva29]

even though it would suite a netbook well, I guess.

Yeah, when you have a connection (in before "Gears would fix that").

I do hope they add Abiword and Gnumeric, those apps are very light, I think Abiword's package files were only 7 MB of download.

Yeah, Abiword and Gnumeric would always be a better solution. Except when you need to work a presentation, then you're on the ****.

[Growled Member]

I think what Ubuntu should do is include wine and then offer a trial of Microsoft Office on there. That seems the direction they are headed anyway. :p

[Subject Delta]

I think what Ubuntu should do is include wine and then offer a trial of Microsoft Office on there. That seems the direction they are headed anyway. :p

How'd you work that one out :/

[Growled Member]

They are getting very commercial. They are even offering Bing for search through yahoo as default. If they want to get more notice they should offer the #1 reason that many people still hold on to Windows and that is Office.

[Syanide]

I guess now is not the best time to mention the over-exaggerated rumours of them somehow shipping CrossOver, isn't it? :D

[Subject Delta]

They are getting very commercial. They are even offering Bing for search through yahoo as default. If they want to get more notice they should offer the #1 reason that many people still hold on to Windows and that is Office.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing, I feel one of the things lacking in a lot of Linux distributions is the Human touch (IE the thing that turns it from being a geek's OS into something for everyone), and I am personally all for them adding features to make it more usable. Besides, Google is no less corporate than Bing and Yahoo :p

[Syanide]

That isn't necessarily a bad thing, I feel one of the things lacking in a lot of Linux distributions is the Human touch (IE the thing that turns it from being a geek's OS into something for everyone), and I am personally all for them adding features to make it more usable. Besides, Google is no less corporate than Bing and Yahoo :p

One of the main reasons I've found the hissy fits regarding the search engine thing so annoying.

[Subject Delta]

One of the main reasons I've found the hissy fits regarding the search engine thing so annoying.

Not exactly like it's difficult to change either, lol

[Growled Member]

I guess now is not the best time to mention the over-exaggerated rumours of them somehow shipping CrossOver, isn't it? :D

No, it's not. :p :D

[ObiWanToby]

I use Microsoft Office on a netbook. I do not see why OO would need to be removed from Ubuntu for netbooks.