more, Ubiquity Slideshow for Ubuntu

[Dougie Richardson]

Hi,

2009/6/15 H S <perhapspink at gmail.com>:
> * the ability to view it any time from the 'normal' desktop, possibly
> integrated into the existing help pages..  That way it's not about killing
> time during the install, but about providing the user (and especially new
> user) with an ongoing resource that they can turn to, to learn more about
> there system.

I can't see where this would be integrated to the help documentation
to be honest and think it might be an unnecessary duplication of
effort that will require updating prior to each release and is
dependent on (to some degree) the release announcement.  We all know
how late in the release schedule that comes, so I'm concerned that in
future releases this could become inaccurate and untended.

> * the ability to pause the slideshow and even go backwards and forwards.
> That way I can stop, read,  browse, and take note of something that
> interests me.

Caldera Open Linux had the same thing during its install and it worked
well (especially as there was a Tetris game to play at the end).

> *the ability to bookmark a specific slide, so I can go back to it later ( I
> know this might be a little difficult to implement from within ubiquity, but
> it need not be.  Perhaps a little text file can be written to some part of
> the system (heck, even /boot might be fine), and then the system will check
> at startup if that file exists, and if so, apply those bookmarks to the
> default user's slideshow.)

I think a better idea would be to refer to the area of the system
documentation that's relevant.  That way we can draw attention to a
subject which is centrally maintained in the current documentation.

> * I also think the 'slides' in the slideshow are too small to do any good at
> conveying anything useful to the user.  Ideally, the slideshow is about
> helping the user to better know their system, is it not?  Some people
> require more 'handholding' than others.  Why not give it to them?  When
> describing some menu entry or feature, show them (in great detail), which
> menu entry they need to navigate to, and which selections they need to
> click, and which websites they can turn to for additional help and
> resources.  If we are not doing this, IMHO, we are just bombarding them with
> useless - or worse, confusing - information,  This slideshow will be one of
> the first impressions new users have of Ubuntu.  I think we owe it to all
> the people who work on Ubuntu to make this a good first impression.  The
> slideshow needs to be the best 'Walmart-greeter' -like thing we can build.

Actually, I'm not so sure about this.  It seems to me that Ubuntu has
two main routes to installation - running the live CD, then running
Ubiquity and running the install from the initial menu.  Chances are
that we could make something snappy to fill the needs you suggest from
the Live CD where people can play with it before installing rather
than in the installer - I suspect, although I could be wrong, that
most people aren't paying more attention to the install after it
starts than a cursory check to make sure there isn't a message box on
screen they need to acknowledge.

This sounds very negative and it isn't inteded to be because there are
some good ideas suggested here and there is a need to highlight common
issues and new features.  I do feel though that these would be better
addressed on the live CD than in the installer.

-- 
Regards,

Dougie Richardson
http://www.lynxworks.eu/
dougierichardson at ubuntu.com