Contributor Yunfeng

Enable Nautilus to use tabs.

Nautilus is Ubuntu's default file management software. There is no reason why you should need to open countless Nautilus windows to manage your files. It is time to bring tabs from your web browser to your file browser.

While it is common for modern machines to have at least a GiB of memory, older machines (2-3 years old) are (or IMO should be) a major target audience for Ubuntu.

Unfortunately, having 256MB of memory makes the machine almost entirely unusable for more than one task at a time.

Even the "minimalist" xubuntu is barely usable with this amount of memory.

I think Ubuntu should do some work on reducing memory usage to this level, at least for the xubuntu variant.

First of all: What is the difference between Preferences and Administration? For example: why do I see 'Encryption and Keyrings' in Preferences and 'Keyring Manager' in Administration? What is the difference between 'Default Printer' and 'Printing'? Why do I have to disable the Tracker under Sessions and not under Search and Indexing? And why are these menu's so large? I have 24 items in Preferences (they don't even fit on my screen!) and 18 items in Administration. To put all this stuff in a popup menu is bad interface design imho. Besides, the number of option should be much smaller. A few suggestions:

- Merge 'Screensaver', 'Screen Resolution' and 'Screens and Graphics'.
- Merge 'Network', 'Network Proxy' and 'Network Tools'.
- Merge 'Update Manager, Synaptic Package Manager, Software Sources'.
- Merge 'Encryption and Keyrings', 'Authorizations', 'Keyring Manager'.


Below are all settings I can visit via the System menu. This is just way too much.


-- Preferences --
Universal Access
About Me
Appearance
Bluetooth
Default Printer
Encryption and Keyrings
Keyboard
Keyboard Shortcuts
Main Menu
Mouse
Network Proxy
PalmOS Devices (I don't have one)
Power Management

[....]

Sometimes it's unconfortable when you're searching some files (for example when compiling and installing a program) and when you are "inside" the folder in the file manager, you want to compile. You need the terminal.

So, you need to reach the folder and reach that folder typing all the way to do it, and it's very tedious when the program name is too long.

I suggest that in the menu (File menu) it would appear an item called "Open Terminal in this folder" or simply "Open terminal".

Ubuntu should have some customizations to its default GUI, GNOME, namely an easier way to start programs. I have noticed in Apple's Mac OSX 10.2 and onwards that the program buttons lie along the bottom of the screen. Ubuntu should have a similar interface, but not list every single program's icon.

Instead, the "Applications" menu should be made a sidebar of some sort, with each category represented by an easily recognizable icon. When each icon is clicked, a small context menu with each application will come up alongside it. This way, users don't have to go through a larger menu to get to a smaller menu; this is much more direct.

Also, as a sidenote, GNOME is kind of bland looking. I mean, it has improved, but the GUI could have some better looks; OSX demonstrates this VERY nicely. It would be great if Linux could catch up to the likes of Vista's Aero or OSX's amazing looks (and OSX uses the same X server as Linux does, so why not?). I'm not saying we need to completely replicate OSX's looks, we just need a formidable desktop that can compete with the likes of closed-source OS's, and demonstrate the ability of FOSS as compared to closed-source.

Open Office needs to come preloaded with the better dictionary and thesauras plus and easy graphical interface for adding the extensions that are available from Sun's site. This interface needs to be idiot proof or the Windows users will not move.

I wanted to start using Compiz for a while, but when I finally got a supported video card I was mostly disappointed. Nearly all effects are just an eye candy, they DO NOT increase my productivity.

Wobbly windows make no sense. Shadows under tooltips make no sense, Expose-clone is slow and not polished (need to double click), window resizing is WORSE than on a default non-accelerated desktop - it's not instant, you get this "blue rectangle" than you work on to discover later how the *actual* window will repaint itself. The list goes on and on. In the end the entire thing does not really do anything useful: after initial excitement wears out, you're left with a sluggish desktop (the speed is not caused by video card, most of the effects are intrusive).

I beliveve that the PURPOSE of Copmiz needs to be re-discovered. The following question needs to be asked: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE?

It needs to be a real user's problem, the kind we face every day. Non-wobbling windows is NOT a problem.

Because sometimes things don't sound like nearly as good an idea when you've thought on it a while. :-)

Offer a version of Ubuntu that comes "bare." Eliminate large, non-essential applications such as Open Office, Ekiga, Rythmbox, Evolution, Pidgin, Gimp, etc. Doing this would allow users to pick and choose the applications they wish to use. It would also be great when HDD space is limited, such as Solid State Drive based laptops.

Alternatively you could allow users to choose which applications are installed by letting them customize it during the live install.