Yes, it definitely did not do the book justice. But the sequel, 2010 was much better. None of that surrealistic stuff in that one.
Although I liked 2001: A Space Odyssey, I can understand why many didn't like it. Especially if you read the book. I would say that it did the best it could at the time with the limitations in FX, but it still lacked quite a lot of content from the book.
That's my problem I guess I read the book and then am disappointed, angry, frustrated at the fact that the movie gets it wrong.