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Contributor Can on the System category

Clean up Preferences and Administration.  
Ubuntu

In :  
Priority : Undefined
Definition : New (Needs guidance)
Implementation : Unknown
Assignee :
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Written by writser the 28 Feb 08 at 16:49. Global category: System. Implemented
First of all: What is the difference between Preferences and Administration? For example: why do I see 'Encryption and Keyrings' in Preferences and 'Keyring Manager' in Administration? What is the difference between 'Default Printer' and 'Printing'? Why do I have to disable the Tracker under Sessions and not under Search and Indexing? And why are these menu's so large? I have 24 items in Preferences (they don't even fit on my screen!) and 18 items in Administration. To put all this stuff in a popup menu is bad interface design imho. Besides, the number of option should be much smaller. A few suggestions:

Below are all settings I can visit via the System menu. This is just way too much.


-- Preferences --
Universal Access
About Me
Appearance
Bluetooth
Default Printer
Encryption and Keyrings
Keyboard
Keyboard Shortcuts
Main Menu
Mouse
Network Proxy
PalmOS Devices (I don't have one)
Power Management
Preferred Applications
Remote Desktop
Removable Drives and Media
SCIM Input Method Setup (What is this?)
Screen Resolution
Screensaver

[....]

Developer comments
* 'Screens and Graphics' has been dropped in favor of just 'Screen Resolution'
6065
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Merge the following
Written by writser the 28 Feb 08 at 16:49.
The following changes could be done

- Merge 'Screensaver', 'Screen Resolution' and 'Screens and Graphics'. -- Already Done.
- Merge 'Network', 'Network Proxy' and 'Network Tools'.
- Merge 'Update Manager, Synaptic Package Manager, Software Sources'.
- Merge 'Encryption and Keyrings', 'Authorizations', 'Keyring Manager'.
120
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Fedora 10 inspired solution
Written by yule the 18 Jan 09 at 17:28.
I believe the "Preferences" and "Administration" sub-menus of the "System" menu should be re-structured similarily to "Fedora 10", splitting the items into categories of interest: Look and Feel, Input Devices etc.

Also, but this is probably a generic Gnome defect, items like "Screensaver", "Appearance", "Screen Resolution" should be merged together.
-153
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Most important things in Preferences/Administration and everything in control p.
Written by jeypeyy the 18 Jan 09 at 21:05.
Put the most important things that a user will need in Preferences and Administration. If the user want to change less important stuff he/she could go to System->'control panel' where the user can change everything that is configurable.

What I mean with important is something like "screen resolution" while "Sun java 6 policy tool" is less important.
75
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): Add a shortcut to the gnome-control-center in the system menu
Written by c0p3rn1c the 6 Feb 09 at 15:33.
I'm not asking to remove the existing shortcuts in the system menu just to add a shortcut to the gnome-control-center, this makes it much easier for beginners to find what they are looking for. Especially when users are coming from Windows or Mac they are used to a having a control center.

On top of increased similarity to the most popular commercial OS's gnome-controle-center also adds extra functionality with the search box for people who are not used to Ubuntu yet and or are not yet using gnome-do.

Please try the gnome-control-center menu before you vote against it.
It's really a matter of choosing increasing usability over the possible redundancy issue.
191
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#5): All in one Gnome Control Center
Written by dael99 the 14 Feb 09 at 00:56.
All the administration task should be done in the Gnome control center, but nowdays it's just a launcher for gnome-conf apps.

The Gnome Control Centre should be a homegenius way of do things, use the same windows for operations and provide a back button, just like a file explorer (more intuitive no?)

Instead of launching a new windows it show be showed (not nested) to the main area of the Centre. This way we could compete with MS, KDE and MAC in terms of a nice control center.


(also we save some space on the gnome pannel)

85
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#6): Restructure the menu similarly to the Control Center
Written by JimmyVolatile the 10 Feb 09 at 22:48.
Make a nice submenu structure following exactly the category structure of the Gnome Control Center.

Like this: http://www.box.net/shared/9xuzp9tym7
-110
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#7): More System submenus
Written by cousteau the 12 Feb 09 at 20:14.
Instead of just "Preferences" and "Administration", add more submenus (for example: "Preferences", "Hardware", "Look and feel", "Administration"). Like Solution #1 but using submenus instead of sub-submenus.
109
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#8): Simply use the Gnome Control Center instead...
Written by JimmyVolatile the 10 Feb 09 at 22:53.
It's by far the most newbie-friendly compared to the existing menu.

You can even type in search words to find what you're after, for instance "mouse" or "resolution".

Furthermore, it can easily be expanded with new items without risking an even more crowded menu.
18
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#9): Restructure the System menu similarly to the Control Center
Written by Endolith the 9 Mar 09 at 14:35.
Like solution #6, except without sub-sub-menus. Just put "Personal", "Look and feel", etc. directly under the System menu.

"Use submenus sparingly, as they are physically difficult to navigate and make it harder to find and reach the items they contain." "Do not nest submenus within submenus. More than two levels of hierarchy are difficult to memorize and navigate."

http://library.gnome.org/devel/hig-book/stable/menus-types.html.en#menu-type-su bmenu
61
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#10): Grouping of the listings.
Written by wish the 5 Mar 09 at 19:25.
1. For example, the Network configurations, Network Proxy and Remote Desktop can be grouped under a single listing Network.
2. Similarly, Compiz Settings Manager, Appearance, Emerald, Screen Saver, Screen Resolution, Windows etc can be grouped under GUI or some other better name.
3. Bluetooth, Printer, Mouse, Palm, etc can be grouped under devices.

Preferences and Administration should also get the option to be open in separate windows where they will not be cluttered.
67
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#11): Subdivide System -> Preferences menu in categories
Written by amrlima the 2 Mar 09 at 20:30.
Fedora has a very elegant solution for this. They divide the menu in categories such as "Look and Feel" etc.

It really keeps the menu clean and it's easier to find what you are looking for.
105
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#12): Create a visible acces to Gnome Control Center (gnome-control-center)
Written by razor7 the 3 Mar 09 at 15:04.
Use the Gnome Control Center. The problem is that most users (like me) not even know that this cool Control Center even exists...Make it more visible and improve it
68
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#13): Merge many similar configs into a few good ones
Written by Xero Xenith the 3 Mar 09 at 16:08.
10
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#14): Unified menu for all settings
Written by probono the 4 Mar 09 at 22:09.
The separation between system-wide and per-user settings is not necessary. Neither Windows nor Mac OS X have this kind of separation, as it confuses the user more than it helps. I've observed many people to constantly search for a setting in the wrong menu, because nobody remembers in which menu a certain setting is. Hence, I propose to unify all settings in just one menu, as demonstrated in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF2-JHF6v10

Also, the number of menu items should be brought down by combining multiple of these that fall under the same topic, as it is done in Mac OS X. For example, "Keyboard" and "Keyboard Shortcuts" could be tabs of the same panel. The same is true for "Software Sources" and "Synaptic Pagage Manger", to name just two examples.
-47
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#15): Split System (Admin and Preferences) up into sub-menus
Written by James_Lochhead the 1 Apr 09 at 21:00.
Group similar entries into sub-menus. On average it would be easier to find things, the menus would look less cluttered and the menus would display well on lower resolutions.

I recently had a go at Fedora 10 (went back to Ubuntu within 10 minutes!) and the menus were implemented this way on Fedora.
-64
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#16): Make the Menus Self learning
Written by hariks0 the 7 Apr 09 at 18:37.
If the menu preference could be set in a way that only the recent or frequent items are shown and the others only after a preset delay. Also the "Edit Main Menu" could be used to eliminate the unwanted items from popping up [by the user].

There should be a screen during installation letting the user select which applets they want to install with some tool tip for each of the items.Another requirement is an option to replace the default "menu Bar" with "Main Menu Icon" in initial setup from live CD ,which makes the desktop cleaner.

My third suggestion is to open the two menu items of"System" tabbed in to a window named "Preferences" the other "Administration". The applets/ items could be represented by icons and in alphabetical order.
990
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#17): Develop according to the examples below
Written by nq6 the 24 May 09 at 21:35.
Below I developed some screens to explain better my idea.

Reduce the number of options available to facilitate the choice by the user. Decrease from 39 to 16 items.
idea nq6

Scheme simplification.
01

idea of how many icons can become one. view of the behavior of windows with the merger of these icons.
02

overview of the idea. In this picture you can see the whole blueprint at once.
03a

Simplify the menu to facilitate usability. Below the simulation of how the menu of Ubuntu can be. Much simpler, less polluted Visually, and easier to find what you want.
04

The Ubuntu is an excellent system, more needs to move forward in some areas. One is the simplification of the options that the user faces. The current options make Ubuntu confused. I think that my idea is to improve usability.

idea nq6 2
-224
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#18): Alternative sub menus
Written by bryonak the 25 May 09 at 16:43.
Do as solution #17 proposes, except for the sub menus that pop up in a new window, which I find looks a bit awkward.

Instead of a popup, make the sub menus "slide out" below the clicked entry in the same window. The other entries just move further down.


5
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#19): Add a new tab for Screen resolution to Appearance Preferences
Written by Frantique the 23 Jun 09 at 06:47.
As mentioned in the title, add a new tab, let's say after Visual Effects... Handy and easy to find the way of changing resolution of your screen.
8
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#20): Add Tab and change the context item to Display Settings
Written by returnofnights the 23 Jun 09 at 08:55.
The tab should be there, new to Linux users expect to find screen controls in with the theme, effects and display properties. Changing the Context Menu item name to reflect the features: (Instead of 'Change Background' make it 'Display Settings') This is simple and to the point for new and old Gnome users.
-31
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#21): Implement or modify mintMenu
Written by je1403 the 14 Jul 09 at 23:41.
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distribution. It is especially beginner-friendly. One of its best features is the mintMenu. This replaces the gnome-menu, but is categorized in the same way. It's pretty difficult to explain it by text, but check out this image: http://www.jessture.com/images/linux_mint/lm3-1_mint_menu.png
The menu is divided in several sections. The "Applications" section is categorized with the average "Office", "Internet", etc. Instead of having the pop-up menus, the menu has a fixed width and height, using scrollbars when the listed items dont fit. Mouseovering the categories shows their contents. The best part is the search bar. If you type "screen" it will filter the results and show you screen resolution, screensaver, login screen, for example. Watch this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePEbfsV2yQw
0
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#22): Redistribute into better categories
Written by Aielyn the 26 Oct 10 at 13:15.
Instead of the current split into Preferences and Administration, have the System menu split into parts of the system. And then, on each submenu, the list would be split so that Preferences go on the top of the submenu, and Administration goes on the bottom, with a divider between them, thereby making it easier to distinguish between them, while being able to see both.

EXAMPLE LAYOUT - NOT PART OF SOLUTION ITSELF, JUST A POSSIBLE LAYOUT:

- Software
- Interface
- User
- System
- Third Party

Software would contain everything to do with software - Update Manager, Synaptic Package Manager, Software Sources, Computer Janitor, and Preferred Applications would all be examples.

Interface would contain everything to do with the User Interface - Mouse, Keyboard, Monitors, Audio, Menus, Appearance, etc.

User would hold things that are relevant to the users themselves - Languages, Passwords, About Me, E-Mail Settings, and Users and Groups as a few examples.

System would contain everything to do with system settings and underlying system operation - Time and Date, Drivers, power management, Startup Applications, System Monitor, etc.

Third Party would then contain anything introduced by third-party programs and dealing specifically with those third-party programs - for instance, Opera Widget Manager, Wine settings, etc.

TO BE CLEAR - THE ABOVE IS JUST AN EXAMPLE, NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION ITSELF. It can serve as a discussion point regarding how to best implement the Solution, but the Solution itself is only concerned with splitting it into categories and then dividing the resulting submenus into Preferences and Administration segments.
2
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#23): User Settings & System Settings
Written by Darwin Survivor the 7 Oct 10 at 17:10.
Change
-System
---Preferences
---Administration

to

-Settings
---User Settings
---System Settings
2
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#24): Remove gwibber and empathy preferences from System Menu
Written by komputes the 8 Mar 11 at 18:19.
Broadcast (gwibber) and Messaging (empathy) preferences are accessible from within the respective applications. Remove preferences for these applications from the "System" menu.

See the 112 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 Mar 11 at 12:48) >>

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spec
Written by Blackdrive the 14 Mar 08 at 12:19. Global category: System. New
It should be indicated how much I'll have to download to install something.

We have download limits here and well... quite often I exceed them. It would be useful to indicate how big the download is going to be.

Thanks.
277
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #4613
Written by Blackdrive the 14 Mar 08 at 12:19.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #4613 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 6 comments or propose a solution >>