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The Ubuntu community has contributed 12252 ideas, 57766 comments, 1176667 votes

Idea #100: Selectable Gnome panel layout "ideaology" on install



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Written by jasonwjones the 28 Feb 08 at 17:34. Category: Installation.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Description
Every time I install and reinstall Ubuntu on a system (which is somewhat frequently), the first thing I always do when booting up is change the panels. Basically I make it a bit more like Windows (my personal preference). I know, I know, groan all you want. But here's what I do, and here's what I suspect many others do:

* Delete the entire top panel.

* Delete the Applications/Places/System widget and put in the simple Ubuntu "start" widget (saves a TON of screen real estate)

* Put the clock in the lower right of the screen (showing time with AM/PM only, no date)

* Put the volume control slider to the left of the clock

* Move the 'active windows' applet to the bottom as well.

* Move some of the other applets (system tray, etc) to the bottom.

Basically I just want to end up with one panel on the bottom, with my "start" menu, my window list, then my tray icons/volume/clock. Tada!

I know it's kind of a "one-off" and not terribly hard to do after installing, but I think it'd be pretty sweet to just have an option, or an advanced option, on installation, that would basically be like a radio button or something and would say

"Choose your desktop style:"

( ) Gnome classic
This style will have two panels, a gigantic start menu, with places, and a system menu, plus it will show the date on your clock. Also, when you run programs and maximize them, now you have a panel at the top, a menu on your windows, and another panel at the bottom.

( ) Redmond-inspired
Something a little simpler for the Windows refugees.
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Comments
k.y wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 20:05
Actually by putting your /home on a own partition you are able to reinstall your system without loosing your custom settings and files.
Just make sure to select the right partition as your /home when installing and do not formate it. When asked to create a user just enter the same information as the previous user had, same username same password and so on, although I'm not sure if you not only need the same username. Anyway thats how I keep my settings and mails and so onsince about five years using 3 different distros always using kde though.

Hawke wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 22:33
yes, you only need the same user name.

rawsausage wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 13:17
Actually when Apple decided to put their menus on top of the screen it was scientifically studied. The result was that it is more usable to have everything on top. People shouldn't attempt to re-create the Microsoft's monstrosities on Ubuntu.

Folk_Theory wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 22:23
if you want windows then use windows

dan.fernandez wrote on the 4 Mar 08 at 14:40
Where are your manners, Folk_Theory?

Anyway, yes, it may be a good idea.
KDE asks you the first time you login if you want lo load a predefined config more similar to windows, another more similar to mac or the default kde profile. Can't be so hard to make the same on Ubuntu.

bill.kapter wrote on the 5 Mar 08 at 04:08
rawsausage,

"Actually when Apple decided to put their menus on top of the screen it was scientifically studied"

That's right. Problem is: Ubuntu is not completely implementing this concept either. Apple's top menu have a lot more funcionality, for instance, as each application gain focus, they merge its own menu options on the top bar.

So in the end, GNOME just went sort of a middle-ground, where we don't have the brilliant consistency of the MacOS GUI, even though the interface is inspired on it.

GNOME just ended up wasting a lot of screen space, and for that I can understand when people want to get rid of the extra panel.

rs3york wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 20:14
I'm not sure what the value is here.

If users want to change things manually they have the ability. Otherwise, Ubuntu should stand by whatever defaults it has. I don't think it is wise to promote Ubuntu features directed towards "its like Windows but free" since for most users Windows is "free" since it came with their computer.

As for KDE asking which desktop style you'd like, I'd like to know which distros ships with that option enabled since the big 3 KDE distros (openSUSE, Mandriva & Kubuntu) do not give you that choice.

lsdark wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 10:59
it's your life

schmappel wrote on the 28 May 08 at 15:37
It's not a bad idea. Shows a sense of consideration towards your users and possibly makes them feel "right at home". Where's the harm in that? The default could (and should) still be the current Ubuntu lay-out.

sonicskywalker wrote on the 29 Jun 08 at 23:26
Why do we need to stand by the old default? Why not have several screen layouts, including a mobile desktop buddy with all your options available when you click on him? Make it more flexible and it will appeal to more people.

+1


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