Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
Hi,

I was thinking about how to increase the user base of Ubuntu desktop.

More and more people will use Ubuntu desktop if it (GUI, etc.) is easy to
use.

First timers and older people should also find Ubuntu desktop easy to use
(having very short learning curve).

Microsoft Windows is there on about 90% of all (computer) systems mainly
because it is very easy to use.

Windows is not a great OS but it is so easy to use that first timers and
older people also use it without much issues.

The current default GUI of Ubuntu desktop is not very user friendly.

But, it is for certain that if we want to increase the user base of Ubuntu
desktop then we have to make it (GUI, etc.) easy to use just like Windows
or even easier than Windows.

Regards,
Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 21:08:01 +0530, Amit wrote:
>Microsoft Windows is there on about 90% of all (computer) systems
>mainly because it is very easy to use.

Hi,

that's complete bogus for several reasons.

>Windows is not a great OS but it is so easy to use that first timers
>and older people also use it without much issues.

FBI warning, we detected illegal porn on your machine, pay 1000 bitcoin
or you'll be jailed for life.

All your data is encrypted, pay 1000 bitcoin or you'll never get back
access to your data.

>But, it is for certain that if we want to increase the user base of
>Ubuntu desktop then we have to make it (GUI, etc.) easy to use just
>like Windows or even easier than Windows.

Who {,the .?*@} is we? And when became the non-existent
user-friendliness off Windows an idol?

Actually the neighbourhood ask all the *BSD and Linux geeks for help,
when the Windows support they have payed for fails to solve the
uncountable issues they experience.

Please, folks, if you want something idiot prove to use, pay much money
for Apple hardware and software! If you are willing to read the fine
and easy to understand manual and you don't need professional grade
{,nice} software, but you also don not want to become a power user/geek,
then use a Linux distro such as an Ubuntu flavour.

Regards,
Ralf

-- 
“Awards are merely the badges of mediocrity.”

― Charles Ives

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 9:40 PM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 21:08:01 +0530, Amit wrote:
> >Microsoft Windows is there on about 90% of all (computer) systems
> >mainly because it is very easy to use.
>
> Hi,
>
> that's complete bogus for several reasons.
>

Read the article at the following page:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/windows-continues-to-operate-on-more-than-90-percent-computers-in-the-world-3669283.html/amp&ved=2ahUKEwjbqtKCi9X2AhVYUGwGHffQCOoQFnoECAQQBQ&usg=AOvVaw0-GBAFPXBvgtNZC-a62zis

It says:

‐---
Microsoft's operating system runs on 90.85% of the computers identified by
NetMarketShare, well ahead of the 7.54% for Mac OS and 1.61% for Linux.
-

Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Henri Girard
with mate-desktop it can be personalize very quickly I think ubuntu is 
easier than w11 which is coming



Le 20/03/2022 à 16:38, Amit a écrit :

Hi,

I was thinking about how to increase the user base of Ubuntu desktop.

More and more people will use Ubuntu desktop if it (GUI, etc.) is easy 
to use.


First timers and older people should also find Ubuntu desktop easy to 
use (having very short learning curve).


Microsoft Windows is there on about 90% of all (computer) systems 
mainly because it is very easy to use.


Windows is not a great OS but it is so easy to use that first timers 
and older people also use it without much issues.


The current default GUI of Ubuntu desktop is not very user friendly.

But, it is for certain that if we want to increase the user base of 
Ubuntu desktop then we have to make it (GUI, etc.) easy to use just 
like Windows or even easier than Windows.


Regards,
Amit




--
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Fwd: ubuntu-wsl=1.478 pulls in unnecessary packages for WSL 1

2022-03-20 Thread Henri Girard
Yes, but I installed it because I don't mind having a lot of files, 
because it  is the only way to use ubuntu softs one can't use on w11. 
For example sagemath is the last version 9.5 on jammy. I use gwsl too 
which is fine to use in root


Regards

Henri

Le 20/03/2022 à 17:33, iBug a écrit :

Hello all,

I'm re-posting this because I previously configured DMARC for my
domain incorrectly, which I suspect is causing users not to receive
the email.

-- Forwarded message -
From: iBug 
Date: Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 10:40 PM
Subject: ubuntu-wsl=1.478 pulls in unnecessary packages for WSL 1
To: 
Cc: iBug 


Hello all,

When following routine updates for my WSL1, which has already been
upgraded to Jammy, I noticed a bunch of unwanted packages:

# apt upgrade --no-install-recommends
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
   apport byobu dbus gettext-base gir1.2-glib-2.0
gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0 iproute2 libappstream4 libargon2-1 libbpf0
libcryptsetup12 libdevmapper1.02.1 libgirepository-1.0-1
libglib2.0-bin libgstreamer1.0-0 libip4tc2 libkmod2 libmnl0
libnewt0.52
   libpackagekit-glib2-18 libpam-systemd libpolkit-agent-1-0
libpolkit-gobject-1-0 libstemmer0d libxmlb2 libxtables12 packagekit
pkexec policykit-1 polkitd python3-apport python3-blinker
python3-cffi-backend python3-cryptography python3-distro python3-gi
   python3-httplib2 python3-importlib-metadata python3-jeepney
python3-jwt python3-keyring python3-launchpadlib
python3-lazr.restfulclient python3-lazr.uri python3-more-itertools
python3-newt python3-oauthlib python3-problem-report python3-pyparsing
   python3-secretstorage python3-six python3-software-properties
python3-wadllib python3-zipp screen software-properties-common systemd
systemd-sysv
The following packages will be upgraded:
   ubuntu-wsl
1 upgraded, 58 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 11.4 MB of archives.
After this operation, 43.9 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Clearly something's going wrong with the pending version for ubuntu-wsl:

# apt show ubuntu-wsl=1.478
...
Depends: apport, binutils, byobu, curl, dirmngr, git, gnupg, htop,
patch, screen, software-properties-common, tmux, vim, wsl-setup
...
# apt show ubuntu-wsl=1.477
...
Depends: gnupg, wsl-setup
Recommends: dbus-x11, show-motd
...

The offending dependency chain is:

ubuntu-wsl=1.478 -> software-properties-common -> packagekit ->
policykit-1 -> polkitd -> default-logind|logind (selected
libpam-systemd) -> everything else

I've put ubuntu-wsl on hold on my WSL1 installation. Hopefully someone
will find a way to sort things out and keep systemd and dbus out of
WSL1, where they're not designed to work.

Best regards,
iBug



--
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
I'm not interested in reading another market share link. I'm quite sure
that most computer devices used via a GUI are smartphones and I doubt
that Windows is the most used OS on smartphones. However, given that
most desktop computers likely are equipped with Windows only, the market
share still isn't bound to user-friendliness.

Windows is easier available, since it's installed by default on almost
all discounter desktop computers (and laptops...). "Available by
default" isn't the same as easier to use.

Windows has got better proprietary support for additional hardware, as
well as some professional software, but this is true for Apple
operating systems, too.

_But_ Windows is the operating system that fails the most and comes
with the most worse support related to the countless issue and
has got the most security gaps. Without a computer geek in the
neighborhood Jane Doe is way more lost, than when using a user-friendly
Linux distro + willing to go through a small learning curve. Yes, a
*BSD and user-centric Linux distro is not made for Jane and even
user-friendly Linux distros aren't idiot proof. Not completely, but
close to idiot proof is Apple, but you need to pay for this by much
money and accepting radical restrictions.




-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Thomas Ward
Okay, guys, with my community leadership hat on: before you read any 
further on this, don't take shots at each other, we're all on the same 
side here.  If you want to argue different points of view, do it in a 
civil tone, please don't call people "bogus" or fight with people about 
hardware, etc. and don't swear please (even if you obfuscate it - this 
is a civil place not a place to fight).


Now, on to my response, WITHOUT my CC hat on.  Also without my other 
hats on, but I put them all in the signature because I mention them 
here, and because it shows the breadth of my exposure to the 'current 
community state of mind' at large (i.e. Ask Ubuntu and such).


FIRST, some background on me.  I am a long time Ubuntu user, first used 
it in 2009, where it massively improved performance on my then Dell 
Vostro laptop that I had for college.  I admit though I dualbooted - 
Linux as primary driver, Windows for gaming or specific Windows only 
software.  2012 is when I really got deeper into it and started doing 
support on Ask Ubuntu (and hey, I'm also a moderator there now!).  2014 
is when I started doing actual development.  And then I continued to get 
involved deeper and deeper into the Server side of things, then started 
maintaining packages, then got full upload privs everywhere in Ubuntu, 
leading to me getting positions on the Developer Membership Board, 
Lubuntu Team/Council, Community Council, and other positions.  And just 
as a point, I recently finally applied in Debian for Debian Maintainer 
to have upload access to all my packages I maintain (two of them), and 
that was approved two days ago, and is waiting for Debian admins to 
update my status.


I'm very fluent in Ubuntu and how it works, and know far more than I 
want to admit.  With this in mind, my responses will be the "Power user 
comments on user problems and concerns based on long-term observation of 
Ask Ubuntu, user complaints/concerns, etc.


On 3/20/22 11:38, Amit wrote:

Hi,

I was thinking about how to increase the user base of Ubuntu desktop.

More and more people will use Ubuntu desktop if it (GUI, etc.) is easy 
to use.


Technically speaking, the GUI *is* easy to use.  It's not hard to find 
applications with the search bar in vanilla Ubuntu, and the GUI is not 
the concern here usually.



First timers and older people should also find Ubuntu desktop easy to 
use (having very short learning curve).


Microsoft Windows is there on about 90% of all (computer) systems 
mainly because it is very easy to use.


Windows is not a great OS but it is so easy to use that first timers 
and older people also use it without much issues.


And herein lies my beginning of countering your statements.

It is **well known** that Ubuntu ISOs are restricted from shipping 
certain software or drivers due to legal constraints. Windows has legal 
agreements to install special Windows fonts, software, etc. and install 
codecs for DVDs, etc. from other companies.  Ubuntu and the Open Source 
world (including Debian, etc.) don't have those legal agreements and 
therefore are restricted from shipping certain binary drivers, etc. and 
other software that would normally be available in Windows.


Windows has been a dominant market share since **the dawn**.  I was born 
in 1990.  In Kindergarten, we had old 5.5inch floppy disk computers that 
we had to boot those disks to for software.  In 1st through 3rd grade, 
we had Windows 3.1 on old IBM systems for use for school emails between 
staff.  In 4th grade, systems started being upgraded to Windows 95.  
Then 98.  Then 2000 by the time I was in middle school (6-8th grade).  
Then XP through high school. ME was kinda skipped in the school world.


The only other competitor was Apple, which in the timespan Windows grew 
had a lag before it had any significant market share.


In comparison to "Hey it's ready off the shelf!" Windows and Apple 
environments, initial UNIX (and later Linux) builds were not GUI 
oriented, were mostly CLI, had server gearing, and were used by 
'techies' who weren't held to the same level as 'consumer users' as they 
needed high technical skills to use it.


Then enter GUI Linux.  The large GUI linux stuff started to kick in 
around here in the 2000s, with RHEL being around and used in tech 
colleges for special projects.  In fact, when I first went off to 
college in 2009, Carnegie Mellon University had primarily Windows 
endpoint systems connected into the RHEL/UNIX backends that powered the 
core.  I haven't been back at CMU since 2010 because I changed 
universities and had a job since then once I graduated Penn State, but 
my understanding is they still have RHEL labs, and also now support Macs.


Beyond the Windows market share problem, we *all* are aware of hardware 
support problems.  Wifi card drivers that're on the ISOs don't get 
installed properly for certain wifi hardware chipsets, leaving people 
without the ability to use their systems post-install and unable to

Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Stephen Satchell

On 3/20/22 8:38 AM, Amit wrote:

The current default GUI of Ubuntu desktop is not very user friendly.


Would you please be specific about what is missin or wrong that makes 
Ubuntu desktop "not very use friendly"?  What would, in your eyes, 
improve the desktop experience, particularly for the seniors?


"It sucks" is not very informative, and doesn't lead to a useful 
discussion that can be embraced by developers.


I use Ubuntu desktop all the time; I switched from CentOS during the 
CentOS 8 fiasco.  I find Ubuntu desktop more friendly than Windows 11 by 
a long shot.  In particular, I like the adoption of the "dock" that was 
introduced (to me) by later versions of the Mac OS more than a decade ago.


One thing I have found in other desktop implementations that would be a 
help (no pun intended) is a "Help" application.  Such a help application 
would provide at the first level a FAQ list; click on a question and the 
application displays a short blurb and perhaps a web link to a more 
complete answer.  At the second level, it would provide a front end to a 
search engine for more esoteric questions.  Yes, one could call up a web 
browser...if one knew how to do that. Or what a "search engine" is. 
(Ever provide guidance to residents of a nursing home?  There are still 
people who are computer illiterate.)


The icon for the application would be an italic "i" in a circle, to 
match the icon used elsewhere.  Perhaps with the word "help" at the 
bottom for the completely uninitiated.


(I speak as a guy who has been unofficial computer/network tech support 
to a surprising circle of friends and acquaintances, including 
professionals who use computers all the time but encounter a problem 
outside of their comfort zone.)


--
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 22:38:56 +0530, Amit wrote:
>On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:27 PM Ralf Mardorf
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Windows is easier available, since it's installed by default on
>> almost all discounter desktop computers (and laptops...). "Available
>> by default" isn't the same as easier to use.
>>  
>
>So, the question is why is Windows available easily and by default?
>Why not Ubuntu/Linux?
>
>No one is stopping anyone from selling a Ubuntu/Linux laptop. So, why
>Ubuntu/Linux is not installed by default?
>
>Amit

For hysterical raisins and mainly related to marketing. If something is
available for free as in beer and a lot of this is made by unpaid
volunteers and no radical marketing is taking place, then it can't
competed with something such as Windows which is based on theft and
plain exploitative market economy, as well as malicious lobbying.

Either reply to the list, or at least mark your email as "off-list".
But please refrain from off-list replies related to Windows vs Linux.

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Fwd: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
-- Forwarded message -
From: Amit 
Date: Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:38 PM
Subject: Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.
To: Ralf Mardorf 




On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:27 PM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

>
> Windows is easier available, since it's installed by default on almost
> all discounter desktop computers (and laptops...). "Available by
> default" isn't the same as easier to use.
>

So, the question is why is Windows available easily and by default? Why not
Ubuntu/Linux?

No one is stopping anyone from selling a Ubuntu/Linux laptop. So, why
Ubuntu/Linux is not installed by default?

Amit

>
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Fwd: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
-- Forwarded message -
From: Amit 
Date: Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:56 PM
Subject: Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.
To: 




On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:44 PM Stephen Satchell  wrote:

> On 3/20/22 8:38 AM, Amit wrote:
> > The current default GUI of Ubuntu desktop is not very user friendly.
>
> Would you please be specific about what is missin or wrong that makes
> Ubuntu desktop "not very use friendly"?  What would, in your eyes,
> improve the desktop experience, particularly for the seniors?
>

There is no menu in the GUI. Applications have to be searched for. How will
a person search for an application when he/she doesn't know about what the
application is actually called?

Consider this example - you go in a hotel and they don't give you a menu
but they just give you a handheld device which just has a search box on it
and then they ask you to search for the dish you want by typing in the
search box.

So, what would you prefer - A traditional menu or a handheld device with
search box on it?

Would you recommend this hotel to other people?

Will other people like the handheld device more than the traditional menu?

Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:57 PM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 22:38:56 +0530, Amit wrote:
> >On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 10:27 PM Ralf Mardorf
> > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Windows is easier available, since it's installed by default on
> >> almost all discounter desktop computers (and laptops...). "Available
> >> by default" isn't the same as easier to use.
> >>
> >
> >So, the question is why is Windows available easily and by default?
> >Why not Ubuntu/Linux?
> >
> >No one is stopping anyone from selling a Ubuntu/Linux laptop. So, why
> >Ubuntu/Linux is not installed by default?
> >
> >Amit
>
> For hysterical raisins and mainly related to marketing. If something is
> available for free as in beer and a lot of this is made by unpaid
> volunteers and no radical marketing is taking place, then it can't
> competed with something such as Windows which is based on theft and
> plain exploitative market economy, as well as malicious lobbying.
>

But everyone knows that Linux/Ubuntu is free.

And the world loves free stuff.

So, why doesn't the world want Ubuntu/Linux when it is free.

I have been using both Windows desktop and Ubuntu desktop. Windows is much
easier to use.

Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
I'm a child of the 80th, born in 1966, so I never migrated from Windows
to Linux. I do not come from Windows, as well as a lot of Linux users
of my age or who are way older than I am.

My first machine with something Microsoft alike was an Atari ST with a
80286 hardware emulator, IOW a PCB containing a real 80286 CPU was
soldered. Even this time I didn't use MS-DOS, but DR-DOS, because
Microsoft failed to be reliable from the very beginning.

Actually I'm not using Ubuntu from an Ubuntu desktop image. I
usually start without a GUI, by e.g. an Ubuntu server install with
disabling the install of several packages or I'm using a DVD or a
Ventoy USB stick with a persistent live Ubuntu flavour such as Ubuntu
Mate, Xubuntu etc., or NomadBSD. My daily used Linux on my desktop
machine is Arch Linux with openbox and no WM at all. I can also boot
into a customised *bunt with openbox (or jwm) and no WM at all.

I'm running QEMU/KVM and VirtualBox for other operating systems,
including Windows XP, 7 and 10, let alone that I help my neighbourhood
with Windows issues.

For photos, drawing, drawn and stop motion animation videos, as well
as music productions I'm in favour of Apple.

I have not the slightest idea what is easier when using the Windows
GUI, than when using BSD, Linux (with openbox and command line, I
usually do most things using command line, instead of e.g. a file
browser and such helpers). I guess people get used to something and are
unwilling tom learn something different, even if it should be easier to
use, they fell it's harder to use, because they are used to something
odd in the first place.

Btw. half-truth are "bogus" and nothing else.

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 19:06:39 +0100, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
>I'm a child of the 80th, born in 1966, so I never migrated from Windows
>to Linux. I do not come from Windows, as well as a lot of Linux users
>of my age or who are way older than I am.
>
>My first machine with something Microsoft alike was an Atari ST with a
>80286 hardware emulator, IOW a PCB containing a real 80286 CPU was
>soldered. Even this time I didn't use MS-DOS, but DR-DOS, because
>Microsoft failed to be reliable from the very beginning.
>
>Actually I'm not using Ubuntu from an Ubuntu desktop image. I
>usually start without a GUI, by e.g. an Ubuntu server install with
>disabling the install of several packages or I'm using a DVD or a
>Ventoy USB stick with a persistent live Ubuntu flavour such as Ubuntu
>Mate, Xubuntu etc., or NomadBSD. My daily used Linux on my desktop
>machine is Arch Linux with openbox and no WM at all. I can also boot
>into a customised *bunt with openbox (or jwm) and no WM at all.
>
>I'm running QEMU/KVM and VirtualBox for other operating systems,
>including Windows XP, 7 and 10, let alone that I help my neighbourhood
>with Windows issues.
>
>For photos, drawing, drawn and stop motion animation videos, as well
>as music productions I'm in favour of Apple.
>
>I have not the slightest idea what is easier when using the Windows
>GUI, than when using BSD, Linux (with openbox and command line, I
>usually do most things using command line, instead of e.g. a file
>browser and such helpers). I guess people get used to something and are
>unwilling tom learn something different, even if it should be easier to
>use, they fell it's harder to use, because they are used to something
>odd in the first place.
>
>Btw. half-truth are "bogus" and nothing else.


My apologies for typos, you probably are able to understand it anyway.

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 11:37 PM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

> I'm a child of the 80th, born in 1966, so I never migrated from Windows
> to Linux. I do not come from Windows, as well as a lot of Linux users
> of my age or who are way older than I am.
>
> My first machine with something Microsoft alike was an Atari ST with a
> 80286 hardware emulator, IOW a PCB containing a real 80286 CPU was
> soldered. Even this time I didn't use MS-DOS, but DR-DOS, because
> Microsoft failed to be reliable from the very beginning.
>
> Actually I'm not using Ubuntu from an Ubuntu desktop image. I
> usually start without a GUI, by e.g. an Ubuntu server install with
> disabling the install of several packages or I'm using a DVD or a
> Ventoy USB stick with a persistent live Ubuntu flavour such as Ubuntu
> Mate, Xubuntu etc., or NomadBSD. My daily used Linux on my desktop
> machine is Arch Linux with openbox and no WM at all. I can also boot
> into a customised *bunt with openbox (or jwm) and no WM at all.
>
> I'm running QEMU/KVM and VirtualBox for other operating systems,
> including Windows XP, 7 and 10, let alone that I help my neighbourhood
> with Windows issues.
>
> For photos, drawing, drawn and stop motion animation videos, as well
> as music productions I'm in favour of Apple.
>
> I have not the slightest idea what is easier when using the Windows
> GUI, than when using BSD, Linux (with openbox and command line, I
> usually do most things using command line, instead of e.g. a file
> browser and such helpers). I guess people get used to something and are
> unwilling tom learn something different, even if it should be easier to
> use, they fell it's harder to use, because they are used to something
> odd in the first place.
>
> Btw. half-truth are "bogus" and nothing else.
>

I first used PC with DOS on it in 1987. I used linux for the first time (no
gui) in 1997.

I am a software engineer with masters in computer networking from NCSU, NC,
USA.

I have used both windows and linux gui systems a lot.

Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 19:06:39 +0100, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
>no WM at all

Oops, I at least should correct this typo. It should read "no DE
(desktop environment) at all". Of course, openbox is a WM (window
manager).

However, most new users nowadays are likely in favour of a desktop
environment that degrades the desktop PC to an unportable smartphone.
E.g. banks optimise online-banking websites to smartphones and not to
desktop PC monitors.

-- 
“Awards are merely the badges of mediocrity.”

― Charles Ives 

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 23:44:03 +0530, Amit wrote:
>I have used both windows and linux gui systems a lot.

So you should be able to describe what from your point of few are the
pitfalls of a Linux desktop environment and the pros of Windows.

As already pointed out, I suspect Jane the elementary school girl and
Jane the grandma are used to small touchscreen optimised operating
systems and are neither comfortable with a Windows, nor with a Linux
desktop environment anymore, unless it imitates touch screen behaviour
and smartphone screen size.

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Stephen Boston
Let's not lose sight of meeting the requirements and pleasing the taste of
the current user base. Will my experience be improved by making the DE more
like Windows?

Nope!

What real benefit do I find in the thought that more people are using my
DE? The only users that count are the users we have now.



On Sun, Mar 20, 2022 at 11:29 AM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 23:44:03 +0530, Amit wrote:
> >I have used both windows and linux gui systems a lot.
>
> So you should be able to describe what from your point of few are the
> pitfalls of a Linux desktop environment and the pros of Windows.
>
> As already pointed out, I suspect Jane the elementary school girl and
> Jane the grandma are used to small touchscreen optimised operating
> systems and are neither comfortable with a Windows, nor with a Linux
> desktop environment anymore, unless it imitates touch screen behaviour
> and smartphone screen size.
>
> --
> Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
> Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss
>
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Jeffrey Walton
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022 at 1:14 PM Stephen Satchell  wrote:
>
> On 3/20/22 8:38 AM, Amit wrote:
> > The current default GUI of Ubuntu desktop is not very user friendly.
>
> Would you please be specific about what is missin or wrong that makes
> Ubuntu desktop "not very use friendly"?  What would, in your eyes,
> improve the desktop experience, particularly for the seniors?
>
> "It sucks" is not very informative, and doesn't lead to a useful
> discussion that can be embraced by developers.

One area Linux is not user friendly is a simple-to-use Senior edition.
I think this is an instance problem of Accessibility.

I've found I can't set the font to a larger size without hassles and
troubles. Even if you manage to increase the font size for the
particular desktop, the boot and login screens don't honor the
settings.

It would be nice to set the font size in one place, and have it used
everywhere. For senior citizens and visually impaired users.

Jeff

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Amit
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022, 11:59 PM Ralf Mardorf 
wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 23:44:03 +0530, Amit wrote:
> >I have used both windows and linux gui systems a lot.
>
> So you should be able to describe what from your point of few are the
> pitfalls of a Linux desktop environment and the pros of Windows.



There is no menu in the default Ubuntu desktop GUI. Applications have to be
searched for. How will a person search for an application when he/she
doesn't know about what the application is actually called?

Consider this example - you go in a hotel and they don't give you a menu
but they just give you a handheld device which just has a search box on it
and then they ask you to search for the dish you want by typing in the
search box.

So, what would you prefer - A traditional menu or a handheld device with
search box on it?

Would you recommend this hotel to other people?

Will other people like the handheld device more than the traditional menu?

An applications menu having categories is a must for user friendliness just
like a traditional menu in a hotel. But the default Ubuntu desktop is
lacking that.

Amit
-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss


Re: Increasing user base of Ubuntu desktop.

2022-03-20 Thread Ralf Mardorf
On Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:24:33 +0530, Amit wrote:
>There is no menu in the default Ubuntu desktop GUI.

Hi,

I suspect that still several Ubuntu flavours have got an application
menu by default, much likely even for the latest release.
At least Xubuntu 20.04 has got an application menu by default, this is
what I'm using on an USB stick [1].

On Sun, 20 Mar 2022 22:36:27 -0400, Jeffrey Walton wrote:
>I've found I can't set the font to a larger size without hassles and
>troubles.

This is an issue for all operating systems. An experienced user can
manage this to some extend. Probably by replacing grub with another
bootloader and doing similar things. However, the issue that some apps
don't provide enough space for really large fonts still remains and due
to the diversity of Linux, it's not always easy to set system wide fonts
for all apps, at least not for a newbie. Some apps allow to set the
fonts by their GUI, but if you can't read the preferences in the first
place, you can't change the font size. A screen reader might help, but
has got it pitfalls, too.

Regards,
Ralf

[1]
[rocketmouse@archlinux ~]$ /bin/ls -hAltr /mnt/v1.ventoy/
total 7.9G
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1.6G Jul 31  2020 xubuntu-20.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4.0K Jan  6  2021 ventoy
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6.3G Jan  7  2021 xubuntu-20.04.1-desktop-pers1.dat

-- 
Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list
Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: 
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss