Ubuntu drops the GIMP

[anyweb]

At the Ubuntu Developer Summit, which took place last week, it was announced that the next release of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, version 10.04, will no longer carry the GIMP in its default installation. This actually touches upon somethin I've been wanting to talk about, a problem that plagues both Linux and Mac OS X: Paint.NET is Windows-only.

 

The reasoning behind removing the GIMP from the default Ubuntu install is solid. The application is geared towards a different audience than Ubuntu itself; it's for technical and skilled high-end graphic editors. This makes it unsuitable for quick image editing, because thanks to all its plug-ins, the GIMP's loading time is long. To make matters worse, because the GIMP is a complicated and advanced application, its interface reflects that.

 

 

 

more > http://www.osnews.com/story/22541/Ubuntu..._Paint_NET

[hybrid]

I’m a little surprised by this, but I think I agree with it. The GIMP is a great program, but for the average user that just picks up Linux, something with a much simpler interface. It’s not difficult to install The GIMP if you do want it after all.

[Dungeon-Dave]

Is there a MS-Paint equivalent in Linux? Something simpler (but less functional) that will suit the novice user?

 

I was impressed at things like the one-touch photofix and picture rotate in the default Windows Image Viewer - the generic Ubuntu user with a digicam would welcome a utility like that (I know PornView used to be recommended, but never used it.)

[anyweb]

hopefully the folks over at google os are watching and going to add such an app, or maybe not,

 

but yes i agree it would be nice to see such apps in linux, think of printing out a photo in windows, its so easy and so configurable,

[xtrns]

i wonder why the guys behind gimp, doesnt manage to make a gimp-lite version for for the less-experienced user???

[hybrid]

i wonder why the guys behind gimp, doesnt manage to make a gimp-lite version for for the less-experienced user???

 

Put simply, the people that love The GIMP love it the way it is. For some people, who are used to its interface and have used it from its earlier days, they become very familiar with how it works and it works for them. A major change in how it works would upset this core group of users and so I don't think the project itself will go in a radically different direction. Of course, it is open source, so if enough people with the right skills want to go in a different direction and fork the project, they can.