Contributor Lukehasnoname

Do not automatically install drivers such as video or wireless (or even sound/others) without prior approval by the user.

Give a popup upon detection such as "The following device drivers are ready for installation. Please select those to be installed."

Until hardware detection becomes flawless, users should still have the final say on what's going on with their computer. Improper driver installations DO happen in Ubuntu, and it could be prevented / make installation easier if a simple confirmation page were available. A checkbox such as "Do not ask me this again" could be available.

Disclosure: I have had this problem with my laptop's 8800M card. After installing the proper driver that Ubuntu DOESN'T have, Ubuntu proceeds to automatically active its own driver over mine. This should not happen by default.

Introduction:

As it stands, Ubuntu/Canonical is supporting FOUR releases of Ubuntu at a time, plus developing a new release (Plus managing desktop/server related development separately).

Question:

Should we consider, for the sake of focus, limiting official support to the "current" release, plus active LTS releases?

Implementation:

-Keep the current scheme/timeframe of LTS. Have point releases every 3 - 6 months. LTS releases will get more attention, and will be updated quarterly/semi-annually with necessary security/stability updates.

-Support a standard release only as long as it is the latest release. For example, we wouldn't be supporting 7.10 anymore, if this were the case. Of course, the repos would still be available, but official updates would cease.

List of active releases (Blue = As per this proposal, Blue + Red = Current schedule):

Current (May 2008 )
- 6.06 LTS
- 7.04
- 7.10
- 8.04 LTS
- Development (8.10)

January 2009 (8.10 has been released)
- 6.06 LTS

[....]