Ubuntu's multisearch surprise [LWN.net]

Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

Posted Aug 8, 2009 3:03 UTC (Sat) by srivasta (guest, #7075)
In reply to: Ubuntu's multisearch surprise by drag
Parent article: Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

I am not sure why you think Debian needs Ubuntu to make a friendly desktop -- when a couple of line down you confess you prefer Debian's desktop. (As do I, for what it's worth).

What does Debian gain from _other_ operating systems having an (allegedly) friendlier desktop anyway?

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Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

Posted Aug 8, 2009 7:01 UTC (Sat) by tajyrink (subscriber, #2750) [Link] (3 responses)

They can import the usability-enhancing patches where applicable?

Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

Posted Aug 8, 2009 7:34 UTC (Sat) by drag (guest, #31333) [Link] (2 responses)

And design.

There is more to getting a good dekstop then just doing the 'make install'. A userfriendly desktop must provide all-working functionality as well as the normal set of expected functionality.

Something like that. It's a total package thing. Just providing working software is a first step.

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The trick is that whatever it takes Debian hasn't been able to do it. If Debian had the ability to get good default configuration out to users on a timely basis then there would of never been any need for Ubuntu in the first place. There would of been no market for it... people would of just used Debian.

Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

Posted Aug 9, 2009 17:15 UTC (Sun) by srivasta (guest, #7075) [Link] (1 responses)

Hi,

Part of the so called improvements in the desktop have been pruning away of choices presented to the user. Instead of 23 MUA's, ship 3. Who gets to decide which 3? Why, your distro overlords, of course. The other part consists on streamlining the distribution down to a couple of thousand packages, relegating the rest to a non-core multiverse. However, the former is the probably the major reason for the popularity: when one removes choices, and makes decisions on behalf of the end user, one can offer a slick presentation -- as long as you like the decisions made; and most people usually do not care.

Debian went the direction of choices, allowing people to tailor the distribution to their liking. This makes for more questions, and perhaps more configuration choices, and perhaps, confusion for the novice. But one is only a novice for so long, annd I am glad that the easier shoices prof erred by Debian exist.

If there is a way of creating something that is slick _and_ manages to offer the choices, I think Debian folk would be happy to hear about it.

manoj

Ubuntu's multisearch surprise

Posted Aug 11, 2009 17:03 UTC (Tue) by kov (subscriber, #7423) [Link]

You're helping him make his point, from my perspective.