Contributor aysiu

When taking screenshots of the Desktop, pressing Alt+ PrtSc should copy only the selected window.

At this point, it is only possible to get a screenshot of entire screen.

The Alt + PrtSc behavior is default of Windows.

If a user installs ubuntu on the same HDD as windows (on a different partition) GRUB replaces the windows bootloader without warning... not vey nice...

Most people don't just switch completly from windows to Linux in one day, they first may use the Live CD, maybe install on a partition they have on the Windows PC... everything is fun and games.... but while the user doesn't get acquainted with Linux thay may need/decide to format the partition where Linux is installed (formatting is also the easiest way to remove Linux) and thats when the problems start:
Windows does not boot... people curse Linux and swear never again to touch such a dangerous software... not good!

How about something like this:

#################################################
A partition with windows has been detected.
[X] Add an entry for ubuntu on the windows bootloader (recommended)
[ ] Install GRUB and let it manage the booting of all detected systems? (will replace the current bootloader)
#################################################

OR

#################################################
GRUB will be installed and from now on it will manage the booting of all the detected Operating Systems.

[OK/NEXT] [MORE OPTIONS]
################################################

For Linux users, (no windows detected) things would not change a bit...
This are just examples, the only thing important is that it should "play nicer" with windows users....

[....]

Maybe it's my point of view, but I think that there are many overlapping in features, development, bug-fixing, and many tasks of the Linux-related world.

The phrase "divide and conquer" is what comes to my mind when I think in this. Many distributions, many people making the same things, reinventing the wheel without communication.

I suggest managing problems between 4 bigger distributions teams: Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse and Mandriva. Each team only will must make its assignated tasks, not more, to avoid overlapping.

Thus, it would be great to accord some conventions, and work in strategies togheter.

Software is hard to make, don't do it harder by replicating work.

I came across this thread while looking around about another problem:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sound-juicer/+question/2046

The pertinent quote:
I tried to follow your directions. After I entered the command in
terminal mode and pressed enter it kept asking for my password. It
would not let me enter it though. I typed it several times but nothing
appeared on the screen.

Richard

Since a lot of people seem to think that not showing visual feedback for password authentication (in the terminal, for example) is a security feature, let's remove visual feedback from the GUI, too.

See Idea #11118: Display *** for password in the terminal for more details:
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/11118/

It would be nice if Ubuntu came with some program that would run in the background yet have a gui that would scan autonomously for any potential threat. This would also be ported to scan all means of download including via firefox. This app would be light-weight yet have a strong debian foundation. Debian is a security based distro and Ubuntu is based on it.

When you use the live cd or install Ubuntu there's not even a welcome screen showing the features of Ubuntu. openSUSE has a welcome screen and some PDF files displaying what it is and what you can do with it.

Ubuntu should have something like that too. It could have some videos on how to get stuff done in Ubuntu like a video tour, the different ways of installing applications, configuring drivers, showing off Compiz Fusion etc, etc.

Why videos? Because it's visual. Watching a video is better and more fun than just reading a "how to", right?

Some simple video Ideas:

1. What is Ubuntu?

Well duh, explain Ubuntu and a brief story of our beloved Linux Distro.

2.What can I do with Ubuntu and how to be productive with it?

This video should show the basic desktop that ships with Ubuntu. It should discuss every (or almost every because there are a lot of them) application on the default menus and how to edit the menus.

3. Why multiple Workspaces instead of a single one?

This should help the new user understand the concept of "instead of having a multitude of windows opened on a single desktop, why don't I have multiple desktops with windows well organized across them instead"

4.Compiz Fusion:

How to set it up and how to use it in a productive way. This video should teach the new user how to use Expo, Window Picker, Desktop Cube/Cylinder/Sphere you know, the "stadard plugins" that almost every Compiz Fusion user uses etc.

[....]

I would like it very much not having to type in my password every time I open synaptic, any time I choose to upgrade or any time I want to install a program.

I know it's a security issue, and that's why I don't necessarily wish it would be default. But I wish to be given the option remeber password or something when starting up synaptic.

I am the only user of my PC, and I don't care keeping my data TOO secure, being just a regular desktop user. I would also like to be given the choice for autologin without installing start-up manager. In every ubuntu critique I read this issue was raised, ex-windows users mostly hate typing passwords continuously. I know this can be fixed via terminal, but I'd much rather have an option in the GUI.

Before pressing the red arrow think that though you believe security comes first, some of us think usability tops it. And we should be given the CHOICE of not having to type in passwords non stop.

Don't show quick unmount button in Nautilus when the user doesn't have the rights to unmount the partition/disc.
Right know I don't know why the button is visible if I can't use it?

Is Ubuntu easy to use for beginners ?
That's the question. Unless you suppose that only computer fans spend lots of time chatting on the forums (with the mythic Ubuntu community) and look at the (brilliant) Ubuntu documentation, it is in our interest to make everything about Ubuntu easier.

Indeed, an average computer user won't look into the documentation.

It would be better if as soon as the CD live begins a guided video tour would appear to introduce the user to the main elements and the setting up of Ubuntu.

But even more important, once Ubuntu is installed, there should be a possibility for the user to initiate a video that will guide him on:
- how to install a program
- how to modify the internet settings (important).
- the location of the important files
- Which are the most important programmes, how do they work, where are they located (open office, amarok, emesene/amsn, evolution, firefox, gimp, rythmbox, ...)?
- how to modify the desktop (3d effects, change the wallpaper, change the theme of icons and skin ..)

There should be at the first Ubuntu boot a little pop-up box that indicates that there is an explanatory video available.
A user could choose either « I already know everything about Ubuntu » and skip the video, or, if he's new to ubuntu, he should have the possibility to watch any video as many times as he wants.

These videos have to be the most accessible items at first (why not give the user the possibility to put them directly on the desktop?).

Moreover, those videos could be available on the ubuntu site. So that beginners could watch them before downloading and testing ubuntu. Indeed, it is better to see a short video before downloading than having to download the live cd and try it.

[....]

I know that most of people will vote this idea down just because they stupidly think that ubuntu should be release every 6 months but the truth is that at this rate we will ever be using a buggy ubuntu...yeah i know there are other distros out there... but the idea is to get a better ubuntu and not to switch to another distribution...

I dont think that it will be to bad waiting for the new kernel, xorg or gnome a couple of months more but its better than having to fill launchpad with bugs... don't you thing??

For those who want the latest version they could always use the betas and release candidates... beside it would give us more time to try a RC, not has with this last release...

Ubuntu has this wonderful UbuFox integration that prompts you to install missing plugins via the package manager when you visit a webpage that requires Flash.

But YouTube (and some other sites) will tell you you're missing Flash and then link you to the Adobe Flash download webpage, which has a .tar.gz and an .rpm but no .deb download.

Since we already have .deb files for flashplugin-nonfree in the repositories, would it be difficult for Ubuntu/Canonical to convince Adobe to host it alongside the other download options?

Ubuntu 8.10 has a new pop-up balloon, every time the desktop starts, it says a network connection is found.

This is not necessary and annoying!

Pop-ups and pop-up balloons are only useful when there is something wrong and the user REALLY NEEDS to be aware of it before proceeding his/her current activity. Otherwise it's just plain annoying, inconsiderate and very windows-like.

Alright, how to solve it then?

1. Use balloons only when REALLY needed (lost network connection, etc...)
2. Provide at least an easy and intuitive way to disable them forever, like a little option button on the balloon itself.
3. Make them less intrusive. Balloons should softly come in, be opaque and softly go away after 5 seconds if the user didn't click it. Also keep them small.

Allow the usage of the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + v to paste items into the Terminal. I know many of us copy commands from websites (mostly ubuntu forums for me) and paste them into the Terminal, and keyboard shortcuts are a preferred way to do it.

When you update the graphics device driver, or re-install it, change it, or switch from the open-source to proprietary, then you have to restart, or at least restart X.

This should not be needed. The device drivers should be able to be activated and reloaded without any restart. Windows Vista can do it, we should be able to do it too.

Restarting sucks. Everybody hates it.

This should only apply if the logged in user has an entry in sudoers..

If I try to create a new folder, and I don't have access it should prompt me for my password (gksudo), and preform the action. This should occur for copy/paste, and all sorts of other functions that instead we have to drop to the shell..

I mainly 'sudo nautilus .' when I need to do this, but its a little clunky, don't you agree?

Unlike Epiphnay, Firefox is not a real GNOME application, even with the enhanced native look which has been introduced by Firefox 3.0.

Epiphany is a very simple browser, more conforming to the spirit of GNOME, which lacks a lot of the features of Firefox. However, I think most people will probably not need Firefox' extra features and plugins. Those who do need Firefox could easily download it when Epiphany becomes the default webbrowser included out-of-the-box in Ubuntu. Ubuntu should aim for consistency, and Epiphany certainly is a better candidate than Firefox if consistency is the goal.

Epiphany currently uses the Gecko-engine for rendering, but will probably feature WebKit - http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany/WebKit - soon. WebKit would probably do a better job than Gecko.

Because somehow Ubuntu brainstorm says the Blueprint URL I gave isn't valid, I give it here in the text: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/epiphany-default-browser

Ubuntu should let experienced users decide what applications they want to install on their computers during installation. I like the way it is now - installing a default set of applications that work out of box. But, for some advanced users, Ubuntu should let them pick what applications they want. For example, I like using Thunderbird as my email client, Amarok for my music player, digiKam as my photo organizer, and VLC player as my default movie player. It would be nice if Ubuntu can put an 'Advanced Mode' of installation where the user can choose which applications they want to use by default and install them only (in this case it should skip installing Evolution, Rhythmbox, F-Spot and Totem). In addition, Ubuntu should let users decide right at the beginning if they want to install other restricted programs like flash, java, acrobat reader, etc. This saves a lot of time for the user installing these specific applications after finishing a base install.

Fully working mouse, tablet and synaptics touchpad is a MUST.

(also to configure additional mouse buttons imwheel will probably need to be installed by default - EVERY mouse button should do something)

I often see requests on the forums for Ubuntu developers spending more energy on fixing bugs than adding new features. Since we have two releases every year, why not officially have one be the "new features" release with only major bug fixes and have the other be the "stability" release focused on refining all the new features introduced in the last release.

So the October release would add a bunch of new features and be focused mainly on the bleeding-edge crowd of users. The April release would not add features but be a super-stable version of the October release.

And please don't tell me the LTSes are the stable releases. Dapper was no more stable when it was released than Edgy or Feisty were. LTS means long-term support, not long-term stability.

What do you think?