Suggestions for Ubuntu 11.10

[Jo-Erlend Schinstad]

On 16 May 2011 10:27, Omal Mannapperuma <omal.lasitha at gmail.com> wrote:
> 1) Ability to search within a folder, just by right clicking on the folder,
> and select "search for files and folders"

Why not open the folder and click search? That seems both more
intuitive and less complicated than having to right-click the folder
to get a menu from which you can choose to search.

> 2) Make K3B as the default CD/DVD burning application, and if possible, add
> Blu-Ray burning as well into it. Still the application lacks with the
> feature to burn bootable CD/DVDs of any kind, so I would be most delighted
> to see that being integrated into it as well.
'
Why is K3B more user friendly than the one we currently have installed
by default, Brasero?

> 3) Make available a single location to enter Proxy settings, and let that be
> spread throughout the system, without any interaction from the user any
> further.

What kind of proxies are you talking about here? Do you think it
should be a requirement that system updates are installed from the
same proxy server that you use when you IRC?

> 4) Assign a drive letter to the partitions detected by Ubuntu, rather than
> 120GB partition or anything like that.

That's fairly cute. Tell me; why is "F:\" more user friendly than
"/media/holliday_pictures"? By the way; Ubuntu can never use colon
that way, so it would have to be something like "/F;/". Have a look at
the web and could the number of drive letters you can find. They're
the same kind of addresses, if you weren't aware of it. I don't
understand why it's more user friendly to have different filepaths on
the web and on your computer.

> 5) Add Samba by default to the distribution.

You can right click a file and choose to share it using Samba. Isn't
that good enough? Why?

> 6) Add support for Acer Veriton series as well.

Isn't it supported? Why? File bugs.

> The reason is, most computer users are much familiar with Windows, and in
> Windows, they see a much clearer view of their data than in Linux. Because
> of drive letters, it is easier to remember where the data are located.

Seriously? Microsoft implemented the support to mount partitions in
directories years ago, in Windows XP, I believe. One of the reasons
why that's more user friendly, is that you can split a file hierarchy
into different disks and partitions. For instance, say you travel a
lot and you take lots of pictures and videos from your trips.
Sometimes, you use a memory card, othertimes a usb stick, while still
at other times, you use an external harddrive. Wouldn't it be nice if
they all appeared in /media/travel/ so that when you inserted your
memory card from your trip to Hungary in May this year, it would
appear as /media/travel/hungary-may-2011? In Windows, by default, the
location would depend on other hardware. If you had inserted a memory
card from your kids soccermatch, then instead of F:\, your mmc from
your trip to Hungary would receive G:\, or possibly H:\ if you had
also connected your phone. Please explain how that is more user
friendly?

> People are reluctant to use Ubuntu or any other Linux, because they have to
> learn the shell and al

Where did you get that impression? I take it you're talking about
entering commands in order to get things done? If a normal user
/needs/ do to that, then that is a bug. Can you give some examples? I
feel quite confident this is based on rumors and misconceptions, but
if you prove me wrong, then I'm sure lots of people will be happy to
help fix that problem. Having tested Ubuntu on new and experienced
users for years, I have to say it's been a number of years since last
I experienced such an issue.

I think it's time that things should change. The more user friendly
> Ubuntu can get close to Windows while retaining the stability, you guys will
> be stunned how many will download this magnificient OS on the launching day
> itself, if you put a counter for how many downloads during the launching day
> of a new distribution.

I agree it's time that things should change, but I do not share your
vision of the future. For instance, I don't think a user should have
to remember where files are located or what names they have. The brain
doesn't work that way. It's much easier to remember that your
girlfriend sent you a picture last friday at lunch, than it is to
remember "C:\Users and Settings\jo-erlend\Documents\Shared with
me\Pictures\Irene\dyts20110520113540.jpeg". Don't you think? And what
if downloads from different applications have different download
folders? I would much rather focus on my girlfriend than protocols and
drive letters.

Or lets say you take the train to and from work every day. Since you
have a laptop and the train has an internet connection, you spend your
time traveling to and from work as productively as you can. Your
computer has a GPS installed. So after going to work one morning, you
simply tag that travel as "office". From now on, you can just type "to
office" and you get a complete overview of everything you've done on
your computer on your way to work or "from office" for the opposite.
Now, one day, your boss, Jill, calls you and asks you about "that
spreadsheet" she sent you about a month ago, or maybe two. That's what
bosses do. You do not remember what filename she used, where you
stored it or if she sent it using email, IM or shared it on Ubuntu
One. You do, however, remember that you were on your way home from
work, that you were tired because you had been working overtime and
that it was a monday, because you were looking forward to your
soccerteams match that day.

Because _that's_ how the mind works. So, you quite simply press super
(or winkey, if you like) and type "train from office overtime
spreadsheet from Jill on monday". Hopefully, that will result in a
single document. Otherwise, I'd seriously consider applying for a
different job.

This email became much longer than I had intended. I lost myself in my
own words. Can you please remind me of the reasons why using drive
letters would make Ubuntu more user friendly? I completely forgot.

Thanks for your patience,

Jo-Erlend Schinstad