Contributor jamesisin - Ubuntu brainstorm

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The Ubuntu community has contributed 21986 ideas, 135057 comments, 2615221 votes

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Contributor jamesisin

Nautilus to display more info while asking for copying existing file

Written by aufather the 9 Nov 08 at 04:07. Related project: Nautilus. Implemented

When I copy a newer version of a file, nautilus asks whether to skip or replace this file. But it does not provide any info other than the file name. It would be nice if it would at least provide the file sizes too. More info maybe accessible from a drop down button. Like modified time, owner, permissions etc. But these can be hidden and be accessible from a drop down button (like the button which shows progress of individual files during software installation). This will help the user to compare both the files and make an informed decision there itself. Instead of canceling the operation and then comparing both the files and then redoing the same operation.

260
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529
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202
votes

338
votes

229
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103
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95
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42
votes

Selected solution (#8): Previews of the files

Written by philip the 5 May 09 at 22:52.

The dialog should contain pre-computed views of the files, so you don't have to wait for (say) the spreadsheet program to load and open the files. The views should be about 100x100 pixels large and should show a cropped, scrollable view of each file. When the user resizes the dialog,, the preview areas should show more or less of the files. Or, a larger preview can show as a tool tip when the mouse hovers over the small preview.

45
votes

Selected solution (#9): nautulis: copy old file to trash before overwrite

Written by bgfeldm the 12 May 09 at 13:01.

add an option to move old file to the trash before overwrite.
nautulis:
move file to trash before overwrite, if file is a text or document file below a preconfigured size such as 1 MB.

This way overwritten files can be retrieved at a dept of one.
Or you could make the trash bin a temporary source repository for overwritten/deleted files, only storing the diff of the text files, so you limit space taken up by the trash bin and have multiple restore points for files. The repository will be clear every time the user clears the repository or after a defined amount of days.

56
votes

139
votes

25
votes

Selected solution (#12): Push transfers requiring user feedback to the end of the queue

Written by Redge the 8 Jun 09 at 00:07.

When doing file operations and Nautilus encounters conflicts or errors that require the user's feedback to resolve, Nautilus should first try to complete the rest of the queue and push the files needing feedback to the end. That way, if the user is AFK as much of the operation as possible will be done by the time he/she gets back.

-3
votes

37
votes

Selected solution (#14): Check files below a certain size

Written by korin43 the 18 Jun 09 at 20:58.

Decide on a on file size where it's faster to just check if it's an identical file than ask the user if they want to replace/skip. If the files with the same name are identical, we just skip them instead of presenting the replace/skip dialogue (since both options would have the same result).

Note: This would be a complete byte-for-byte comparison, not just a comparison of timestamps and name.

Here's the order that the system would check:
- Is there a file with the same name?
- Is it below the maximum size set to check? (we don't want to auto-check if it would be faster to ask the user. ex: 10 Gb file)
- Compare size
- Compare the two files (byte-for-byte), fail as soon as you find anything different (if the first byte of the new file is different, fail immediately instead of checking the whole file)

Note 2: Timestamps will not be compared. If the new file is identical with a different timestamp, the new timestamp should be applied.

21
votes

Selected solution (#15): Add "auto" option to replce/skip pop-up

Written by vegetarianshrimp the 19 Jun 09 at 19:03.

This gives the user the option to replace/skip if they already know whether the file is identical or not, or don't want to risk replacing an important file. But if they don't know if the files are identical, then they can press the auto button.

It would look something like this:

|Auto| |Auto all| |Replace| |Replace all| |Skip| |Skip all|

25
votes

Selected solution (#16): Show context for the differences

Written by Prime Mover the 2 Aug 09 at 21:50.

The dialog should attempt to show the differences between the files if they are in a recognizable format. For example, if the files are images, show both images, along with file size and date. This will allow the user to easily make a decision about whether to replace the file. The destination filename could also be an editable field to allow the user to change the name and have the copy continue under the new name. If the file were an audio file then it could display bitrate, sample rate, length, etc.

Here's an example dialog box from Directory Opus on Windows which demonstrates this:

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62
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Selected solution (#19): Avoid overwriting the same file.

Written by pubsbin the 8 Aug 09 at 01:12.

There are some easy tests for checking if two files (in two different folders) are the same file. From the easy ones (metainformation, size, name), checking some positions (sampling) and, finally, comparing them entirely.

If Nautilus uses those easy equality checks, it could avoid copying equal files. Even if you compare the whole file, a read is faster than a write.

151
votes

Selected solution (#20): "No to ALL"

Written by don1500 the 12 Aug 09 at 20:20.

Most of the time I have this problem I run into it when moving music files. There is a "Yes to ALL" but no "No to All". All I want are the files that are on the source but not on the target. "Overwrite if Newer" is close and a good suggestion, but sometimes I don't want to overwrite the old file. Sometimes you want to overwrite the older version, and with "Yes to All" you still have that option. Maybe adding both "Overwrite if newer" AND "No to ALL" is the answer. I think this would be the easiest to implement. This is also the K.I.S.S. answer.

83
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14
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8
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Selected solution (#23): Advanced File Operations (AFO :D)

Written by Chronos the 29 Aug 09 at 14:46.

Create a more advanced "thread" based queuing system for file operations. Its possible to make it simple, no need to make it complex. Read below:

Seriously, in Total commander i used a lot the function to not just copy files at once and send the process in the background, but to push F2, and create a list of the operations where(!) the list is a queue. So the processes are not running at the same time to slow things down. We can even make this better. Imagine you have 4 drives. A B C and D. You want to copy 3x6 folders/files from A to B and vice versa. It takes long, so you start to copy/move/whatsoever to work on C and D (like before from C to D and vice versa). To make all these operations (4direction) run at the same time slows the computer slow down(no wonder why).

We could create two thread with two queues in this case.

In summary, A and B would process their queue, processing files the fast as possible, and separately C and D would do their things as well.

We could make it automatic maybe, that if we are making file operations to or from one partition/hardware, at default it would create a queue, what (with a push of a button) would appear from the already used window(dont know the name). This queue would make sure that only one operation is active at a time, making hardware sweat less, and operations faster.

[...]

Maybe i'll do a mockup if i have time.

This is just an idea, we can modify it.

Cheers,
David

32
votes

Selected solution (#24): Pile up a list of action needed files.(Use with Solution #1)

Written by yaknowwat the 16 Aug 09 at 09:07.

The list would list all the files that need conformation and let u handle them with check boxes. ( A Select All/None combo button and an Invert Selection button are a must for such a list. Then double clicking a listed directory should select all in the directory.)
Then by for example pressing Overwrite or a Do Nothing button the action would affect all selected files. After which you can continue such steps until the List is gone or the user exits.
I'd imagine this would be simple to do without over complicating things.
Also the number of dialogues could easily be reduced with this strategy.
This increases efficiency because a user could handle all the conformation files at once in their own way even as their still copying normal files.

6
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5
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Selected solution (#26): Add intelligent preview/comparison box to the Nautilus file replacement dialogue

Written by cajhne the 14 Sep 10 at 21:05.

Disclaimer: I worked this up before finding that my problem was a dupe of this thread, so don't yell at me for "duplicating" some ideas here. I've +1 promoted the ones that I came to the same or similar conclusions about. There's different stuff in here, so please read the whole thing! :)

It would be handy to show other relevant information based on the file type in a small preview/comparison area on the side of the replace notification dialogue. It would also be nice to have an in-dialogue "rename" function, where you could change the name of the file being copied rather than just the standard replace/don't replace option. Leave the defaults the way they are, but offer a drop-down of other solutions, as well as a preview box for the file. Text files could show the first few lines of the file (if permissions allow), the photo can show thumbnails, music can have the same (nifty) mouse-over preview in the file browser, etc.

The "intelligent" bit changes the options for replacement/renaming/etc based on the kind of file, and the kind of preview shown. Some handy alternate options might be "append" for videos/music/text files, which combines/concatenates two files into one, or "version" which simply appends an ordering number to the end of the filename (my_cat.jpg -> mycat_b.jpg)

I have worked up a visual on what I think this might look like if there's enough interest. :)

http://whitecatgraphics.com/ubuntu/nautilus_replace_comparison_dialogue.jpg

[...]

This example shows the standard file replace dialogue with my additions. The files under scrutiny are an old and new version of the same image. The desaturated, darker one is meant to represent an unedited photo, and the saturated one an edited version, which highlights the advantage/importance of being able to see samples of each to make the judgement.

Things to note in this sample:
1.The "replace all" option now has a drop-down menu below it, in which you can specify in what manner you want to "replace all".
2.The arrow between the two thumbnails indicates which is source and which is the destination (since some people in the world read from right to left. :))
3.The thumbnails act like thumbnails in the regular browser. Right-clicking on them could bring up options like "preview", "open with", "info", or "show in folder".
4.Selecting "Keep" under either sample will automatically set the other to "Erase", for ease of use. The "Save As..." option could bring up a box for the new file name, or alternatively, a standard "save as" dialogue as seen in GIMP, Open Office, etc, when you choose "Save As".
5.The green check-mark and the red "X" icon indicate which is being kept, and which is not. These change when "Keep" or "Erase" is selected.
6.After selection is complete, the user would then click the "Replace" button to perform the action, and continue the file copy/move operations.

I'm not married to any of the above components. If anyone thinks of a different/better way to do it, please post it in the comments section, and I'll revise this solution based on the suggestions. :)

I'm not proposing changing any of the defaults, just adding a box for more information, and a few more options to streamline the current replacement procedure.

It would be handy to show other relevant information based on the file type in a small preview/comparison area on the side of the replace notification dialogue. It would also be nice to have an in-dialogue "rename" function, where you could change the name of the file being copied rather than just the standard replace/don't replace option. Leave the defaults the way they are, but offer a drop-down of other solutions, as well as a preview box for the file. Text files could show the first few lines of the file (if permissions allow), the photo can show thumbnails, music can have the same (nifty) mouse-over preview in the file browser, etc.

The "intelligent" bit changes the options for replacement/renaming/etc based on the kind of file, and the kind of preview shown. Some handy alternate options might be "append" for videos/music/text files, which combines/concatenates two files into one, or "version" which simply appends an ordering number to the end of the filename (my_cat.jpg -> mycat_b.jpg)

I have worked up a visual on what I think this might look like if there's enough interest. :)

http://whitecatgraphics.com/ubuntu/nautilus_replace_comparison_dialogue.jpg

Things to note in this sample: 
1.The "replace all" option now has a drop-down menu below it, in which you can specify in what manner you want to "replace all". 
2.The arrow between the two thumbnails indicates which is source and which is the destination (since some people in the world read from right to left. :)) 
3.The thumbnails act like thumbnails in the regular browser. Right-clicking on them could bring up options like "preview", "open with", "info", or "show in folder". 
4.Selecting "Keep" under either sample will automatically set the other to "Erase", for ease of use. The "Save As..." option could bring up a box for the new file name, or alternatively, a standard "save as" dialogue as seen in GIMP, Open Office, etc, when you choose "Save As". 
5.The green check-mark and the red "X" icon indicate which is being kept, and which is not. These change when "Keep" or "Erase" is selected. 
6.After selection is complete, the user would then click the "Replace" button to perform the action, and continue the file copy/move operations.

I'm not married to any of the above components. If anyone thinks of a different/better way to do it, please post it in the comments section, and I'll revise this solution based on the suggestions. :)

I'm not proposing changing any of the defaults, just adding a box for more information, and a few more options to streamline the current replacement procedure.

6
votes

5
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Selected solution (#28): Additions to File Operations

Written by JohnLM the 15 Jan 09 at 21:46.

I thought it could scan for involved devices and queue by (configurable) default, if that device is in use (i.e. having copy or move operation already). And have a "Do now!" kind of button on file operation window for override.

Naturally it should never en-queue same partition's move operations, cause they are super fast by nature!

btw As far as I know the Nautilus' File Operations thingie is not really finished and is under development now!

9
votes

Selected solution (#29): Conflict dialog: say how many more conflicts there are

Written by philip the 18 Mar 11 at 20:07.

When you try to copy or move a bunch of files, and files with those names already exist in the destination folder, you get a dialog asking you if you want to replace the existing file or skip copying this file. You can also check a check box for repeating this operation on all other conflicting files.

It would be helpful to know how many more conflicting files there are. This can alert the user that he has done something wrong if he did not expect that many conflicts. It can also guide his decision to check the conflicts manually or click on the "perform this for all files" check box.

Getting more sophisticated, the dialog could even list the conflicting files when the user clicks on a drop down list.

12
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-1
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Selected solution (#31): Require the user to enter a sub menu.

Written by Darwin Survivor the 5 Mar 11 at 09:13.

Simply having gksu pop up every time a user tries to do something they aren't allowed to (edit a system file) is a quick way to a non-working system.

I propose we put gksu-enabled commands in a sub-menu (like how new-file lists a few file types). This will prevent users from simply converting to "enter your password until it works" people.

66
votes

20
votes

Selected solution (#33): Control the number of simultaneous op-s on a drive

Written by andrew.p the 19 Mar 09 at 21:28.

This is not a complete solution, but an addition to #2/#1.
I often miss an option to limit the number of simultaneous file operations on a drive (simultaneous file operations are not as quick as one-by-one sometimes).
Speaking about sol#1, it would be logical to have an option to queue file operation instead of performing immediately (name menu item "Queue Paste" & give it keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+Alt+V/Ctrl+Q/Super+V). Also it is a workaround for controlling the number of simultaneous file operations.

-4
votes

7
votes

Selected solution (#35): Click & drag priority management

Written by Ian Burnet the 11 Apr 09 at 03:11.

Being able to set the priority of ops would be really useful, but we also don't want to add too much to the interface.

I think the most user-friendly solution would be to:
1) Run only one op at a time automatically
2) Have a continue / pause button to force start, pause, and resume
3) Have the ops listed by priority (i.e. which was started first; which are running)
4) Be able to click and drag the progress bars up/down to switch the priorities

15
votes

See the 13 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 May 12 at 05:18) >>

A password should not be required to check for updates

Written by bluenova the 23 Apr 09 at 07:44. Related project: Update manager. Implemented

Currently Ubuntu requires the user to enter their password before they can check for updates. A password should only be required for activities that can cause damage to the computer and checking for updates does not make any changes to the system and therefore cannot cause any damage.

With the new update notification system in Jaunty taking 7 days to alert you to new (non-security) updates, it's likely that more people will want to manually see if updates are available, and having to type in your password each time to do this is quite annoying.

376
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91
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4
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Selected solution (#3): Display possible updates at start, need password only on download & install.

Written by tchalvakspam the 26 Aug 09 at 17:11.

The real issue is even gathering the information (which may tell you that there are no updates needed) requires the password step. So currently, there is a zero-benefit step:
Action: Open up update-manager. Effect: Nothing changes from before.
Action: Click check and put in password. Effect: Check for newer updates.
Action: Click Install updates. Effect: Finally install updates.

Because opening up update-manager is a declaration of the wish to at least check for updates, this should be revised to:

Action: Open up update-manager. Effect: perform check for updates, but download nothing.

Action: Click install updates and put in password. Effect: download & install currently "checked" updates.

See the 11 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 30 Apr 12 at 22:38) >>

Audio sensational enhancement

Written by DrG the 1 Jan 10 at 10:42. Global category: Others. New

Enhancement the audio effects in Ubuntu

36
votes

Solution #1: Audio sensational enhancement

Written by DrG the 1 Jan 10 at 10:42.

Develop Software for Audio sensational enhancement like

1. Realistic surround sound experience from desktop speakers, internal notebook speakers and headphones
2. Improved bass
3. Dialog clarity makes vocals easier to understand
4. Delivers a more lively and brilliant sound by highlighting the high frequency details originally presented in the audio source
5.Speaker output optimization to compensate and reposition audio placement for poorly placed speakers

Like that of SRS Audio Sandbox - http://www.srslabs.com/store/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 12 Apr 12 at 07:53) >>

Enhanced Stereo and Surround Sound .

Written by DrG the 3 Jan 10 at 15:54. Global category: Others. New

Enhance the sound experience .

62
votes

Solution #1: Enhanced Stereo and Surround Sound .

Written by DrG the 3 Jan 10 at 15:54.

In mono audio format the signal from all speakers are the same .

In multi channel format , there is difference between the signals .

Most of the music we enjoy have only subtle difference between the channels and most are only two channels .

A mono format can be converted to Stereo or multi channel format by selectively filtering frequency patterns for each of the speakers . Same to Stereo to multi channel .

The difference in amplitude of such filtered frequencies can be increased and this increase gives an extended stereo or surround experience .

The conversion of mono to stereo may distort the sound because the various patterns of sounds may be projected to wrong directions. This problem will not affect stereo to extended stereo or multi channel since we have guides ( or already present differences in channel ) to project the sound patterns to various directions .

Also see- http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/23190/ & http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/23191/

[...]

The feature had to be turned off as default .
The original musics may be affected in a similar way to that of sound equalizer , some people may like and other may not . But the audio sensational enhancement will be different and superior to that of an equalizer .

See the 11 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Mar 12 at 21:02) >>

Configure Ubuntu Programs During Installation

Written by Klau3 the 27 Jan 10 at 20:15. Related project: Live CD installer. Won't implement

Installation process should give people the choice to select some standard programms.
Someone using Thunderbird as mail client doesn't need Evolution...
It is not about installing all kinds of programms during the installation process, but about selecting the most common programms easily.

The other thing is that a lot of people don't know that ubuntu can play DVD videos, because they just don't know about libdvdcss2, “ubuntu restricted extras” and how to install them.

Example: my parents cannot install libdvdcss2 without my help. This should change!

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Solution #14: Optional Microsoft Application Compatibility

Written by justintime03_2 the 9 Feb 10 at 02:13.

I know this sounds like heresy, but Ubuntu already has this in the repositories. Why not make it easier for new Ubuntu users to run their Windows applications. That's one of the biggest complaints I've heard. A lot of people don't know they can use WINE without digging around on the net. There's a lot who never know they have the option. Have the option to install WINE in the Configure Ubuntu Programs tool at first boot. I think this is crucial.

37
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-22
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Solution #16: not enough space, internet and other problems

Written by Goury the 12 Feb 10 at 10:54.

there is no problems to include this one to DVD
also there is one more thing needed - ability to install more than one app of any type
there is tons of ppls who uses chromium AND firefox because first is fast and second sometimes shows pages more accurate and have more extensions

also: do not include opera and chrome. include chromium and some other free (as freedom, not as beer) browsers

70
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73
votes

Solution #18: add network-manager plugins here

Written by Goury the 13 Feb 10 at 08:17.

90% russian internets is pptp vpn so option pptp must include needed packages to pptp-vpn plugin works in network manager (its stable enough)
many ppl in europes uses some oter vpn (i am not sure) so option to install oter vpn type is needed too

a lot of peoples uses wifis or something else to interneting
and we all know that ubuntu without internet is 99% dualbooting to windows or uninstalling - ubuntu MUST HAVE internet after installation so all interneting packages must be included at least to dvd, but on cd is good too AND thete must be option to install them - its very difficult task to noobs to install vpn or something else packages

-102
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54
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Solution #21: Solution #3, but also include option to choose Office suite

Written by magallucas the 16 Feb 10 at 20:53.

Some people (including me) have a personal preference for certain Office suites. Include a chance to choose the preferred suite (OpenOffice by default) would also be interesting. The options could be KOffice, Lotus Symphony, etc..

Integrated to Solution #12, the idea is even more complete: Accessing "Favorite Applications", the User can change your kit software more easily after you install the OS. For example, to change the option favorite browser "Firefox" to "Google Chrome", the Software Center automatically uninstall Firefox and install Chrome, making it the default browser. Happen the same way with the other favorite applications.

In case if the User wants to keep the two browsers (Firefox and Chrome), usually just select the Software Center - as is currently done - so both will be installed. Then just go to "Favorite Applications" and switch to Chrome, which is already installed - Firefox would remain, but the Chrome would be the primary browser.

26
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14
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44
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0
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Solution #26: Not during installation, but in the Welcome Screen

Written by pazuzuthewise the 3 Apr 10 at 02:55.

I believe that this option for adding software during OS install that cannot possibly fit on a CD medium, and therefore necessitates internet connection, could end up in a failed install process if the connection fails, as could happen with a 3G connection during bad weather conditions.
I certainly agree that the options presented in Solution #3 should be presented to the user in an informative manner - who, especially if new to linux, would otherwise have no clue what to do to be able to watch a DVD, for example - but not during OS install, but integrated in the Welcome Window that appears at the first login, maybe having a link in it to the Add/Remove Software, which, in turn should have these options on a main page.

15
votes

-5
votes

Solution #28: Choose the applications from the website before download

Written by thipv the 9 May 10 at 23:12.

It would make the process more flexible letting us to choose the programs before getting the iso, creating a customized image. You would select everything from the system architecture (32, 64, ppc, arm...) to desktop environment (gnome, kde, xfce, lxde...) or special environments (moblin based, netbook remix...), suggesting their default applications for each one, and let you change or remove them and choose additional programs, even restricted ones, informing the restrictions.
This would also be good because you would always be getting the most updated packages.

5
votes

Solution #29: Solution #3, #21, #23 ... + User choise

Written by JasLicno the 12 May 10 at 23:26.

User should decide which program will use.solution is simple:
Configure programs during installation:
1. button - ubuntu suggested
2. button - user defined ... list of all available programs
+ (because is impossible to have that big source of programs)

after installing, program that will give you option to make a clone of your installation, so next instalation of your system will be faster and with 100% personal programs. (this is not my idea, I have read about this as option in one of linux distributions)

7
votes

Solution #30: enable account transfer

Written by switchgirl the 30 Jun 10 at 21:21.

enable a way of saving account details to ubuntu one so that one can transfer all your accounts (yahoo, hotmail,gmail icq... irc... jabber.. everything) to the new machine this will help with setting up of new machines - like if someone has a laptop, web book and other machines, they really down want to have to set up all the different accounts multiple times. i'm not suggesting emails as this is too much data but enabling people to sync account details, and passwords would be good and improve ubuntu installs

0
votes

See the 55 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Mar 12 at 21:01) >>

Move the min, max, close buttons back to the right in 10.04

Written by readmanr the 6 Mar 10 at 21:00. Related project: Gnome. Won't implement

In Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 Alpha3 we have a new default theme, however the Minimise, Maximise and Close buttons have been moved from the top right, to the top left.
(see the image at the bottom)

This was a poor choice for the following reasons...

- If clicking at the top menu (File , View, Help etc) the close buttons are VERY Close, accidents can happen.
- There used to be a tiny dot in the top left, which had in its menu, Min, Max, Move, Always on Top, and Close (So why move the Min, Max, Close buttons to the left?
- Migrating Windows and Mac users will be used to having them at the right, which is a huge usability jump)

Changes like this should be an optional choice, while it is possible to manually edit the theme, it should not be the default for an LTS release.

Ubuntu 10.04 Alpha3

src: http://blog.daviey.com/blogroll/anything-but-the-buttons.html

1192
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Solution #8: make the default alignment theme-dependent

Written by marvo the 10 Mar 10 at 10:28.

There are some themes that look better when the buttons are placed on the left side (like Ambiance, Radiance and Gorilla) and there are some themes that look better with the buttons being on the right side (like Glider, Human, Clearlooks or SphereCrystal).

So i propose to set the default alignment depending on the chosen theme and make it easily switchable.

The current way to change the alignment of the buttons back to the right by typing
gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout "menu:minimize,maximize,close"
is a bit tedious.

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Solution #14: Keep default left Minimize, Maximise/Resize & Close Buttons

Written by MoebusNet the 15 Mar 10 at 01:04.

Rationale: In VirtualBox without Guest Additions, the right-hand side of the desktop and the lower part of the desktop are not visible until you scroll. Having the above-mentioned buttons on the top-left side of the window by default makes them accessible when (not if) Guest Additions do not work/are unavailable or when scrolling for whatever reason does not work. This is especially true for development versions.

I _am_ in favor of choice, so this should be fairly easy for a user to change (preferably by GUI) to right, left or both.

Just my opinion.

-44
votes

Solution #16: Leave the buttons on the right until 10.10

Written by neblogas the 16 Mar 10 at 15:58.

Because Mark said that in 10.10 the windows will have something new in the right side, but now, there is no need to change the buttons, and this is LTS release! in 10.10 when you will finish the new mysteriuos window features on the right then you can put the buttons on the left. As I said, there is no need now to change. Its an LTS release and the people and companies won't change until the next LTS, so there won't be for them new mysteriuos windows features on the right!

246
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Solution #18: Top Horizontial Bar moved the the Left or Right as Vertical Bar

Written by ichido the 17 Mar 10 at 17:53.

Move the Top Bar to the Right Side-Vertical Bar and the Bottom Bar would be on the Left Side Vertical.
This would allow for more Vertical Space.
The user would be able to Swap the Left Bar with the Right Bar and also the Size/Thickness of the Bars.
Applications could maintain the Top Bar or a Side or a Bottom bar for their Window.

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votes

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votes

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votes

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votes

35
votes

Solution #27: For longer term, how about a window manager merge?

Written by LukeM33P the 25 Mar 10 at 01:13.

Compiz managers and decorators are already effective at options. Placing the Metacity and Kwin options in Emerald Decorator manager, which would be preinstalled, along with CCSM (or a custom replacement) would be the solution, with CCSM/replacement simplified to look like (in functionality and basic organization) the KDE settings manager, but using default schemes and such, of course.

For KDE users, alongside the CCSM/replacement, the interface would be integrated into the System Settings, just like the traditional settings.

The reason I propose this is because options, while not easy to find and configure (and why I propose the reorg) are very powerful. Setting up Metacity and KWin to show up as options and adding the appropriate settings, if necessary, seems to make sense (to me) as a long-term solution. The operating system needs to seem as encompassing as KDE or even more so, and combining these options so that the system is even more universal would be a step towards this.

An addition to the application of managing the system title bar like the KDE or GNOME dashboards would be similarly useful, and may be all of this potential solution that should be used. Default should stay in line with last-gen human theme, even if the colors and buttons look different.

51
votes

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votes

Solution #29: Have the buttons on both sides AND hide them.

Written by MisterLinOx the 26 Mar 10 at 21:52.

Have the min, max, close buttons on both sides of the title bar, but hide them. The only time they should show is on mouseover of the bar, but depending on which side you mouseover decides which side the buttons show.

For example, cursor closer to the left side? Mouse over the top-left and the buttons will appear. Vice-versa for the right side.

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votes

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votes

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votes

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votes

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votes

-12
votes

Solution #38: Allow the option to be changed in installation slideshow and in minimal install

Written by Jon Monreal the 17 Apr 10 at 23:49.

Please note that this is not an idea for the imminent release of 10.04, but would be better included in the next update ISO.

Experienced users already know how to change the buttons back to the original location, so server installations shouldn't be so much of a problem.

For absolute beginner users, the first slide in the installation slideshow could be one explaining the benefits of having the buttons on the left side and asking the user to choose what they could like to do.

In the minimal install, it would also be easy to add a simple option (most users using the minimal install are probably fairly experienced).

This would solve the real issue here: beginners possibly not using Ubuntu at all because it changes something.

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votes

-4
votes

Solution #40: To the right by default, but an option to move them to the left.

Written by turbolad the 5 Jul 10 at 15:42.

As per title. Buttons to the right by default, with an option to move to the left.

Don't forget to keep the little circle, which when clicked on, has options such as "Always On Top", "Move to Workspace Right" etc. These options should never be removed and I think the 3 buttons should be on the right by default, as most newbies are familiar with that setup.

-11
votes

Solution #41: Put min, max, close buttons in a completely new position

Written by baretobareto the 3 Aug 10 at 20:31.

Fisrt of all, sorry for my English.

Why we really needs buttons to the right? Well theres no real difference between having your buttons on the left or on the right, its just a matter of have the enough time to get used to one position or another.
But what about if we have these button in a complete new position.
What about having min, max, close buttons on the right BUT in the lower side of the windows instead of the upper side.

If you think about it, when you open a document or a web-page, you need to scroll down to really knows if that document is what you are looking for. When a document is too long, you need to use the scroll down arrow. So your mouse-arrow will be closer to the lower right of the window instead of the upper side of the window.
If you want to look to a minimize window that you think it would be not useful anymore, you need to un-minimize this window. If the buttons are in the lower right of the window it will be needed much less movement of your hand to close it after un-minimize because the close button will be closer to the task bar.

[...]

As you see there are some reason to have buttons in the lower side of the window BUT I know there are others to have this buttons on others positions.

So, why not to put this buttons in a completely new position.
This could be a ubuntu-only-feature just like the recycle bin in the task bar is a ubuntu-only-feature.

See the 118 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 Mar 12 at 20:59) >>

Resume from suspend/hibernate without password

Written by DawnLight the 21 Apr 09 at 13:57. Related project: Gnome. New

Dear friends,

I think that it would be comfortable for users to be able to set an option that disables the need for entering the users' password when resuming from hibernation.

My desktop computer is in my room, where only people whom I trust enter. So in my case, and in other user's cases, I imagine, either no one has physical access to the computer while it's suspended/hibernated or only trusted people have. So having this option will be nice.

Many blessings.

69
votes

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votes

Solution #2: Check box in confirmation dialog

Written by DawnLight the 21 Apr 09 at 13:59.

When the suspend/hibernate is pressed, display a dialog confirming the action and put a "Ask for password when resuming" check box in it.

In the first time it will be seen, the check box will be checked. After that the default will be whatever the user selected last time. When suspend/hibernate is triggered by a process and not a user it will ask for password when resuming.

-5
votes

3
votes

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 14 Mar 12 at 22:51) >>

Make panel work better with multiple monitors

Written by bryhoyt the 21 Apr 09 at 20:33. Related project: Gnome. New

Currently, the panels appear at the top of whichever monitor is the primary monitor. That's ok, but it's a pain when you're using a program on your second monitor and you search around for the panel and it's not there! Only to realize that it's on the other screen.

62
votes

45
votes

Solution #2: Allow panel to be moved permanently to other monitor

Written by bryhoyt the 21 Apr 09 at 20:38.

You can currently create a new panel and drag it to the second monitor. But if you use a laptop that's not permanently connected to another monitor, as soon as you disable the second monitor, the panel returns to your primary monitor and doesn't go back to the second one when you re-enable it.

If you could mark a panel as "Permanently associated with this monitor", that would help matters significantly.

32
votes

10
votes

Solution #4: Have the panels span monitors

Written by andruk the 24 Apr 09 at 04:50.

Having two panels on each monitor means that the right edge of the panel on the left screen and the left edge of the panel on the right screen will be "touching", meaning that "Fitt" size of the touching buttons is much smaller (from infinite size to their normal size - look up Fitt's law). This completely defeats the point of putting any panel buttons in the corners, so just have an *option* to have the panels span the monitors. Look up Fitt's law and how it applies to screen corners for more information and rationale.

This can still work at different resolutions. Simply make the spanned panel/s have the same heighth/width (depending on orientation) on each screen.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 13 Mar 12 at 13:49) >>

New users tell that Ubuntu is slow (live sessions)

Written by zwyber the 8 Mar 09 at 19:55. Related project: Live CD. Won't implement

I tell my friends and family about Ubuntu and most of them come back telling me that Ubuntu makes their PC run very slow. They didn't know that you had to install Ubuntu to get the true speed.

I think that many people may encounter this problem, because when you run a live session it really just looks like it is installed. Because of the speed these users don't want to use Ubuntu and tell everyone they know that it is very slow.

1318
votes

Solution #1: Show (extra) notification.

Written by zwyber the 8 Mar 09 at 19:55.

Very plain and simple, show a (extra) notification, telling the user that they are running in a live session and that Ubuntu runs very slow now.

Why extra? If Ubuntu developers are going to create a welcome screen where they put this information some people are not going to read this. Just a small dialogue after the welcome screen has been closed would be nice.

OR

Put the message in the default wallpaper, easier but not really the best solution.

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votes

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254
votes

446
votes

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votes

259
votes

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votes

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votes

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votes

173
votes

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votes

47
votes

Solution #13: Use UnionFS to our advantage

Written by deriamis the 4 Apr 09 at 18:40.

Since the majority of load times is in late-linking the libraries, why not have the often-used libraries in a ramdisk and use UnionFS to overlay those files on a path? In combination with pre-caching (#4), this could be a significant speed boost. If we combine it with using a LiveUSB distro (#11), we could be on par with the performance of the computer itself.

43
votes

39
votes

29
votes

Solution #16: Instead of notification write it in the background.

Written by ll the 6 Apr 09 at 03:52.

A modified background that includes a warning can be used instead of a notification. Many computers at universities that are meant for multiple users use the background to communicate a special procedure especially in libraries for catalogue searches. This will decrease confusion and not use as many resources as a notification (I assume).

14
votes

5
votes

Solution #18: Calc & disp speed-up performance on log-out based on sys's characteristics

Written by lackscr8ivity the 7 Apr 09 at 14:25.

When running the live session I would guess the memory, processor, hard disk read/write speed (maybe not this one), etc. system hardware & performance are evaluated.
As well, when running a program (game, OpenOffice, etc.) the CD read/write & load time could stored. Thus, when the user ends the live session, in the log-out window list some statistics: "These are the 5 programs you used the most:
From the live CD it took X-amount of real-time to load, but based on your system's hardware, if this were installed, we would expect it would X% faster."

58
votes

Solution #19: disabeling unnecessary services for the live-cd

Written by moose the 14 Apr 09 at 08:08.

So the live-cd shouldn't start services which are not neccessary for testing ubuntu (as some people use the live-cd as a secure system, services like cups are neccessary):

# anachron, atd, cron: I never used a live-cd longer than six hours - why should I create a cronjob?
# acpid, acpi-support, apmd, powernowd, powernowd.early: If I use the live-cd, I want to test if my hardware works and if the software fits my expections, not if the sleep option works.

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55
votes

5
votes

Solution #24: Use the new notification system

Written by aroach31291 the 22 Oct 09 at 17:19.

Firstly, I think that many of the solutions above are solving the wrong problem. People that try out Ubuntu may think that it is installed by just inserting the CD. The user may have no idea that they are using a LiveCD. After they discover that Ubuntu is "slow", they give up and reboot back into Windows. Notifying the user that they haven't installed Ubuntu yet would be the best way to solve this problem.

Utilize the new notification system. Have it simply display a message when the desktop has finished loading similar to:

Ubuntu is not installed yet! Feel free to use Ubuntu before installing it, but beware that it may be a little slow. If you like what you see click the install icon on your desktop!

2
votes

Solution #25: Show notification when system is waiting for CD drive

Written by mikko.rantalainen the 7 Oct 10 at 06:45.

Live session from USB/flash memory should be pretty okay even today but the real problem is accessing files from optical drive. Even there, the problem is latency, usually not the bandwidth.

The live session should run a small background service that displays a notification message when system is waiting for CD drive to access required data. The message could be along the line "Reading data from CD (installing on the hard drive would improve performance)" [however, the label should not claim to be reading CD if one is booting from e.g. usb memory stick]. The notification should be displayed if read command has waited in disk scheduler queue for more than a second.

This could be extended to deal with installed system, too. It would make sense to point out bottlenecks in the system to the user. If the system feels slow and a notification pops up that says "Waiting for disks (installing a fast SSD drive would improve performance)" would give a reasonable hint to the user which hardware upgrade would help the most. This could be even further extended and a similar notification should pop up if all CPU cores have been taken for more than 5 seconds ("Waiting for processor (upgrading the processor would improve performance)").

See the 19 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Feb 12 at 03:08) >>

Error Dialog Box If a Program Fails to Run

Written by kreggz the 2 Apr 09 at 09:26. Global category: Usability. New

An end user runs a GTK, SDL or QT application using an icon from their Gnome or KDE and it doesn't load. The user has no idea if the program is still loading or has failed.

154
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24
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7
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Solution #5: Error Detection

Written by sighK the 14 Apr 09 at 19:00.

because the launcher uses something like system();

who not look at $? after the command is finished, if not = 0 then display a dialog saying there has been an error. Mabey capture /dev/stderr and display the result in a text area, incase there are many errors.

you can probley do this using zenity to display the errors.

Make the original execution script do

session=$RAND
$command 2>/tmp/$session
if [ $? != 0 ]; then
zenity --text-info "$(cat /tmp$session)"
rm /tmp/$session
fi

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3
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2
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votes

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Solution #10: Automatically run terminal programs in terminal

Written by Lachu the 23 Aug 09 at 19:07.

It's possible(I know you don't believe my, but it's true). You only need to link some console application with my library, so Canonical can do it before release new Ubuntu version.

Look at my comment: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/17619/ (second comment in topic)

Look at my library: http://slawek.lach.art.pl/cui2gui-lib.tar.gz

http://sourceforge.net/projects/cli2gui/

Seriously Canonical can create similar library. My library has released today and it's not stable yet(alpha version), so DON'T USE IT or USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 8 Feb 12 at 10:01) >>

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