is ubuntu default look ok?

[vegetax]

How can i impress installing ubuntu to a new user with this poor default look?

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/305/28.gif

I mean is even worse if i show them the applications:

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/305/86.gif

Please note that am not trying to create polemic , is just that none of my friends and new people i tried to introduce ubuntu has liked it, even fedora core users, who like gnome says looks way too simple, to the extreme. The new users tend to say , its ok, it looks like windows 95.

I think gnome can look better, please make it look better by default! Also the themes that comes are all ugly,all of them. Please also put some decent themes to choose from!

Kubuntu is exactly the oposite, it looks astonishing by default!! just no contenxt.

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/306/31.gif

A look at the applications:
http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/306/45.gif

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/305/45.gif

[RastaMahata]

I got different comments, like "it's so different from windows" :P

Anyway, I think we're talking about "taste" here. I like the default way ubuntu looks, and I dont like how kubuntu does. I've grown used to brown by now. And now, when I look at a blue desktop, it feels cold (weird feeling). Besides, I've always thought kde might look "nice", but its a hell to handle. At least for me (I might be a little clumpsy with the menus)...

[Adrenal]

If you want something different, try the leech (http://nebulosa.patser.net/files/projects/linux/gnome.html) theme. My personal favourite

[orion_114]

I really like ubuntu's default theme. I think it fits in well with the whole concept of ubuntu. Its for human beings. Its easy on the eyes, the colours aren't too wow, they are pretty natural colours, and it looks very pro.

[Leif]

My initial reaction to the human theme was "blech" as well. So I played around with a ton of different themes; industrial is great, clearlooks-blue is nice, and milk I really enjoyed. But now I'm back to human, because it grows on you. I enjoy the deep chocolatey colours, it's easy on the eye, and it's distinctive. Found a nice big brown wallpaper with a grand cayonney look for my dual screens as well, and it all fits together perfectly.

I still like the whole blue thing, but now that I've given it a chance, human works even better !

[Buffalo Soldier]

My initial reaction to the human theme was "blech" as well. So I played around with a ton of different themes; industrial is great, clearlooks-blue is nice, and milk I really enjoyed. But now I'm back to human, because it grows on you. I enjoy the deep chocolatey colours, it's easy on the eye, and it's distinctive. Found a nice big brown wallpaper with a grand cayonney look for my dual screens as well, and it all fits together perfectly.

I still like the whole blue thing, but now that I've given it a chance, human works even better !
I've gone through the same experience as well. I think we just have to aproach things with open minds.

"What about attracting new users who aren't too open / comfortable with changes?" Then I guess they shouldn't be changing OS at the first place :p

[occy8]

I really like ubuntu's default theme. I think it fits in well with the whole concept of ubuntu. Its for human beings. Its easy on the eyes, the colours aren't too wow, they are pretty natural colours, and it looks very pro.

mmmh chocolate, who doesn't like chocolate????
first the brown colours sound a bit weired ( I read about it before I saw it ) but yeah its easy on the eyes smooth like choc... I start drooling again hehehe
I use some pictures from hubblesite.org as wallpaper depending on my mood, but like the mellow Ubuntu wallpaper too.

[BWF89]

The default wallpaper looks like an image from someones intestines.

[MaZiNgA]

This is talked again and again...Almost noone likes the default look but sadly the devs don't seem to do anything about it :((((

[PhilD]

I like it, I am sick of blue!

I think some of the fonts used by default could be smaller though - I have changed the fonts to 8pt Sans for the desktop, apps etc and to 10point monospace for gedit. Now I can actually make use of my 1280x1024 display O:)

There are some nice wallpapers on http://www.gnome-look.org/, including quite a lot of Ubuntu-themed ones. I am using http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=19730 at the moment, it looks great and is not too "busy", which is distracting in a wallpaper.

[TravisNewman]

WHAT?
Almost nobody likes the default?

Hmm... I've only heard of a VERY few people disliking it.

[kiddo]

I like it more since hoary, it has improved (a bit rounded, with a nice intestines wallpaper). I think this is deep into the "feel of ubuntu" and their philosophy of giving human warmth. I don't think they'd switch it red or screaming orange. Give it up, they won't change colors :) and I agree with the above: I neeever use blue >_< have seen it too much on screen (often related to BSODs, critical alerts, you name it ;)). Besides, all you have to do is get additional themes. Look for "theme" in synaptic. Or:
http://art.gnome.org (quite empty for now)
http://gnome-look.org

Or make yourself a small website for your friends to get all their themes.

By the way, something that could detach from that 95 look would be to add another version of the human theme, with bitmaps. So you could get that intestine interior in the title bars! XD

[dusu]

Mmmm,
anyway if someone does not like the default look, he/she can just change it !
Anyone who managed to install Ubuntu should be able to do so anyway :confused:

[bvc]

This is talked again and again...Almost noone likes the default look but sadly the devs don't seem to do anything about it :((((
sure they do....
we've had 3 diff shades of brown

true they have not changed from 'a' brown but that's cool. I used to hate the brown, but it does grow on you if you give it a chance. The exception is the new darker brown wallpaper. Dark/light contrast is bad for your eyes and the wall is too dark, contrasting too much with white base/pages/backgrounds.

[carlc]

I agree, as has been said again and again, whether you like it or not is a matter of preference. Personally, the look is not for me but I have come to respect the work that has been put into creating both something that is consistent with the image ubuntu is promoting and to have a desktop that does not look like every other desktop. I also try to keep in mind that many people who put much effort into creating the default look probably browse this forum so I try to word my opinions the same as I would if I were talking with them in person. Since this is an ongoing issue, my suggestion would be to create a theme similar to kubuntu's default and include it with ubuntu's next distro and as a current download for hoary. Everyone should be happy then. (except for people who like to complain) :-P

[bvc]

concerning the gtk, the issue to me is 3 diff shades all in one theme
http://www.kernow-webhosting.com/~bvc/theme/ubuntu/why3diffshades.png

It doesn't flow and no selection matches another. This is a result of going from the flat to gradient style. The colors have to be adjusted to continue to match when the gradients are used. It appears the colors have been edited in the gtkrc so I can only assume this is how they wanted it. Oh, well. To each his own, eh?

Also, they could just do as other distros and load up the Simple theme by default! Be thankful they are trying something diff! They do listen to their users more than any other distro I've ever seen. Thanks Dev's!!!

[dataw0lf]

I can't stand the human theme. But that's just me. It takes less than a minute to switch to a different theme.

[gflores]

When I first installed Ubuntu, I thought it looked nice and simple, although I didn't really like the wallpaper. Now, after reading your posts and looking at those screenshots and comparing Gnome and KDE, KDE just blows it away. Of course, this is just my opinion, since I'm now officially using Kubuntu. :)