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85 Comments
- powatom, on 09/11/2008, -0/+52Great news - good design is worth paying for, particularly with open-source projects where the focus is primarily on functionality rather than usability and looks.
It's good to see Canonical giving back, considering the criticism they've faced upstream. - hugolp, on 09/11/2008, -2/+49I am sure Shuttleworth follows you over Digg and takes great care on fully understanding your comments...
- Andy.D, on 09/11/2008, -3/+33Mad respect.
- schestowitz, on 09/11/2008, -6/+26Change the default theme while you're at it. :-p
- alphaterminus, on 09/11/2008, -3/+22George Bush reads my comments too. Digg wasn't around in 2000, but Fark was and I posted the following: Dear George: I know you just visit this site for the squirrel nuts but here's an idea. If you get elected please do absolutely everything you can to ***** up our country, piss off the world, destroy our dollar, and ruin conservatism. I'll check back towards the end of your administration to see if you read this! Love, Alpha
- wwwonka, on 09/11/2008, -2/+18BINGO! Orange and brown? Where did the UI creators go to school? The Institute Of Stevie Wonder Color and Design?
- abbathdoom, on 09/11/2008, -11/+26Proof that Shuttleworth reads my Digg comments! I've been saying for a while that if he is serious about competing with Apple for intuitive, beautiful GUI then he needs to put his money where his mouth is and stop waiting for the community to suddenly step up and do what they have failed to do so far. Don't get me wrong, the community is great and do wonders, but some things require proper funding.
- freezerburn666, on 09/11/2008, -2/+16this is good, this is very good
- megaton, on 09/11/2008, -0/+12There are already HIG for Gnome (which Ubuntu uses), which is based heavily on OS X's HIG, so...
- AncientPC, on 09/11/2008, -2/+14It would be awesome if a standardized HIG could be form for Ubuntu that would pressure 3rd party developers to maintain the same look and feel (e.g. OS X).
- watcht, on 09/11/2008, -2/+13killer now if they can tack down dual monitors right with this new funding.
- chicaneuk, on 09/11/2008, -0/+11I don't believe anyone can be so truely naiive about Linux that they'd post something like this.
The point is that Linux (and more specifically distributions like Ubuntu) is free to anyone who wants it. Windows Vista is not. I'd hope that Windows could do everything that Linux could given its position in the market and its cost. It's astounding that Linux has come so far - that it can now do just about everything for a desktop user that Windows can. And it can play games of course - but Microsoft's lock-in with DirectX will probably prevent Linux from ever getting mainstream game support. - megaton, on 09/11/2008, -1/+11I don't know why people are digging you down, you're absolutely right.
If you weren't, we'd already have GUI tools to control most fundamental settings of the Linux desktop experience.
When the overwhelming perspective of the Linux development community is, "If you want it there, put it in yourself!", there's no surprise we are where we are... - mk3k, on 09/11/2008, -1/+11That wouldn't be default.
- revnoah, on 09/11/2008, -0/+9Proof that Shuttleworth listens to my prayers. Xorg is horrible and desperately needs to be revised. I wasn't praying to Mark though, so I'm a bit freaked out that he was listening in.
- MacroDaemon, on 09/11/2008, -1/+10Finally. Functionality hasn't really been the problem with linux for a long time, it's almost always been usability.
Even with recent advances, and easier to use distros such as Ubuntu, it's still not at the point where a casual computer user can operate it without a hassle. - tupperbacharach, on 09/11/2008, -2/+11There seems to be a lot of usability "experts" coming out of the woodwork on this thread.
A lot of these "experts" suggest that usability is a problem with Linux, but no one explains how.
Perhaps someone could explicitly list the usability problems of Linux, as compared to other OSs which have no/fewer usability problems. - inactive, on 09/11/2008, -1/+10"My Windows Vista machine can do anything a linux machine can AND play games."
Really, can it run compiz-fusion or anything similar? Does it have an advanced firewall built right in to the kernel? Does it have a state-of-the-art integrated security environment (SElinux)? Can it install thousands of pieces of third-party software, and update it, all automatically? Can it run smoothly on < 2 GB RAM? Does it let you add or remove any feature you wish? Does it allow you to freely customize your system without resorting to downloading some third-party reverse-engineered hack or violating the EULA? - mcpotato, on 09/11/2008, -3/+11I like the default theme. A nice contrast to the traditional blue/green background.
Yes, I know that the Ubuntu colors do not conform to the mainstream usability guidelines. But they are not distracting and relaxing for me. - stoanhart, on 09/11/2008, -1/+9Unjust criticism.
FTA:
"We focus most of our effort on integration. Our competitors turn that into 'Canonical doesn't contribute' but it's more accurate to say we measure our contribution in the effectiveness with which we get the latest stable work of upstream, with security maintenance, to the widest possible audience for testing and love. To my mind, that's a huge contribution" - Almightymole, on 09/11/2008, -0/+6I personally wish I could dump large amounts of money into such things, I do hope that Shuttleworth can get it to work. I for one use Ubuntu on a daily basis and can't wait for this plan to unravel.
- cpsutcliffe, on 09/11/2008, -0/+6sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
- flatfish, on 09/11/2008, -0/+6Haha!
It does kind of look like the album cover "Songs In The Key Of Life" - HonoredMule, on 09/11/2008, -1/+6Linux has no place on YOUR desktop, and it currently has no place on MY desktop either...but I've got news for ya.
We're not the world. - HonoredMule, on 09/11/2008, -1/+6But Gnome's HIG sucks donkey balls with its expectations of over-simplification and downright wrong organizational model. Do I really expect to find the ability to modify a programs behavior/configuration under "Edit -> Preferences"...right alongside the ability to alter the /content/ the program is designed to manipulate? Heaven forbid I want a theme that doesn't feature gargantuan widgets or allow file icons to be set/branded by the application with which they're associated. That might incur the presence of information on my screen!
- ethana2, on 09/11/2008, -0/+5As an Ubuntu alpha and beta tester, I agree. We report bugs, we submit enhancement ideas, we provide support. That has value.
- theaceoffire, on 09/11/2008, -0/+4Necro, try out Ubuntu some time, and mess with Compiz-Fusion.
Try turning off everything, and then turning on 6 desktops, expose (Set to the bottom right corner), wobbly windows (It has some edge resistance thing inside of it you need to turn off), and the zoom features.
^_^ It looks nice, and it is the *only* way I can imagine using multiple desktops... expo out, rearrange all the windows across the desktop, and zoom in on what your working on. - sloppychris, on 09/11/2008, -0/+4Have I mentioned lately I love linux?
- BootsElectric, on 09/11/2008, -0/+4*rubs eyes*
"Some people just hate Ubuntu for it's popularity"
Woof. - scrtyfrk, on 09/11/2008, -3/+6Developers' inability to take constructive criticisms has always been a major reason why usability has always been the last thing they look at. On the one hand, you have the Gnome team which refuses to change anything and remains entrenched in the status quo. On the other hand, you have KDE making major changes. I honestly don't know which is right but hopefully they will listen to Shuttleworth and change a few things here and there.
- alphaterminus, on 09/11/2008, -1/+4I think it has been more prettiness than has almost always been usability. However, I admit it has been pretty functionality too.
- slythfox, on 09/12/2008, -0/+3Well phrased, sir.
- rgsteele, on 09/12/2008, -1/+4I think you mean you can't wait for this plan to come to fruition, or something along those lines. Used in this context, "unravel" means to come apart; to begin to fail.
- oobuntu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+3correction: microsoft spent millions telling people they wanted blue or green.
just like they are spending $300m telling people they need vista.
but i agree that the brown is bad. default theme counts for a lot, and the out of the box experience is far less rewarding than what is possible with the bit of work. - slythfox, on 09/12/2008, -0/+3I've always admired what Mark Shuttleworth has done with Canonical and Ubuntu, so I don't understand any criticism. And this new step certainly supports the open source world, something I'm always in support of.
- ethana2, on 09/11/2008, -0/+3I ditched windows because of GNOME.
OSX yes, Windows heck no. - theaceoffire, on 09/11/2008, -0/+2O.O you mean... it's *NOT* a small world after all?
- Phaedrus73, on 09/11/2008, -2/+4I think this is a great move. I enjoy using Ubuntu, I can do almost anything in it I use my windows machine for (except Games). But truthfully the average user does not want to compile things, and just wants it to work. I run into an issue all the time when I'm running updates, and lose power. It will then never let me update anything and pops up an error. Those lower level functions need to be improved.
- JerichoCane, on 09/11/2008, -12/+14How I wish, how I wish that Shuttleworth's and Canonical's efforts would pay off. But we all know that they won't. Upstream developers working together for the greater good of Linux instead of doing whatever they please? There. You just laughed, didn't you?
- Almightymole, on 09/11/2008, -0/+2Would be some an undertaking. But if they did, I would hope they would use concepts from the MPX server.
- abbathdoom, on 09/11/2008, -0/+2I've joked for years that the Ubuntu Art Team are all colour blind, but you could be right as well of course, maybe they are just all plain honest blind.
- slugicide, on 09/12/2008, -0/+2I agree. It was good at the beginning, as it fit in with the African philosophy of Ubuntu and it got people's attention, but now it's time to go mainstream.
- perfectska04, on 09/11/2008, -0/+2Dugg. I try donating, contributing (artwork) and reporting bugs whenever I can, but a well funded coordinated effort is just what the linux world needs. There is too much potential scattered around and there never seems to be a centralized group of professionals to guide the many projects to a clearly defined (and desirable) goal.
- abbathdoom, on 09/11/2008, -1/+3I've never compiled anything for Ubuntu in my life. Please be careful when you say about compiling, it scares people away from Linux!
- HonoredMule, on 09/12/2008, -1/+2Many of us who have spent a lot of time with various Linux communities have already discussed such matters at length. Rehashing the same unresolved issues ad nauseum gets tiresome.
- Noobuntu, on 09/12/2008, -0/+1TwinView & Xinerama works great on my Nvidia laptop paired with a 22" monitor.
- Textbook, on 09/12/2008, -0/+1http://contentconsumer.com/2008/04/27/is-ubuntu-us ...
- amoore2600, on 09/12/2008, -1/+2I think I peed my self, I'm laughing so hard. Great comment!!!!
- tupperbacharach, on 09/12/2008, -0/+1***Actually, "rehashing" such matters requires a far more competent and thoughtful medium of communication and collaboration than a digg thread.***
No. All that is required is for one to make a specific assertion(s) on this thread.
***Linux is awesome, but all the technical merit in the world is useless when the bottleneck in performance is not hardware based at all, but rather based on how efficiently the user can casually interact and multi-task with it, or how well the UI juggles large amounts of data from separate and especially background processes***
Perhaps someone could elaborate on this alleged Linux UI "bottleneck." Sounds more like myth/misconception rather than fact.
Most people are naive about usability and believe that there can only be one OS/UI that has the greatest/ultimate usability. Actually, usability depends strongly on the conditioning and preferences of each individual. So, while some might feel that OSX or Windows provides the the greatest UI of all time, a power user employing a lighting-fast, tiling window manager would be held back by either of these proprietary UIs. The same situation applies to someone who benefits from an advanced terminal shell.
By the way, many feel that the native Linux Mezzo desktop is the best GUI, because it is primarily designed to take maximum advantage of the screen edge (unlike OSX): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezzo_(desktop_enviro ... Likewise, this is just one UI, like that of OSX or Windows or Gnome, and it is the ultimate for some, but not for everybody.
Hence, HIGs are really more of a hindrance to usability than a help. The only person who can say for sure that one of these choices is the ultimate UI is the individual who makes the choice. All of these choices (and more) are offered in Linux natively, but none of these alternatives are offered natively for OSX nor Windows. -
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