I’m not sure if this is the case with everyone but there is quite some lag after double-clicking on a .deb file when using the Ubuntu Software Center. At some point I couldn’t deal with it and now have .deb files install with GDebi which is significantly faster. Are there any benefits to continue using the software center?
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I use GDebi as well as USC has just always been laggy as heck since introduced in the 9.x (iirc) series of releases.
Ok good, I’m not the only one. 
I haven’t bothered with either in ages. I use dpkg on the command line and occasionally use synaptic when I’m searching for something when apt-cache search brings back too many results or I forgot to use grep with it 
I try to stay away from local packages unless needed, in which case I prefer gdebi over manual dep resolution + dpkg. This way, deps will be marked as auto and be eligible for autoremove once they become orphans (“leaf packages” for RPM refugees).
Then again, I perform package management exclusively from the shell (a mixture of apt-get and aptitude), so I never even bothered trying to use USC except when the Humble Bundle distributed Linux builds through it (the “Before Steam” era, so to speak)
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I didn’t realise that gdebi did that. Would have saved me some time and frustration when I had to install a vworkstation from Dell the other day. Good to know, @rfc1459, thanks!
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Yup you are not the only one. I use apt-get from terminal exclusively except for downloaded debs
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Yeah well I compile everything from source, package it as rpm, convert it to deb, and then use GDebi just so I can laugh at it.
Just kidding. Ain’t nobody got time for that
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I just installed GDebi. It certainly runs a hell of a lot faster than the Software Center. I have consequently turned over default DEB-handling to GDebi.
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I’ve installed and have been playing around with it too. It’s great; mark me down as impressed.
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Gdebi can also be used from the commandline with:
gdebi -n package.deb
It will then also install all dependencies.
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I’d strongly advise against using -n, since it will suppress some sanity checks (e.g. checking if the same package is already in one of the known apt repos and the version relationships).
What would you recommend as an alternative?
Anyone interested in packaging info can take a look here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware
I am also an advocate of Gdebi and use it for single packages as Ubuntu Software Center is sooooo sloooow its annoying!. 
Hey Wimpy… I know UM is now an official Canonical flavour but the Ubuntu Software Centre is sluggish and unresponsive.
Can UM use something like Appgrid which leverages the software centre backend but it far quicker and responsive?
Appgrid is proprietary, so no 
really… I had no idea…
A proprietary application that sole purpose is to install open source software… It must be an joke of epic irony.
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