Ubuntu 10.04 says buh-bye to Gimp

Used Gimp lately? You know, the completely free, open source Photoshop replacement? Apparently its become too good and what it does as the developers behind Ubuntu 10.04 have removed Gimp from the basic distro install. The dev’s reasoning is that Gimp has become too big, too complex for most users and that any basic to medium-range photo editing can be done via F-Spot.

I’m not your typical tech beginner so I don’t find Gimp too complex in the slightest. Though I can see true beginners getting hung up on the program do to its ever increasing library of features and functions. As always, you can download whatever your little heart yearns for on linux. If the newer Gimpless Ubuntu distros have you feeling empty, reclaiming the photo-editing prowess is but a few clicks and keystrokes away.

While I understand the push to make Linux more consumer friendly, in this case Ubuntu, I can understand making it easier. I just hope they don’t go too far in dumbing down the distro as Linux users in general don’t mind complex. They like to tinker. Do you think it was a good decision given their reasoning , or should they have found other ways to reduce size?

Slashdot