Replacing network-offline (old version 2xmonitor) with NM wlan 0% signal strength icon

[Vincenzo Ciancia]

On 07/03/2009 Mat Tomaszewski wrote:

> There was a significant problem with the old icon (2 monitors), it 
> was 
> *totally* mysterious (what 2 monitors have to do with network 
> connection?)

Two monitors represent two connected or disconnected computers 
(depending on other factors, e.g. the icon having a red cross on it).

> 2. Having 0 signal = not connected may not be true from technical 
> perspective, but it is true from practical perspective. You have no 
> signal, therefore you won't be able to browse the web. Click on the 
> icon 
> to do something about it (check what's going on, connect to a 
> different 
> network, etc).

Everything these days can be argumented by saying that one should not 
take the practical point of view, but this change is extremely wrong, if 
you pass me the term. If there is no connection, there is no connection 
and I should try to connect. This I can do by looking at available 
wireless networks, or by plugging ethernet in.

If there is low signal, I have to improve the signal, e.g. by moving the 
laptop.

As usual, what I can say is "do whatever you want with ubuntu, it's 
yours". However, I used to think that ubuntu was also mine, so let me 
spend a sentence on this. In my opinion, this change makes you think 
that you are connected and signal is low, even though you are not 
connected. Hence, you may not realise that you *have to* connect. If you 
travel a lot (as I do), it happens to have bad connections that 
sometimes don't work at all. Having a way to distinguish the two cases 
is very important in this case.

Vincenzo