Written by alms66 the 6 Dec 11 at 08:45.

Just slap a video right on the desktop so that when a user tries or installs Ubuntu for the first time they can get an overview of how to use the OS from a single location, in a video with visual and audio instructions. The things that should be covered in the "Introduction" video:

1. The Launcher
2. The Dash
3. The Panel (including indicators and window controls)

If possible, add additional videos for more specialized subjects:

1. Wine (for those converting from Windows)
2. Security
3. Getting Help
4. Hardware Support (everything from computer components to printers, ipods, etc. so they know where to spend their money to support companies that support Linux)

Yes, it might be a very minor annoyance to us already familiar with Ubuntu to have to delete these videos on every fresh install we might choose to do - but it takes all of a few seconds and it's a sacrifice we should make to help total noobs to the OS.

Just slap a video right on the desktop so that when a user tries or installs Ubuntu for the first time they can get an overview of how to use the OS from a single location, in a video with visual and audio instructions. The things that should be covered in the "Introduction" video: 1. The Launcher 2. The Dash 3. The Panel (including indicators and window controls) If possible, add additional videos for more specialized subjects: 1. Wine (for those converting from Windows) 2. Security 3. Getting Help 4. Hardware Support (everything from computer components to printers, ipods, etc. so they know where to spend their money to support companies that support Linux) Yes, it might be a very minor annoyance to us already familiar with Ubuntu to have to delete these videos on every fresh install we might choose to do - but it takes all of a few seconds and it's a sacrifice we should make to help total noobs to the OS.

Written by PaddyLandau the 7 Dec 11 at 13:48.

On initial log-in for any user, present a page (perhaps via Firefox or maybe something like Windows's Welcome Centre) telling the user how to get help.

As main suggestions:

1. Open Dash (explain how) and type "help".
2. Search ubuntuforums.org.
3. Ask for help on the Absolute Beginners Talk forum on ubuntuforums.org.

And, as extra suggestions:

* Give three or four links to frequently-visited pages on Ubuntu's help site.
* Give a couple of specific links to tutorials on YouTube.
* For the business user, give a link to Canonical's paid support.

On initial log-in for any user, present a page (perhaps via Firefox or maybe something like Windows's Welcome Centre) telling the user how to get help. As main suggestions: 1. Open Dash (explain how) and type "help". 2. Search ubuntuforums.org. 3. Ask for help on the Absolute Beginners Talk forum on ubuntuforums.org. And, as extra suggestions: * Give three or four links to frequently-visited pages on Ubuntu's help site. * Give a couple of specific links to tutorials on YouTube. * For the business user, give a link to Canonical's paid support.

Written by tumaru the 13 Dec 11 at 01:52.

how about instead of a video that will be hard to remember, have a optional edition that walks the user through every major activity that most people do but that people often get confused about and end up asking the same x amount of questions and still being confused afterwards.

how about instead of a video that will be hard to remember, have a optional edition that walks the user through every major activity that most people do but that people often get confused about and end up asking the same x amount of questions and still being confused afterwards.

Written by Blutkoete the 30 Sep 10 at 11:36.

Each time "man" loads a manual page, it writes a "Press q to quit" message in the first line.

Each time "man" loads a manual page, it writes a "Press q to quit" message in the first line.

Written by alwuzomondo the 30 Sep 10 at 13:23.

I think this is problem that many many newbees run into. But you need to learn the 'q' command only once, after that most wont even remember that there was a time where they didn't know how to quit. Also by only showing a "Press q to quit" message user wont discover all the other possibilities easily. Therefore my proposal is to put a "press 'h' for help". I think the best place for the is at the bottom since this a kind of man status line.

Example:

lines 1-24 (press 'h' for help)

I think this is problem that many many newbees run into. But you need to learn the 'q' command only once, after that most wont even remember that there was a time where they didn't know how to quit. Also by only showing a "Press q to quit" message user wont discover all the other possibilities easily. Therefore my proposal is to put a "press 'h' for help". I think the best place for the is at the bottom since this a kind of man status line. Example: lines 1-24 (press 'h' for help)

Written by turbolad the 17 Oct 10 at 19:22.

Programs like man, top and any others that requires pressing the <q> key once to quit, needs to be visible to users.

This will help the increasing number of newbies learning Linux. Have the message visible at all times: "Press <q> to quit".

Other important messages can be visible too.

That easy. :)

Programs like man, top and any others that requires pressing the &lt;q&gt; key once to quit, needs to be visible to users. This will help the increasing number of newbies learning Linux. Have the message visible at all times: "Press &lt;q&gt; to quit". Other important messages can be visible too. That easy. :)

Written by NYKevin the 18 Oct 10 at 02:00.

The man page for less does describe how to press q to quit, and less is the pager used by man. Furthermore, pressing ? when viewing a page pops up the help page.

The man page for less does describe how to press q to quit, and less is the pager used by man. Furthermore, pressing ? when viewing a page pops up the help page.

Written by modred11 the 26 Oct 10 at 02:22.

I currently don't remember that Q is the key to quit, I naturally assume that Esc is the key to "Escape" a program, and I always try that first. I suggest having Esc and possibly Ctrl+W since that's quit in some applications as well. It doesn't seem as if escape is doing anything right now.

I currently don't remember that Q is the key to quit, I naturally assume that Esc is the key to "Escape" a program, and I always try that first. I suggest having Esc and possibly Ctrl+W since that's quit in some applications as well. It doesn't seem as if escape is doing anything right now.

Written by lvxferre the 27 Oct 10 at 20:14.

Exactly like solution #3, but with "press h for help" as in solution #2.

So, the help is always visible, and it's more informative than "press q to quit".

Exactly like solution #3, but with "press h for help" as in solution #2. So, the help is always visible, and it's more informative than "press q to quit".

Written by turbolad the 22 Nov 10 at 14:28.

On the Ubuntu website, it should explain the basic security to desktop users and the existing security measures in Ubuntu e.g. root account is locked by default.

How many times have users asked if Ubuntu needs anti-virus software and a firewall?

With ufw installed, can we find out what the Log File Viewer is showing us about "UFW BLOCK" etc. Does it mean people can break into the computer when it's online directly through a modem without a built-in firewall?

On the Ubuntu website, it should explain the basic security to desktop users and the existing security measures in Ubuntu e.g. root account is locked by default. How many times have users asked if Ubuntu needs anti-virus software and a firewall? With ufw installed, can we find out what the Log File Viewer is showing us about "UFW BLOCK" etc. Does it mean people can break into the computer when it's online directly through a modem without a built-in firewall?

Written by czr114 the 24 Nov 10 at 22:45.

Security is vital, and as Ubuntu gains a greater install base, we can't keep relying on Windows as the sacrificial petri dish while GNU/Linux desktops remain too obscure to trouble most computer criminals.

A information campaign in the installer and a first run OOBE welcome screen will help direct new or novice users to the Ubuntu website, where frequently asked questions can be addressed, and practical solutions offered.

Many new users will be too excited to install, gravitate to the download button, and miss the website offering. We can correct that awareness deficit by calling attention to security while they're watching an installation, and prompt them on first run.

Security is vital, and as Ubuntu gains a greater install base, we can't keep relying on Windows as the sacrificial petri dish while GNU/Linux desktops remain too obscure to trouble most computer criminals. A information campaign in the installer and a first run OOBE welcome screen will help direct new or novice users to the Ubuntu website, where frequently asked questions can be addressed, and practical solutions offered. Many new users will be too excited to install, gravitate to the download button, and miss the website offering. We can correct that awareness deficit by calling attention to security while they're watching an installation, and prompt them on first run.

Written by talvik the 14 Feb 11 at 18:53.

Promote, be proud of being Linux.

Promote, be proud of being Linux.

Written by evanplaice the 25 Feb 11 at 20:23.

People who care know that MacOSX is built on Unix the same as people who care know that Ubuntu is built on Linux.

And please... don't attach GNU to the brand. I'd like to think that we've moved on from attaching names that sound like you're expectorating to everything Open Source. Linux has taken the negative PR from one too many religious crusades for this century already.

If you want to attach Linux to Ubuntu, have a talented graphic designer do a cute mockup of the current mascot (Natty Narwhal) and Tux playing a game together with the ubuntu ring thingy. That will spread much faster than spamming 'look at us, we're linux' on the front page.

Forgot how cute the Ubuntu mascots are? Take a look at this http://www.webupd8.org/2010/04/look-at-all-ubuntu-mascots-code-names.html.

And, the current mascot has the potential to be one of the goofiest and cutest of all. There's already a very popular (and annoying) animation about narwhals. Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykwqXuMPsoc.

People who care know that MacOSX is built on Unix the same as people who care know that Ubuntu is built on Linux. And please... don't attach GNU to the brand. I'd like to think that we've moved on from attaching names that sound like you're expectorating to everything Open Source. Linux has taken the negative PR from one too many religious crusades for this century already. If you want to attach Linux to Ubuntu, have a talented graphic designer do a cute mockup of the current mascot (Natty Narwhal) and Tux playing a game together with the ubuntu ring thingy. That will spread much faster than spamming 'look at us, we're linux' on the front page. Forgot how cute the Ubuntu mascots are? Take a look at this http://www.webupd8.org/2010/04/look-at-all-ubuntu-mascots-code-names.html. And, the current mascot has the potential to be one of the goofiest and cutest of all. There's already a very popular (and annoying) animation about narwhals. Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykwqXuMPsoc. Sidenote: Seriously, I can't believe nobody created a cartoon mascot for Jaunty Jackalope. Talk about missed opportunities.

Written by joerlend the 15 May 11 at 14:27.

Today, I was told by a new user of Ubuntu that "Alt+tab works better in Windows than in Linux". (Actually, the default alt+tab plugin does lag a little bit in Unity).

Help reduce this kind of confusion by _not_ using the Linux brand in Ubuntu branding, instead using it only when Linux itself is relevant; for instance, Jockey could display a message like "Ubuntu uses Linux drivers" and a partitioning tool could say something like "These filesystems are provided by Linux".

Making people think Ubuntu is the same as Linux, does not help the brands of either Ubuntu or Linux.

Today, I was told by a new user of Ubuntu that "Alt+tab works better in Windows than in Linux". (Actually, the default alt+tab plugin does lag a little bit in Unity). Help reduce this kind of confusion by _not_ using the Linux brand in Ubuntu branding, instead using it only when Linux itself is relevant; for instance, Jockey could display a message like "Ubuntu uses Linux drivers" and a partitioning tool could say something like "These filesystems are provided by Linux". Making people think Ubuntu is the same as Linux, does not help the brands of either Ubuntu or Linux.