What is Digg?294 Comments
- nelsondelmonte, on 01/13/2008, -7/+120Just in case it goes any slower....
Ubuntu’s goal is to be the most popular desktop OS for humans. But new versions of Ubuntu, like most Linux distros, are still marketed towards Linux geeks. They’re concerned with technology, trumpeting version numbers and drowning out the actual things you can do with their software.
We’re picking on Ubuntu specifically because it has higher goals than most distros - it’s Linux for human beings, not Linux for hackers. Unfortunately, the release announcements have forgotten what humans care primarily about: themselves.
Let’s fix that, by looking at how the 7.10 announcement could be improved.
In social dynamics bible How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie illustrates that since a human’s primary concern is themselves, you must show how something relates to them in order to convince them.
Most Linux announcements don’t do that. Instead, they talk about:
* Version numbers of components.
* That the software has ‘many fixes and improvements’ without actually mentioning what those fixes and improvements are. People who have used computers expect new versions of software to be fixed and improved.
* That particular packages have been added. Users aren’t informed how these packages are relevant.
* The vendors impressions that the software is good quality. It is assumed that the vendor things the software is good quality, or at least wishes to convey that the software of of good quality.
* Licensing terms for the software.
These problems affect most Linux communication, but interestingly, not all Open Source communication - Firefox and Miro’s marketing is superb.
The Ubuntu 7.10 release announcement suffers from these problems, and so does the accompanying press release.
The Ubuntu.com Front Page for the 7.10 announcement
The front page of www.ubuntu.com rotated between the following graphics:
1. A dictionary definition for ‘Ubuntu 7.10′ defining it as ‘The popular Linux based Operating System suited for desktops, laptops and servers. Noted for it’s ease of use, stability and freedoms.’
2. An animation with the words ‘The power of free software, on your laptop desktop and server. Smart, secure, easy.’
3. An animation with the words 7 generation of innovation. ‘7 generations of quality. 7 generations of Ubuntu.’
There’s a few problems with each of these.
1. Ubuntu’s use of a Linux kernel is irrelevant for most people, who are unaware of what Linux is. Most people use another word instead of ‘desktops, laptops, and servers’, that word being ‘computers’, and it should be obvious from artwork that Ubuntu does in fact run on computers. A grammar check is in order too.
2. How does software being free (which most people think of in terms of price) make it powerful? Which software isn’t considered to be be smart, secure and easy by the people who make it?
3. Again, everyone says their product is of quality. How is Ubuntu different?
More to the point, nowhere does it state how Ubuntu’s innovations benefit its users? Compare with Firefox, which says right on its front page that it will make my browsing safer, faster, and more personal. What will Ubuntu do for me?
Clicking the animation doesn’t link to anything - a usability bug, but beside it ‘Find Out More’ linked to the real announcement.
Nowhere on the front page of Ubuntu.com was Ubuntu actually shown. So how about this instead:
Ubuntu 7.10 is out
[a screenshot of the artwork]
* Get it
* Find out more
‘Get it’ would link to the download page
‘Find out more would’ would link to the announcement. The announcement, by the way, begins like this:
Introduction
The Ubuntu team is excited to bring you the absolute latest and greatest software that the open source and free software communities have to offer. This is Ubuntu 7.10, which brings a host of excellent new features. You may also like to view the Ubuntu desktop screenshot tour.
Readers have a short attention span. The site only has a very short time to get it’s message across. The above contains a lot of information that is not relevant to readers:
* That the text is an introduction. We know that.
* That the Ubuntu team is exited - not relevant to us, and also a cliche.
* That the new software is the best so far. Well yes, Newer software is commonly better.
* The new software always has new features. It does, but the way to show that to out audience is to tell them what the new features are.
The entire paragraph can be changed to
Ubuntu 7.10 released today.
That was easy. Next the official announcement has:
New features since Ubuntu 7.04
Of course the features are new since the last version.
Moving on…
GNOME 2.20
Ubuntu 7.10 brings you the latest and greatest GNOME 2.20 with lots of new features and improvements.
What is a GNOME? What are the new features, and how has it been improved? Why do I have to load another page to find out why it’s better? Why not just tell me here? If readers investigate (which most people can’t be bothered doing), they’d find GNOME 2.20 has new security features, which allow them to better remember their passwords, and keep import files secure.
Most users suffer from password fatigure. Gnome 2.2.0 actually has a really useful feature which remembers all your website, file share and wireless passwords after you log on. You could also write about the new Evolution or File Management improvements from GNOME 2.2.o too, but the important things is the features, not the name and version number of the software. Geeks (who are not Ubuntu’s target audience) can find that out version numbers from the package list.
Moving on…
Desktop 3D effects
Compiz Fusion is enabled by default and will bring 3D desktop visual effects that improve the usability and visual appeal of the system. Ubuntu 7.10 automatically detects whether the hardware is capable of running compiz; if not, it falls back to normal desktop. Additional effects can be enabled in “System/Preferences/Appearance” under the “Visual Effects” tab. There you can also disable the effects entirely.
Again, irrelevant information is specified in detail, while relevant info is vague. What do these ‘effects’ look like? How do they improve usability, or make things more fun?
Since these effects are actually a big drawcard for many people to Linux, this paragraph should probably be at the top.
Desktop search
The deskbar applet is now included in the default configuration. It allows quick access to your common actions, including opening web bookmarks and searches, sending messages to your contacts, and more.
The Tracker indexer has been added to the desktop, making it easier and faster to search for your documents, photos, music, videos, chat logs, and all other files. You can use Tracker in the search dialog, the file selector, nautilus, or the deskbar applet.
What’s an applet? What is indexing? Good communication should be in plain language -’Configuration’ is a technical term, most people use ’set up’. Let’s put that in plain language.
Next the official announcement mentions…
Fast user switching
It is now possible to easily switch between user sessions without the inconvenience of entering your username or password numerous times, a time-saver on computers shared by multiple users.
Removing inconvenience isn’t a feature. Does this really warrant a mention? If we though it did, we’d combine with the file encryption update and show how Ubuntu 7.10 makes it easier to share a computer. But Ubuntu 7.10 has a lot of more interesting features, so we’ll just remove this paragraph entirely.
Firefox plugins in Ubuntu
Firefox now comes with an improved plugin finder wizard that allows users to search and install packaged plugins easily, bringing users a richer web-browsing experience with the integrated security support of the rest of the Ubuntu system.
In addition, users can now open the Ubuntu application installer with a list of packaged Firefox extensions available by clicking on a link in the Firefox Addons dialog.
Way too wordy, for something that amounts to ‘your Firefox plugins now get updated with the rest of your apps’.Again, more change than an exciting new feature. Our fix is to delete the paragraph.
Next we have:
Dynamic screen configuration
Several drivers, including ones for ATI, nVidia, and Intel graphics chips now support the X Resize and Rotate Extension (xrandr). This enables dynamic monitor detection, and resizing and rotating of video output, for no-fuss support for projectors and external monitors.
If you have this hardware and used MergedFB / Xinerama previously, you may need to update your X configuration to use this new feature.
Humans don’t know what in hell MergedFB slash Xinerama is. Specific driver support, and instructions for the tiny percentage of the general public who both use Ubuntu and manually configured dual head support, belong in the release notes, not the release announcement. Our fix is, again, to delete the paragraph.
Graphical configuration tool for X
You can now configure what driver you want to use for your graphic card, change the default resolution for all users or change your monitor’s refresh rate without having to turn to the terminal. A new GUI has been added making it easy to adjust your video and monitor settings. This tool can also set up dual screen capabilities for cards that use the Xinerama mode.
What’s X? What’s a terminal? Rather than telling me what I don’t need anymore, tell me what I have now: a simple way to configure monitor and video settings. But wait: it should have been simpler in the first place. This doesn’t sound like feature but a bug fix. Removed too.
Fully automatic printer installation
Printers are now automatically configured by merely plugging them in and turning them on. Printer setup cannot get any easier!
For once, the release announcement gets it right: short, punchy and relevant.No changes needed. Next we’ve got:
Handling of non-free device drivers
Restricted-manager can now handle drivers which are free in themselves, but which require non-free firmware or other packages to operate. Only three clicks are needed to fetch and install firmware for wireless cards with Broadcom chipsets, and for a number of Winmodems commonly found in laptops, provided that you have an alternative Internet connection.
When restricted-manager detects hardware for which a restricted driver is available, a notification window pops up.
Why would I have to pay for drivers? What is firmware? What is a notification window? This is an improvement in 7.10, but it’s a headache fix, not an improvement, and belongs in the release notes, not this announcement.We wield our editor’s scalpel again.
NTFS writing
While previous Ubuntu releases only supported read access to Windows (NTFS) partitions, Gutsy Gibbon now fully supports reading and writing to them, by integrating the NTFS-3g project. This significantly eases file and document sharing with Windows.
Most humans have no idea of what NTFS is, including the vast majority of NTFS users. Let’s write that in English.
Next we have:
Power consumption
Ubuntu includes the latest Linux kernel, featuring dynticks. It allows the processor to use less power and produce less heat. For laptops this means more battery life and burn-free laps and for desktops and media center PCs, a quieter, cooler environment.
Nice. Let’s put the benefit in the headline, and remove the jargon.
Next…
Encrypted hard disks
The alternate installer now given you the option to encrypt the entire hard disk (or individual parts if you partition manually). This provides robust data protection for laptops and other mobile devices which may be lost or stolen. Please keep in mind that this only protects the data when the machine is powered off.
Again, let’s put the benefit in the headline. Next…
AppArmor security framework
This easy-to-deploy kernel technology limits the resources an application is allowed to access and can be used to provide an added layer of protection against undiscovered security vulnerabilities in applications. Head to the AppArmor user guide to learn about this new security feature.
What’s a kernel? Why do I need to deploy this - and why doesn’t Ubuntu do it for me? Most humans can not roll out AppArmor, so if in fact that’s what’s required (rather than AppArmour just working like SELinux does in other distros), this section should be moved to the release notes.
Additional installation profiles for Ubuntu Server
New pre-configured installation options have been added to the Ubuntu Server CD. Mail Server, File Server, Print Server, and Database Server options join existing LAMP and DNS options for pre-configured installations, easing the deployment of common server configurations.
Great stuff. Users can now install a Mail server, or a LAMP server, or whatever else, out of the box. So say that in the title. That said, server stuff belongs in a separate page - since most humans don’t run servers. The same applies for ‘Profile-based Authentication Configuration’ and ‘Improved thin-client support‘, so we’re skippi - dansy, on 01/13/2008, -5/+73I partially agree / partially disagree - but what Ubuntu also needs is some better-looking default themes ...
- lovekudu, on 01/13/2008, -3/+44Ultimately, mature Linux users know that having e.g., network manager doesn't stop you from editing your interfaces file in the shell. Nor does having Quake stop you from writing your own 3D engine in GNU Assembler.
After nearly a decade of using Linux, it's only the 'enough knowledge to be dangerous' crowd that actually uses terms like 'n00b distro'. The rest of us just get on with the job.
Like the article says, for those that want them, version numbers can be found from the package list. - kinghowdy, on 01/13/2008, -2/+25I agree with the author. He also says Firefox and Miro get it right. Ubuntu should create something similar to what mozilla has with the getfirefox.com which just touts the software and then mozilla.org which has all the geeky information you want about it.
- manaf, on 01/13/2008, -2/+25I worked in marketing and public relations and this guy is absolutely correct. That is, if Ubuntu really is "Linux for Human Beings". If it is "Linux for Coders, Programmers, 1337 anything" then the current announcement suffices.
- mdwstmusik, on 01/13/2008, -2/+24I don't see the average person editing the Windows registry either. What's your point?
- sputty, on 01/13/2008, -2/+20Another vote for changing the colour scheme, i personally dont mind it but after showing a few windows users around ubuntu the whole brown thing seemed to be what put them off most, it needs the kind of initial wow factor of OS X.
- kirushik, on 01/13/2008, -4/+22Double-clicking package in synaptic to install program is the easiest way to install new software I can imagine.
Better ideas, anyone? - webaugur, on 01/13/2008, -3/+21Ubuntu names its releases based on the date, also. 8.04 is April 2008. Overall, PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu seem to be tied on distrowatch with temporary spikes favoring one or the other around major releases. They have almost exactly the same number for the entire year 2007, for example. Although I can't imagine distrowatch is a good indicator of anything. Its certainly interesting trivia.
- benbrooks101, on 01/13/2008, -2/+19Don't forget, Over 80% of the people that use linux use it for open source software...
- sputty, on 01/13/2008, -0/+14Chocolate? ;)
- superspud, on 01/13/2008, -1/+15I'm surprised you managed to post all that in one comment!
- timjim31, on 01/13/2008, -0/+14Why don't you just reply to his comment then?
- timo0270, on 01/13/2008, -3/+16Installing files in ubuntu is actually easier than in windows. You can either do it manually with "apt-get install whatever", or do it via the gui which is basically a few clicks and then a confirmation. Everything is automatically downloaded and installed for you.
- tokabowla, on 01/13/2008, -1/+13They should pony up the $$ for a Superbowl commercial or something! People don't even know there's a third option beside Windows & Mac.
- Cupantae, on 01/13/2008, -1/+13I'd say if you took a survey of what the colour brown reminds people of, there would be an unsurprisingly childish response
- nickdot, on 01/13/2008, -3/+14Probaby there are two target audiences: people new to ubuntu and linux versus existing linux users. It is true that now ubuntu markets itself towards the second group. Maybe they should find a clever way to switch between the two audiences. Why not check if the browser is running on Windows and Mac to display the noob page and if it is running linux to display the existing page?
- smek2, on 01/13/2008, -0/+11"better looking default themes". Yes, that will help.
- allyant, on 01/13/2008, -0/+11"macos is not considered noob os"
Looking at your comment I believe you are wrong there.... - CalcProgrammer1, on 01/13/2008, -1/+11As a complete Linux noob 2 years ago (since then I've used Ubuntu quite a bit), I actually found the Ubuntu site (2 years ago) pretty nice. Just seeing the interface in the screenshot was enough to make me want to try it out, and after I tried out the LiveCD I thought it was good enough to install. Now I dual-boot all of my Ubuntu-capable PC's.
If I were to change anything, I would put more features on the main page. Sure, knowing that it has the latest version of GNOME is important, but most PC users are afraid of viruses more than anything, so why not "Ubuntu is immune to almost all PC viruses" or "Ubuntu keeps your identity safe without slow virus scanners". Also, Ubuntu has a customizable interface to make your PC look exactly how you like it. That could very well be a feature that many people want. - morphir, on 01/13/2008, -5/+15very good indeed. To sum up, he wants the communication between a potential new user that do not know any of the linux platforms bells and whistles to easier understand the real gain. And I can agree on that. Applying things to real world problems instead of mentioning the new technologies and version numbers is the way to go. Props for being well written!
- Tanath, on 01/13/2008, -1/+10Ubuntu releases come more frequently than once per year.
- bj1989, on 01/13/2008, -1/+10Which will not be necessary anymore in 8.04.
- mikecoon, on 01/13/2008, -4/+12I don't think I'm the only one out there who thinks this: I don't want to learn a new OS. I don't want to work with Linux. I've tried before, and the programs I want to use don't work on the first try. I go to help pages and they say things like "compile this, download that, change this setting, what kernel are you using, etc. . ." I know that to a linux user these things are probably second nature, but the fact is I have a job. I don't work in the tech industry, but I consider myself a reasonable savvy individual, technologically speaking. But I have only so much free time, and I have no desire to spend that time learning how to make the things work that I really want to be doing. I don't want to learn to make a game or a program work under some Linux distro; I want to USE that game or program. Until some Linux distro can make that happen or until software companies make software that I can pop in the CD or DVD drive on my computer and just start using, I have no desire to even think about wanting to maybe think about perhaps thinking about maybe using any Linux distro. Say what you will about M$. I don't really care. I have larger things to care about than M$ monopoly or anything like that. I think about my job, my wife, my kids, and I really don't find complaining about M$ to be all that useful to my life. I just turn it on. Call it lazy if you want; I call it setting priorities.
- bieber, on 01/13/2008, -1/+9Care to tell me why the vast majority of computer users would even know what it _means_ that Photoshop ran on it, let alone care?
- bodycoach2, on 01/13/2008, -1/+9Easier to install files? Download a .deb 'program/package', double click. Same as Windows .exe. Add/Remove makes it even easier, and Synaptic has way more packages.
- LocoMan, on 01/13/2008, -0/+8IMHO what ubuntu (and linux in general) needs is more bundling on computers (I know, it's working on that).
Ubuntu, at least in my experience, while it's excellent once it's all set up, takes some time until everything is ironed out and working, same than windows. The difference, though, is that windows comes already installed on every computer, every brand computer comes with an "easy recovery CD" if something goes wrong, and if you don't have it any small computer shop or "nephew/cousin/neighborhood kid that's good with computers" can do a format-reinstall, while it's still relatively harder to find someone that knows linux, and even harder someone that knows your particular distro (in RL, not on the net, most people are still more comfortable with RL people than net people) in case something goes wrong.
It's slowly changing, though.. 8^) - sputty, on 01/13/2008, -3/+11ever heard of .deb ?
- oxala75, on 01/13/2008, -8/+16ugh.
the brown is fine.
stop trying to make Ubuntu a blue/black/white clone of everything else. - georgetds, on 01/13/2008, -3/+10If it remains that way, Ubuntu can't go mainstream.
- DagMX, on 01/13/2008, -2/+9I actually like the default theme. It's very minamalistic and once I enabled transparency to make it translucent like the leopard bar, it looks pretty good with a good wallpaer.
I do think they should have nicer icons though - renegadeafk, on 01/13/2008, -0/+7Firefox is much slower on linux than it is on windows in My experience.
- peestandingup, on 01/13/2008, -1/+8Until they get rid of the Terminal & make it easier to tweak things, it IS still for techies in the eyes of the average retarded consumer.
- JosephStalin, on 01/13/2008, -0/+7Mac OS X is based on FreeBSD and Mach. That is BSD licensed, so there's no need to buy a license. They did have to pay to get Leopard certified as Unix, though.
Linux is not based on Minix. The first version was written completely by Linus Torvalds. It didn't do much until others starting contributing, but still, it's not based on anything else. - MiniMeeee, on 01/13/2008, -5/+12I would say that the thing that Ubuntu is really missing is some kind of "polish". The system iutself is pretty good, but it still has some rough edges, at least compared to Mac OS X.
So, I would say that Ubuntu needs:
1. A more responsive user interface: it gets much better with AIGLX/Compiz, but still not on par with OS X
2. A better office suite. OpenOffice.org is not very good IMHO. Some rough edges, and too slow.
3. A better integrated web browser. FireFox is not as good on Linux as it is on Windows
4. Maybe a nicer-looking VLC, integrated as the default player. Totem is not bas, but VLC is definitively better.
IMO, the theme is not that big an issue. I actually like it, and even if I think OS X and Vista are nicer looking, it is not as important as the global feeling of the system.
After that, users can start to enjoy:
1. A more secure system, without the annoyance of UAC (gksudo is a better solution I think)
2. A very simple system to update and install software (via the GUI)
3. Something that is well-integrated and "just works". I installed Ubuntu for a friend who was tired of viruses, and had no interest at all in computers. I configured the system (which may be a little bit tricky), and now he's perfectly happy with it.
Sadly, the points Ubuntu needs to improve are not controlled at all by Ubuntu, and are not likely to happen anytime soon...
--
An Ubuntu and OS X user - inactive, on 01/13/2008, -0/+7Uhhh...Apple's marketing is nothing but Microsoft bashing. I don't see any Microsoft of Apple bashing on the Ubuntu home page.
You got it all wrong. - smthop3, on 01/13/2008, -0/+6Too bad that's not default :-P
- MattBD, on 01/13/2008, -0/+6Use the blubuntu theme if you don't like the default one. Blubuntu is great.
- robertlankford, on 01/13/2008, -0/+6Mike. I'm just like you. Over Christmas break I did have some time. I downloaded/burned a Ubuntu 7.10 live CD and tried it out by booting to it. I've been curious for some time and decided to "just do it". Yes, you can set a dual-boot scenario. I decided, however, to just switch completely over. I removed Windows and installed Ubuntu. Over the next few days, I made it a point to try to perform various tasks that I used Windows for. Because I wasn't dual boot ... I *had* to take the time to figure out how to do the things that I wanted to do. Here's what I found out.
1) The learning goes much quicker than you think. Anytime I find myself wanting to do something and not knowing how, I simply google the task starting with Ubuntu. A few minutes later, and I've either found a procedure online or I've got the name of an application that'll do the trick.
2) I've never dealt with compiling software or kernel issues. The most complex thing that I've done is to copy/paste some terminal commands into the command prompt. It's really nowhere near as bad as it was just a few years ago. And to be honest, most (maybe all) of these 'special' things are usually just to enable some neat and, by definition, unnecessary woop-de-do.
3) Software installation/removal/updating is so much easier than with Windows. Using Add/Remove or the more advanced package manager is a dream and something that Microsoft needs to copy in order to get with the times. Just try it and you'll probably wonder why people consider Windows easier in this regard!
----
Needless-to-say. I've been very pleased since I made the switch. I'm watching DVDs. Converting videos. Consuming all my media files (divx, mp3, etc.). Editing my photo collection. Office work, web browsing, blah blah blah. It's all there.
In the interest of full disclosure, however, I do still have a notebook computer with Windows on it. I'll probably leave it that way since I haven't figured out how to replace the functionality of a Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS receiver on Linux yet. But that is a weird use case that you probably don't have to worry about.
In the end, it's worth a shot. You might be surprised how much you like it after the switch. I know I was and still am. I'm excited about the idea of not having to pour money into software year after year anymore. And when the big software makers start selling Linux versions of their software, I might be interesting in buying their software again. Until then, consider me an open-source convert! - peestandingup, on 01/13/2008, -1/+7Exactly. Make Ubuntu for the non-techies. They still have all the other distros to muck around with.
- edevil, on 01/13/2008, -0/+6Yep, better looking themes will help. The Tangerine and Human icons are excellent. Much better than any other distro's default icons.
- kimmik, on 01/13/2008, -2/+8Ehm, I think you got the whole digg concept wrong...
- winmywii, on 01/13/2008, -2/+8... is obsolete.
- Fox318, on 01/13/2008, -2/+8Anyone have a mirror?
- barius, on 01/13/2008, -0/+5So, you're blaming Ubuntu because Opera did not provide a 64bit package for you?
If Opera had not released a 64bit Windows version, how exactly would you go about getting that to work for you?
Yeah, you're a moron. - stanski1, on 01/13/2008, -1/+6I totally agree also. Not to sound like fanboy, but OSX is a perfect example of how simplicity for the average user can exist with the power of Unix under the hood. The GUI is supposed to be user friendly, and peripherals must "JUST WORK" or it is totally useless. This is an OPEN SOURCE software, you can't expect the hardware manufactures to support it in the beginning. It;s flat out not worth it for them waste their time on such a small percentage of the home users that use Linux. Don't get me wrong I use both Ubuntu and OSX in my home, and Linux has come a looooong way. I have Ubuntu installed on my parents computer and it works out great for them. But don't ask them add hardware, or install a new app on their own.
- antdude, on 01/13/2008, -1/+6Where will they get the $$?
- spydon, on 01/13/2008, -0/+5They have been on top for several months, anyone know if they have their own site as standard start page on the browser?
- TheBuzzKiller, on 01/13/2008, -1/+6they're just keeping up with competition, like Apple's PC bashing ... which Apple should really be bashing Windows not PC ....
i still think they should take the high road though - undetected, on 01/13/2008, -1/+6You are SO the target audience of this article. It turns out, though, that you didn't get the author's point.
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