Contributor pescez

Have a basic install of Ubuntu where it has no extra software like firefox, totem media player etc, just ubuntu and the Gnome GUI

Recently I had to setup a new user account on my computer, when ever I logged into that new account it came up with a blank gray screen, the reason for this is at some time in the past my video driver became corrupted and desktop effects were turned on by default for the new user account, even though my existing account didn't use them (they make this computer run too slow). So I think by default desktop effects should be turned off, even if the system can support them, and not turned on until the user does so.

Synaptics is great, however
- it would need a much improved graphics
- it would need to be more responsive, especially at start
- it should be a bit more user-friendly

A lot of us use WINE to run the Windows version of firefox. I use Firefox on ubuntu, but I like my Add-ons and themes for it. When I use Windows, I can install all I want. In ubuntu when I use firefox, It says, "This add-on is not availible in Linux" or something in that manner. We should fix that, I'm sure everyone hates being confused in which browser to use, either Firefox or Firefox.

So the user could type

$untar filename.tar.gz
or
$untar filename.tar

And the archive would be extracted, similar to the unzip command, so tne beginner user doesn't have to look up for 'tar -zxvf' every time.

It would be a huge step for linux if the use of MS office in wine would be easier. There are tricks now that can be used to make it work, but the average PC user will not be able to pull it off. If it is possible with commercial emulation software, why shouldn't it be made easier with Wine.

You can wine that we must all use Open Office. However, my very own brother refuses to use ubuntu solely because he can't use msoffice.

I have a idea to make command line work easier/faster.
I suggest you implement something like the command line on e.g a cisco router.
Now you have to type the complete command every time. It would be easier if you could use only a part of the command.
To make it more clear:
typing apt-g is enough for ubuntu to understand you mean apt-get
apt- however is not good (it could mean more than 1 thing)

I know there is tab-completion but it's just such a useful feature!

On startup Ubuntu will sometimes say the disk "has been mounted x times without being checked, check forced". Then it will make me wait to use the computer. Why not do this at shutdown instead of startup? When the user starts up the computer, they're sending a message to Ubuntu saying "I want to use my computer now." Not later. When they shut down, they're telling Ubuntu "I don't want to use my computer now." Do it then.

I started my computer life on single user systems where I was essentially always root. AppleDOS, DOS, Windows 3.x, OS/2 all allowed me to control my system without sudo or su.

I understand the risks, I understand why some users should not be root. I understand I cannot use ubuntu without this feature.

On my openSuSE System the Emerald Settings Manager changes the Theme instantly, but on Ubuntu it requires an restart of X to apply the Theme.