If you could change ONE thing about Ubuntu, what would it be?

[entr3p]

I don't know. It just popped into my head lol. Remember, only one thing.

[keplerspeed]

Printer support. Well, this isnt really a ubuntu specific issue, its for all GNU/Linux systems. There just arent drivers, and HW manufacturers dont care that we do exist! People are turned off by ubuntu or any linux if I tell them that I wont be able to get their xxxx model lexmark working.

[entr3p]

Printer support. Well, this isnt really a ubuntu specific issue, its for all GNU/Linux systems. There just arent drivers, and HW manufacturers dont care that we do exist! People are turned off by ubuntu or any linux if I tell them that I wont be able to get their xxxx model lexmark working.

Yeh I've heard this a lot of times before in the past. Luckily I've never had those problems on any printer:lolflag:.

[LarsKongo]

As a desktop designer I would love to have an updated metacity that supports alpha-transparency, background blur, small windows (Not the same border for every window. Like photoshop in Windows for example where the tool-box is a small window.)

Also, a better gnome-panel would be welcome too. The current one feels very limited. I want one that supports pixmaps with sizing-margins. The current one can only tile the bg image.

[running_rabbit07]

I'd make it look and act just like Windows! Just kidding. Someone had to say it. Honestly, I think it doesn't need many changes. It works well for me. I have Abiword for school papers and most importantly, I have a secure system that doesn't have a bunch of programs running in the background.

I would change the way people look at me when I say I have Ubuntu. Ever noticed people look at you like you have something growing out of your forehead when you mention something that is not Windows or Mac running on your system?

[chucky chuckaluck]

the name.

[AlanRick]

Industry strength Backport , to keep the principle apps (firefox, openoffice) up-to-date on LTS Ubuntu versions.

[~sHyLoCk~]

the name.

I was gonna post that :D

[23meg]

The assumption that one can't actually change one thing about Ubuntu.

[starcannon]

The ability to choose services during install; for instance, my desktop computer has no bluetooth support in it, likely never will, so it'd be nice to disable that from my default install with a nice little gui bit in ubiquity. Another would be the ability to go ahead and install proprietary drivers over ethernet/wifi during the ubiquity installer. These are really just nitpicky things though, nothing I ever lose a wink over, but since you made the thread I thought I'd chip in my bits :)

[hessiess]

Tiling WM by default.

[moster]

Install future Ubuntu 25.4 LTS.

And if it STILL have same kiddie problems like jaunty... put a bullet into my computer case (large calibre)

[ubongo2008]

Do stable releases instead bugbusting them later on ... but maybe that would take too long ... well there is always an workaround somehow but it is pretty much work which isn't necessary

Edit: so may be longer release cycles but more stable ones?

[Shea7993]

only one thing? wow ubuntu needs abit more... so heres my opinion as better support for switching to linux =]

To contribute to newbs switching to ubuntu, biggest change(s) it needs is a new default theme, its just horrible, people will chosse wingdoze over ubuntu right there and then (ofcourse they dont know that you can customise it yet), and a neat introduction tour like wingdoze, dont hate me for saying like wingdoze, but seriously, newbs arent aware of the alternate OS's and how to use them, so they dont know which apps are for what, they dont know how to use repo's and sources, they dont know things like audio gets ripped in ogg's and they dont know how to install graphic drivers and then they just give up, just a nifty tour on ubuntu on live cd and after first bootup after instalation to introduce the average wingdoze user to ubuntu and maybe more indepth info tooltips on the apps, aaand then last the name lol, an alternate nickname for ubuntu would be beter i agree lol

[alienclone]

Do stable releases instead bugbusting them later on ... but maybe that would take too long ... well there is always an workaround somehow but it is pretty much work which isn't necessary

Edit: so may be longer release cycles but more stable ones?

+1
longer release cycles

[moster]

only one thing? wow ubuntu needs abit more... so heres my opinion as better support for switching to linux =]

To contribute to newbs switching to ubuntu, biggest change(s) it needs is a new default theme, its just horrible, people will chosse wingdoze over ubuntu right there and then (ofcourse they dont know that you can customise it yet), and a neat introduction tour like wingdoze, dont hate me for saying like wingdoze, but seriously, newbs arent aware of the alternate OS's and how to use them, so they dont know which apps are for what, they dont know how to use repo's and sources, they dont know things like audio gets ripped in ogg's and they dont know how to install graphic drivers and then they just give up, just a nifty tour on ubuntu on live cd and after first bootup after instalation to introduce the average wingdoze user to ubuntu and maybe more indepth info tooltips on the apps, aaand then last the name lol, an alternate nickname for ubuntu would be beter i agree lol

I prefer winBLOWS :D

I think major turnoff is lack of latest games and hardware incompatibility. On everything else sooner or later people would get used to. It is zero price :)

[etnlIcarus]

As a desktop designer I would love to have an updated metacity that supports alpha-transparency, background blur, small windows (Not the same border for every window. Like photoshop in Windows for example where the tool-box is a small window.)
I'm seeing a lot of focus on look, here. How about more sophisticated behaviour? Metacity still only offers the 4 buttons you get on Windows, with what other functionality it has hidden in the context menu.

Also, last I checked, Metacity does support a separate style for utility windows but it's up to theme designers to define it, else utility windows will look the same as normal windows, sans a couple of buttons.


One big thing I'd change about Ubuntu: promote a strong internal vision. Besides Gnome's incremental evolution and poorly defined 'habitat' resulting in a DE that is not particularly well-adapted to any set of conditions, the implication that 'the users know what they want' or 'the users know best', only seems to be turning Ubuntu into a bloated Frankenstein. It's quickly becoming a sad metaphor for democracy; heeding to the undisciplined usage habits of the barely-computer-literate isn't helping them to become better versed at computer usage, it's merely lowering the bar. Never forcing users to do things sensibly is how you end up with automatic update tools, "desktop search", and promises by Canonical's founder to 'link users applications' (I forget his exact words - the implication was that users could play pass the parcel with files, never touching a file manager).

[hellmet]

Complete freedom from CLI for the average-user.

[Странник]

MAJOR hardware support for all known hardware (impossible)

[fourtyseven]

Better support for sound and graphics cards. Im always having problems with those two things.

[etnlIcarus]

Complete freedom from CLI for the average-user.

I'd say we're already there, depending on the context of, "average".

[automaton26]

Provide Gufw with the default install, so that ex-Windows users don't get confused, go messing around with guarddog/firestarter, and cause problems with their standard ufw config.

(yup, that would be me, a few months back...)

[Tom Mann]

The ability to choose services during install; for instance, my desktop computer has no bluetooth support in it, likely never will, so it'd be nice to disable that from my default install with a nice little gui bit in ubiquity. Another would be the ability to go ahead and install proprietary drivers over ethernet/wifi during the ubiquity installer. These are really just nitpicky things though, nothing I ever lose a wink over, but since you made the thread I thought I'd chip in my bits :)

Shame there's no advanced button on the GUI install, I'd love to do this. Do you have this on brainstorm??

I'd drop OpenOffice.org for default Gnome Office. That or lose mono, but I do all this post-install anyway.

[BrokenKingpin]

I would change the default brown theme. I know some people like it, but I find very ugly. Ubuntu being the most popular distro it’s a damn shame it doesn’t look professional out the box. The first thing I do after install is change the theme.

EDIT: If I could change two things, the second would be the name (as others have stated).

[Mark76]

1: Fork off Ubuntu Server Edition into a separate commercial entity with its own dedicated staff.

2: Hire new staff for Ubuntu Desktop Edition whose only goal is to make the desktop a place people want to be. This includes UI tweaks and bug fixes where the bugs affect the user experience.

3: Drop Kubuntu and Xubuntu. It's not that I dislike either KDE or xfce (I don't), but Ubuntu's implementations of both are somewhat lacklustre. I'd prefer it if Canonical put all its desktop eggs in one basket and concentrated on Gnome. I'll reserve judgement about Lubuntu until it's been through a few release cycles.

4: More aggressive marketing of the Ubuntu desktop system to OEMs.

[MasterNetra]

I would like to see the Packages in repo kept up to date. Or at least add a repo where they are. Aka unstable repo or something.

[hoppipolla]

Probably improved Wi-Fi. It is very annoying when it fails to detect it or doesn't work properly ._.

[Arthur_D]

Make most Windows apps usable through Wine, with seamless DirectPlay support.

I think that would mean a lot.

[Mobil1]

Hi everyone! (first post lol)

Umm I'd probably try and change the 100% volume setting for when you first login. If I had false teeth they would have fallen out I'm sure of it LOL :D

[wiebeest]

Make most Windows apps usable through Wine, with seamless DirectPlay support.

+1 Agreed.
Most (ex-)Windows people want to able to use their favorite Windows program.

[hoppipolla]

Hi everyone! (first post lol)

Umm I'd probably try and change the 100% volume setting for when you first login. If I had false teeth they would have fallen out I'm sure of it LOL :D

Welcome to the forums! ^_^

And I dunno about that I hadn't noticed... if it is set on 100% though as default that's a bit silly!

[Mobil1]

Welcome to the forums! ^_^

And I dunno about that I hadn't noticed... if it is set on 100% though as default that's a bit silly!

Hey hoppipolla thanks for the welcome :) It was a good indicator it had found the driver I guess LOL :wink:

[qamelian]

+1
longer release cycles
I doubt that would make a difference. Every Ubuntu release I've used since 4.10 has been as stable as any distro I have ever used with a longer release cycle except for Deian and Slackware. Longer release cycles do not equate to a higher quality release.

[ecmatter]

1. VLC instead of Rhythmbox/Movie Player
2. A Nautilus version of the GUI Bulk Rename app that comes with Thunar.

[SuperSonic4]

Rolling Release or pacman

not sure yet

[NinjaNumberNine]

Better schooling software... *sigh*
I mean it lacks a "complete" schooling system such as are sold for Windows. See the screenshot for why I use Windows.
There doesn't seem to be an actual database for a school client, i.e. there is nothing out there for the Ubuntu user that will allow him to sit at the computer OFFLINE and get a complete home education.

[lotuseclat79]

I would supply a PAE kernel standardized for every new release on the Desktop - it is the direction new platforms are moving, i.e. lots more memory.

I am looking forward to the new linux i386-generic-pae image (or whatever the new name is) in Karmic.

-- Tom

[fourtyseven]

I would like to see the Packages in repo kept up to date. Or at least add a repo where they are. Aka unstable repo or something.

I completely agree with this.

[alienclone]

1: Fork off Ubuntu Server Edition into a separate commercial entity with its own dedicated staff.

2: Hire new staff for Ubuntu Desktop Edition whose only goal is to make the desktop a place people want to be. This includes UI tweaks and bug fixes where the bugs affect the user experience.

3: Drop Kubuntu and Xubuntu. It's not that I dislike either KDE or xfce (I don't), but Ubuntu's implementations of both are somewhat lacklustre. I'd prefer it if Canonical put all its desktop eggs in one basket and concentrated on Gnome. I'll reserve judgement about Lubuntu until it's been through a few release cycles.

4: More aggressive marketing of the Ubuntu desktop system to OEMs.

i really agree with your idea of concentrating on Ubuntu (Gnome) and more aggressive marketing.

[Slug71]

Do stable releases instead bugbusting them later on ... but maybe that would take too long ... well there is always an workaround somehow but it is pretty much work which isn't necessary

Edit: so may be longer release cycles but more stable ones?

Make most Windows apps usable through Wine, with seamless DirectPlay support.

I think that would mean a lot.

These and,
use Plymouth instead of Xsplash.

[BrokenKingpin]

[B]
Most (ex-)Windows people want to able to use their favorite Windows program.
Then they should just use Windows. If there isn't a Linux alternative to something, then that would be a good open source project to start. I can see using wine for a few things here and there, but if someone makes the switch to Linux and they are stilling using mostly Windows apps, what is the point of switching?

[moster]

One really frustration thing is when I copy some text into clipboard I never know how long it will actually stay there. I lost quite lot of data due this "feature".

example. Copy ICQ number from Pidgin then try to paste it somewhere.. well cannot.

[cityrama]

I don't know. It just popped into my head lol. Remember, only one thing.


X windowing system, but it's got better. For me it's the one and only thing. but improve it more rather than change.

[cgroza]

Webcam drivers ...

[Compintuit]

I second a repository that will keep us completely up to date - like a rolling release :)

[moster]

I second a repository that will keep us completely up to date - like a rolling release :)

Yes! That would be EXPLOSION. It is little frustrating to wait for months for something. And I dont want to change distro.

[slakkie]

Industry strength Backport , to keep the principle apps (firefox, openoffice) up-to-date on LTS Ubuntu versions.

+mucho

[the8thstar]

Drivers and support for my Pixma ip1500 printer and my VX-6000 Microsoft webcam.

[Exodist]

Better schooling software... *sigh*
I mean it lacks a "complete" schooling system such as are sold for Windows. See the screenshot for why I use Windows.
There doesn't seem to be an actual database for a school client, i.e. there is nothing out there for the Ubuntu user that will allow him to sit at the computer OFFLINE and get a complete home education.

Edubuntu is very close.

[FunkyRes]

Eye candy desktop effects that are enabled by default. They make all but the fastest computers feel slow. Turn them off by default, let those who want them enable them.