A couple of rants about Launchpad

[Mario Vukelic]

On Sun, 2009-03-08 at 18:35 +0000, Liam Proven wrote:
> Now, it should be said, I normally tweak Ubuntu installs a bit. I
> would consider it a bare minimum, in order to get a useful system, to
> install the restricted-extras package, install Win32codecs,
> libdvddecss or whatever it's called, make sure the MS webfonts were
> installed, load up a few things like Thunderbird and Skype, maybe the
> Acrobat reader and GoogleEarth, possibly remove redundant programs
> like Evolution and so on.

Very much the same that I do to the systems of friends who asked me to
support them in their switch to Linux systems (which these days
invariably means Ubuntu, and I recommend that if I am asked)

> For novice users, I'd also consolidate the 2 panels into a single,
> Windows-like one, remove the multiple-desktops icon and junk like
> that, 

Well, I would never ever remove the advantages that Ubuntu has over
Windows in the GUI department, but I won't argue with you :)
Just let it be said that every Windows convert I know loves the option
of having multiple desktops and files it under "I didn't even realize
Windows sucks that much"

> add in quicklaunch icons for all their main apps, 

I do that, too, or at least show them how to.

> lock
> everything in place, put shortcuts to Documents, Pictures etc. on the
> desktop, 

I leave that at the Ubuntu defaults. No use in giving them a system
that's considerably different to what they see if the look for help
online or in the system help. I rather show them the places menu and how
to use nautilus.

> stuff like that. Make it all look a bit more Windows-like.

I don't see the point of this, but again won't argue :)

> What I find is that once you've added some custom programs from the
> repos, 

Never had a problem with this on upgrades.

> added in a few apps from source or .DEBs or something, 

I'd never do that on a newbie system if it can be avoided in any way,
unless in special cases when I see these people all the time, anyway.
Adding software that won't get updates from the repos (and be it signed
PPAs) is a recipe for disaster if you ask me.

> removed
> some stuff you don't use, replaced a few standard apps with
> replacements, maybe installed an unsupported upgrade (e.g. OpenOffice
> 3 on 8.10 and 8.04), things like that - then there is a very good
> chance that the standard version-upgrade, however you do it, will
> leave you with missing icons, broken icons, menu entries duplicated or
> non-working, missing file associations, all sorts of crap like that.

I have never seen that to happen. Sure, a system needs a bit of house
keeping after an upgrade, but I've never seen the massive issues you
describe.

As I said above, borked video drivers and screen setups I did see
frequently.