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Idea #19585: At first boot ask if the user wish to install proprietary software

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #17386: Create an after installation wizard for optional extras and settings.
Written by Klau3 the 2 May 09 at 12:23. Category: Installation. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
Average new users don't understand why the system can't handle from the beginning normal stuff like videos and audio data. My idea is to bundle problematical configuration and give them an easy step to go through there problem. I know some of you will dislike the idea, but sometimes you have to compromise and give simpleness and usability primacy.

660
votes
closed
Solution #1: Dialog box should ask if you want to install proprietary software
Written by Klau3 the 2 May 09 at 12:23.
First time Ubuntu boots a Dialog box should show up and ask the user if he would like to install proprietary software. If the decision was yes, these points should aper:

Install:
[ ] Microsoft fonts (Times New Roman...)
[ ] Video Codecs
[ ] Audio Codecs (including LAME)
[ ] Flash Player
[ ] Video Card driver

Average new users don't understand how to get these things working. My suggestion could prevent frustration and save time.

Maybe the pop up box could contain more informations like - “New to Ubuntu learn more etc.”....
-29
votes
closed
Solution #4: Out-of-box typical proprietary stuff, with easy removal options
Written by cyberix the 18 May 09 at 16:27.
I realize there is a problem with proprietary stuff, but the current direction seems scary too. Are we really going to offer the user a menu titled "The cool proprietary things that free software cannot provide you". This way we teach him to love those components over most of the system.

Maybe we should just automatically install the binary crap and make a menu titled "Evil stuff required to enable things" with easy removal options. And then warn the user that his system might break, if he removed the proprietary stuff as the monopolists wouldn't want him to do that.

Propose your solution

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Comments
Klau3 wrote on the 2 May 09 at 15:55
@cheesehead

One a lot of Internet sides the "you need to install flash player" don't appears (they links directly to the adobe download page) and installing three times different video codecs isn't that nice too. Maybe there is an more elegant way to handle this problem than I suggested, but I still think we need some changes of the current method.

Akerbos wrote on the 2 May 09 at 19:53
I do not understand why everybody seems to want to take the responsibility to use google from users.

Darwin Survivor wrote on the 3 May 09 at 04:49
@Akerbos

Because a user should not need to use google in order to get basic functionality out of their computers. It is attitudes like yours that continue to drive new linux users away.

Klau3 wrote on the 16 May 09 at 22:38
@msclrhd: I like your proposed solution.

@Darwin Survivor: Full ack!

michalr wrote on the 21 May 09 at 11:07
I like solutions #1 and #3. IMHO some kind of post install (ability to modify it at any time would be also great though) is the right place for this maintenance. Right after installation user is expecting that some setup needs to be done and is not annoyed by it.
On the other hand it is annoying when several applications are asking user at random times(for user) to choose, download and install some stuff, restart application or maybe even computer. When I am setting up ubuntu for an inexperienced user or one without sudo rights, it typically makes him unable to continue and perform desired action.

OpenNingia wrote on the 21 May 09 at 12:05
I like the autodetect option!

Codecs and plugins are easy to autodetect, most browser already detect missing plugins.

Klau3 wrote on the 21 Jun 09 at 11:27
Last days I read again a post from a Ubuntu beginner and I still think that we have to make some changes.
He didn't now how to get mp3, flash... working.
Its clear that a beginner don't know how to use Terminal and it should also be clear that they don't know that they can tip: "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras". Next thing is, that Amarok will still not play mp3 after that, so again you have to install mp3-codecs: "sudo apt-get install libxine1-plugins".

Why is there not an EASY WAY to install ubuntu-restricted-extras?

Ubuntu is nice, but there are some more steps to be done, to get it more "new user" friendly.


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