Ubuntu download descriptions

[incubus]

Dear all,

English is not my native language, so forgive me if I'm just confused. Whenever I go to Ubuntu's download page and read the descriptions I think they should be improved. IIRC, they are still the same ones of the first release and I get the impression they were written in a hurry.

For example:


64-bit PC (AMD64) text-mode install CD
-----------------------------------------------
For computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). It is not necessary for all (even most) processors made by AMD -- only their 64 bit chips.


For me "not necessary for all (even most)" is very ambiguous; it should be "not necessary for most (if not all)". Also, the final part, "only their 64 bits chips", makes me think (if I read it literally) that all AMD 64 chips REQUIRE this installation, which is not true as far as I know.

The problem, it seems, is that the passage is trying to tell the reader too many different things in just a sentence. I was going to send Canonical an email, but wanted to get other people's ideas first.

Thanks,
incubus

[unbuntu]

Dear all,

English is not my native language, so forgive me if I'm just confused. Whenever I go to Ubuntu's download page and read the descriptions I think they should be improved. IIRC, they are still the same ones of the first release and I get the impression they were written in a hurry.

For example:



For me "not necessary for all (even most)" is very ambiguous; it should be "not necessary for most (if not all)". Also, the final part, "only their 64 bits chips", makes me think (if I read it literally) that all AMD 64 chips REQUIRE this installation, which is not true as far as I know.

The problem, it seems, is that the passage is trying to tell the reader too many different things in just a sentence. I was going to send Canonical an email, but wanted to get other people's ideas first.

Thanks,
incubus

My comprehension is that all processors that are based on AMD64 should use amd64 build.

I think the description was trying to make it clear that

only their 64 bit chips.

should download this. Maybe there are some users who only know that their CPUs are made by AMD, and try to use it even though their CPUs are actually 32-bit. It reminds such users to "double check before proceeding", so to speak...

[WildTangent]

My comprehension is that all processors that are based on AMD64 should use amd64 build.

I think the description was trying to make it clear that

should download this. Maybe there are some users who only know that their CPUs are made by AMD, and try to use it even though their CPUs are actually 32-bit. It reminds such users to "double check before proceeding", so to speak...
I have an AMD 64 bit chip, but I prefer to run 32-bit. The OP is right, this is confusing, and for some people who may not know a whole lot about computers, this would confuse them.

-Wild

[incubus]

Thanks for the feedback, folks.

Yeah, I guess most people with AMD64s wouldn't actually want to chroot all the time or hunt down recipes to make programs work in a 64bit installation. For new comers it's hard to know how Ubuntu 64 implements running 32bit applications.

Anyway, the mere fact that someone has to interpret the description for me seems enough to consider revision. Even if people are not downloading wrong CDs, I think language clarity adds to the professional aspect of Ubuntu.

I will wait for a couple more replies before submitting some suggestions for descriptions and even a link to this thread. Feel free to suggest what you like.

incubus

[GreyFox503]

I agree. They don't make it clear that you can run 64 or 32-bit versions on AMD's 64-bit chips.