Contributor Vahan Harutyunyan - Ubuntu brainstorm

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Contributor Vahan Harutyunyan on Xubuntu

Some users do not want the desktop but the power of the graphical desktop.

Written by rahil the 6 Jan 13 at 14:02. New

Some Linux users do not want to use "fancy" graphical desktop/file managers etc. but they want to use graphical applications (with forms, buttons, radio buttons, text fields etc.). Thus for many XFCE/Xubuntu is the solution. What if there was possible to have a even more “minimal” desktop, but keep the power of rich graphical applications?

-11
votes

Solution #1: Hybrid of the Linux/Unix console and Ubuntu desktop graphical user intraface.

Written by rahil the 6 Jan 13 at 14:02.

I would like to describe the "solution" as a scenario:

A developer starts his Linux computer...

1. When the computer is finished booting, the screen/desktop will consist of the following: a bar on the top with system information (time, battery life for laptops, network status, user etc.) and a terminal.

Note that the system information on the top most bar cannot be clicked or accessed in any way. See but don’t touch.

2. The user then starts eclipse. Eclipse starts as a full screen application (all graphical applications start as full screen applications)
3. The user starts Gedit.
4. To switch between the graphical applications and the terminal a “neat and comprehensive” application switcher is used (by using Alt+Tab). The “File”, “Edit”, “View” etc. menu items can be found on the top most bar (where the system information items are). These can be clicked, because the mouse is enabled in graphical applications.
5. The user wants to change network settings and do some file management, which is done in the terminal.

[...]

This desktop version will require a graphical engine to be running, but the entire environment will be very minimal.
All search is done in the terminal. Applications must be launched in the terminal, but as long as they are in locations that is in the PATH, they can be started from anywhere.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 18 Jan 13 at 22:40) >>

Change the Xubuntu Home Page (www.xubuntu.org)

Written by Vahan Harutyunyan the 23 Sep 10 at 11:46. Implemented

I think that the first acquaintance with the operating system occurs (and the first impressions we get) after we visit the website of the operating system. So why do not change the Xubuntu Home Page (www.xubuntu.org) and don't make it more comfortable, attractive and colorful???

0
votes

Selected solution (#1): Improve the Xubuntu Home Page (www.xubuntu.org).

Written by Vahan Harutyunyan the 23 Sep 10 at 11:46.

I suggest to improve the Xubuntu Home Page (www.xubuntu.org) and make it more comfortable, attractive and colorful. Because I think that nowadays the Xubuntu Home Page looks very simple and archaic.
In particular, I suggest entirely to change the "Take the feature tour" section, it must contain a more detailed description of key features of Xubuntu and it must be presented by clear pictures, but not by those which we have now (not clear pictures). I think that animated elements give the site a peculiar charm, and I think that it would be nice to create an animation in where it would be represented slogans of Xubuntu (free, stable, ...etc.). And also add icons in the other sections of the menu. And of course change the Xubuntu logo and make it similar to new logo of Ubuntu or Kubuntu (talking about the outline).

10
votes

Selected solution (#2): Keep it simple.

Written by lvxferre the 24 Sep 10 at 10:29.

I agree that Xubuntu page needs some improvement. However, I disagree in "how much improvement" and "which".

Design, IMHO, is about goals and not features. Xubuntu page's goal is not "look cool", is promote the OS and give users info about it.

*Xubuntu is about a lightweight desktop. So, keep the page the cleaner possible - no animated element, small images.

*Wipe off "Latest news" column - "Xubuntu 9.04 Released" isn't news at all, it's about an year and half ago. In its place, put useful links - last stable release, last LTS, "get Xubuntu CD", this kind of thing.

*The three "Get" icons are huge for no reason. Make them smaller - less bandwidth needed [both for server and user] and cleaner design. And their text should be plain text, not part of image, for the same reason.

*Flash is a no-no: proprietary codec + too heavy to be useful. But yes, like is said in Solution #1, change the tour and add more info and cleaner images.

See the 10 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 5 Jul 12 at 18:16) >>

Remove Xubuntu as obsoleted

Written by Ape the 25 Apr 08 at 18:51. Won't implement

According to my tests Xubuntu is now slower than Ubuntu. In the newest version(gutsy and hardy) Gnome has reached the lightness of Xfce and it's now even faster. In the addition it's very hard to do things with Xubuntu.

No one should use Xubuntu anymore. It's old, it's not good. Xubuntu should be removed from the official Ubuntu variations as obsoleted.

-56
votes

See the 9 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Sep 11 at 15:55) >>

Change the name of Xubuntu to Ecobuntu.

Written by r0g the 13 Sep 08 at 00:00. Not an idea

[ OK - I get the idea, please STOP voting for this, I take it all back!]

Xubuntu is the obvious choice for resurrecting old low spec computers but it has comparatively little mindshare with the public at large.

Given how good it could be in terms of keeping hardware out of landfill and reducing the demand for new power hungry hardware I propose we change the name to Ecobuntu, in the same way as we call the educational version Edubuntu.

I mean no disrespect to the Xubuntu or xfce team in this, quite the opposite infact, I want their work to get more credit and use. I just think this little bit of semantics could make a fair bit of difference in the public's consciousness of Linux and Ubuntu and it could get some great PR/Press if canonical were to implement it and issue an even half decent press release :-)

This might also throw a bit more focus on getting linux acpi right eventually leading to more linux distros shipping with eco friendly power management defaults :-)

Motivated to post this by this post: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/13109/ - although for some reason when I try and include this as an 'Ubuntuforums.org thread URL' I just get 'The URL you submitted as an ubuntuforums.org thread does not seem valid.' - admins!

Roger Heathcote - http://movingtoubuntu.technicalbloke.co.uk

-28
votes

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Sep 11 at 09:57) >>

Ubuntu Netbook Edition-like GUI in XUbuntu

Written by Bazzilic the 21 Sep 10 at 10:27. New

Ubuntu Netbook Edition is based on Gnome, which is not too suitable for low-end platforms like netbooks are. XFCE is much more appropriate for this, Xubuntu needs only 2 GB of disk space to install (Ubuntu NE needs 4 GB) and so on.

Remastering its appearance in accordance to Netbook Edition to minimize screen waste would be great for those with small screens (ASUS Eee PCs, for example)

-4
votes

3
votes

Solution #2: Just make sure windows fit on a small screen

Written by DonQuichote the 18 Oct 10 at 09:22.

I loathe "netbook" interfaces that treat the user as if he owns a device with just 8 "duplo" sized buttons. I use Xubuntu on my Acer Aspire One with great pleasure, for a few years already. A netbook is just a laptop that does fit in a bag, and should not be treated as a child's toy. The only drawback is that some programs expect a larger screen and therefore draw some buttons off-screen. Those applications should be fixed, but the general look & feel of XFCE should not be changed for a netbook.

0
votes

See the 1 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Feb 11 at 19:56) >>

A basic install of Ubutu

Written by Richardarkless the 12 Oct 08 at 00:01. New

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

-13
votes

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Jul 10 at 17:44) >>

Too many (& dated) desktop themes in Xubuntu

Written by jjalocha the 25 Apr 09 at 20:57. New

In Xubuntu Jaunty you have around a hundred themes and thirty colorschemes shipped by default. The sheer number is overwhelming, when you try to find something. But probably all of these themes look dated and boring. (Compare with the best-ranked themes in xfce-look.org, for example) So, a new user will loose a lot of time, and get frustrated about the ugly look of "Linux".

(Moved here from Xubuntu BUG 366697, https://bugs.launchpad.net/xubuntu-artwork/+bug/366697)

26
votes

Solution #1: Provide six high-quality themes only

Written by jjalocha the 25 Apr 09 at 20:57.

The default installation should ship with only six (or even less; a dozen at most) themes. Move all the rest to one or several optional packages. These six should span a wide range of distinct, modern-looking, high-quality themes. A user should be able to look at every one of these themes, and say: "Wow, this looks gorgeous, even if it is not my style." Do NOT provide bad-looking alternatives. It only makes the whole platform look amateurish.

Fewer themes, means that developers can CONCENTRATE and FOCUS on working on improvements and solving bugs.

-13
votes

Solution #2: Themes/Colours... Why not? Make them Country Specific!

Written by The_Computer_Wizard the 26 Apr 09 at 07:21.

Why not? Just make this option "Country Specific"?

i.e. Many people from one country favour one Colour/Desktop/Loading-Screen solution & colours, whereas others prefer completely different colours.

Maybe even relate them to that countries FLAG colours? Then using a mix, (or mixture) of the FLAG colurs to blend the one to match their particular Country.

For Example South Africa 'Favours' Green, Black, Red/Orange, White etc.
Whereas U.K., France, U.S.A., Holland and others just use Red, White & Blue...

How's that for an idea?

With SIX possible colour solutions for each Country setting, ALL selected during the installation, as suggested above...

Cheers

TCW

8
votes

Solution #3: Do not restrict alternative themes to Xubuntu's default colors

Written by jjalocha the 28 Apr 09 at 16:19.

The themes that are installed in Xubuntu, but are not the default theme don't have to be "branded" necessarily. That means, no restriction to blue/gray colors, etc. (You could still add the Xubuntu name/logo if you really want to.)

Without these restrictions, Xubuntu could really show off how good XFCE really looks. It could provide a selection of themes that spans a wide array of colors, styles, looks & feels. Show minimalistic, baroque, shiny, plastic, dull, spacious, cramped styles, suited for different use cases, hardware specs, and monitor sizes.

It might sound awkward to "forget" to do branding, but I believe that a few gorgeous, sexy, bad-ass, head-turning themes installed by default would do the Xubuntu brand much more good, than any number of similar-looking alternatives that explicitly spell "Xubuntu".

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