[Lubuntu-comms] People do not understand the desktop installer

[Thomas Ward]

Back when we had Brainstorm, I suggested Ubiquity (Ubuntu installer) be given a warning popup for both side-by-side and "use whole disk" as well as custom partitioning, which requires you to acknowledge the risk of such installations and that all information would be at risk of being destroyed (or in case of "use whole disk" then the data erasure was guaranteed).

But through experience on Ask Ubuntu, I've unfortunately come to realize one persistent truth:  no matter how many warnings you put in place about something, a substantial portion of all people will ignore it.  This is the case in when we answer questions about dual boots and say "back up your data you want to keep first in case something bad happens."  Almost nobody listens to that and data gets lost by user error in the first place.

So while I commend everyone here for identifying this fatal weakness in the installation process, I must also point out the weakness of people in general, in that they don't read half the messages proposed to them during installation and pre-installation.  And no matter how many warnings or risk acceptance requirements are put in place (videos included too) there's no true way to remove all issues of PEBKAC from the installation process.

------
Thomas


> On Oct 25, 2013, at 11:05 AM, "Ali Linx (amjjawad)" <amjjawad at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 5:45 PM, William <wjckc79 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Okay, I think it's safe to say that so far having the initial selection warning followed by an impossible to misunderstand dialogue box that requires a check box confirmation is a solid plan. While I still think that the idea of have a youtube video is a good one: how, where, and when to implement it is highly problematic. If it is going to be presented along with or before the download link, it's presentation should be somewhat passive. We don't want to scare people off - otherwise they might have second thoughts and instead go use Fedora to accidentally wipe out Windows. Rather than including it before the download, I think a better option would be to automatically forward them to the video once the download has started. To keep everything simple, the page should located at install.ubuntugnome.org - or similar. Here is my reason for keeping the URL super simple: going back to the dialogue box, that itself should refer people to the video that they may have dismissed at download time. If your going to refer people to a URL that they have to remember, then it must be super simple, i.e. install.ubuntugnome.org - now the real problem: this page would have to present a selection of language options. Due to the nature of Linux, this is not insurmountable, but I don't know how practical it would be as an effort. Otherwise the page could simply explain things in greater detail then the installer for every language the video has yet to be translated into...? This is getting too complicated. Perhaps the video is a good idea in principle but a bad idea based on logistics alone.
> 
> Hello William,
> 
> Once this issue has been raised by my good friend Nio, I have immediately updated Ubuntu GNOME Website and Ubuntu GNOME Download Wiki Page:
> 
> http://ubuntugnome.org/download/
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuGNOME/GetUbuntuGNOME#Downloading_Ubuntu_GNOME_13.10
> 
> Now, if someone decided NOT to read the first note which is "please backup..." then I am afraid if he/she will come and complain that Ubuntu GNOME (or any flavour) has wiped my Data and it is Linux's Fault, I can simply send him/her that link with the screenshot of the installer where it says: "Warning (in red), ..."
> 
> The video (HOWTO Install) is JUST an extra step to go the extra miles (that I always love to do).
> 
> So, from my side, I think I can assure you that Ubuntu GNOME has advised its users to backup their data before even downloading the ISO :D
> 
>  
> -- 
> Remember: "All of us are smarter than any one of us."
> Best Regards,
> amjjawad
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