An intriguing article here that highlights and discusses the recent decision to remove the fabulous GIMP editing tool from the default Ubuntu installation starting from version 10.0.4. Naturally, I’m quite sad to hear this as outside of Adobe Photoshop on my Windows installation, GIMP has proved itself to be a pretty damn good, profession-grade graphics editor, and I’m going to miss seeing its installed little icon in my applications menu bar after a clean Ubuntu install.
But as the article goes on to discuss, it does make perfect sense to remove this rather powerful graphics editor from the default install. After all, Ubuntu has from the start been aggressively targeting casual-level users, something that no other Linux installation has ever attempted to do, and truth be told, if you give anyone but a power-user GIMP to use, you may very well be setting your self up for a fail. So rather leave it out of the default install (remember, it is still remarkable easy to install afterwards using either Synaptic or the new Programs Centre) and push base-level users to make use of something more simple like F-Spot, perfect for making those quick photo alterations that most base-users always seem to need to make.
It’s a gutsy move, sure to annoy a lot of die-hard Ubuntu fanatics, but like the man says, it is the right move, and a good one at that. After all, I kind of like the idea of the Ubuntu ISO still fitting on a single 700mb CD! :)
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