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Fix Ubuntu

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Re: Fix Ubuntu

#281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bzzt, middlebrow dismissal. How about you make a concrete proposal on how you think Canonical's business model should be constructed, instead of "computer says no"?

> Bzzt, middlebrow dismissal. How about you make a concrete proposal on how you think Canonical's business model should be constructed, instead of "computer says no"? They should offer a ad-free system, which you pay $10 for, or a free version, supported by ads.

Yes; why not learn from sites / apps here; you get ads/data sales, it shows that you do after installation. For $10/year you don't get either. Most people don't care about $10/year. Look at mobile; people install for $100s/year of apps/games they use/play once. Who cares about $10/year for a good looking, well supported desktop? Otherwise, us another distro. I just like Ubuntu on the client and Debian on the server.

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#282
post #51

I (still) don't think online searches are a privacy violation. 1) It's a search box. Stuff not typed in the search box never leaves the machine (unless you count things that do by design, such as web browsers and email, obviously). 2) It's plainly obvious the first time you use it that results are coming back from the Internet. No real user is going to be misled into believing that searches are local. This makes it n…

1) It's a search box. Stuff not typed in the search box never leaves the machine (unless you count things that do by design, such as web browsers and email, obviously). The Unity Dash search box is placed where every user would normally expect a local-only search to happen. There is no reason whatsoever for me to expect the Unity Dash search to return results from the Internet, just like I wouldn't expect the search…

The Unity Dash search box is placed where every user would normally expect a local-only search to happen. There is no reason whatsoever for me to expect the Unity Dash search to return results from the Internet, just like I wouldn't expect the search box in Windows 7 Start Menu to do so. This kind of behavior that plays with users' expectations is common in UI dark patterns.

I think you are wrong about this.

The distinction between local & remote search isn't something that is apparent to many users. Additionally, it isn't at all clear that there should be a distinction.

Your example with Firefox is misleading, because Firefox is a browser, which automatically creates different expectation of privacy: it is quite normal for a search box in a Web browser to search the Web.

Many users don't understand the distinction between "applications" and "data" at all, let alone the difference between applications. They just want to find something!

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you aware that your page there just seems to spew the raw HTML source to a page it looks like it should be embedding from Github?

Ummm.. no. Let me check that. EDIT - just checked on my phone and it seemed ok. Could you detail what you are seeing and what browser. Thanks!

Firefox 25 and its probably due to a lack of javascript (sorry if this wastes your time) because what I see is this in Firebug:

    

This setup should take less than 400 mb RAM on startup.

... ...

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#284
post #102

Solution: stop using Ubuntu. There are lots of other very able distributions out there, many of which not only have better privacy features but also are technologically superior in one way or another. In no particular order, these are all very capable operating systems for a variety of needs: * https://fedoraproject.org/ * http://www.centos.org/ * http://www.opensuse.org/ * http://www.mageia.org/ * https://www.archli…

The problem with other distros is the lack of a design. Ubuntu was the first Linux distro I used that did not look like a donkey's ass (back in 2008~). Even today's Gnome Shell does not look as good as Unity... it also does not scale well for my display's 1600x900 resolution (top bar icons are way too small). The other distros might work well technically, but imho they don't look as good and they require more tweakin…

I don't like Canonical's privacy trips, but I do prefer Unity because of it's most refined interface and modern look in comparison to others. Looks clean and consistent on any display. I have dual 1920x1200s.

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#285
post #51

I (still) don't think online searches are a privacy violation. 1) It's a search box. Stuff not typed in the search box never leaves the machine (unless you count things that do by design, such as web browsers and email, obviously). 2) It's plainly obvious the first time you use it that results are coming back from the Internet. No real user is going to be misled into believing that searches are local. This makes it n…

> 1) It's a search box. Stuff not typed in the search box never leaves the machine Is this even an argument? If the box isn't used (crippling the user interface) there is nothing to discuss. You may also argue that if the pc is powered off there aren't privacy problems. > 2) It's plainly obvious the first time you use it that results are coming back from the Internet. So discovering that you lost your privacy after t…

Do you have a problem with Google search? Google search as the default page in Mozilla Firefox? The omnibox in Chrome? Search is just a bit more deeply integrated with Ubuntu. The vast majority of users will find it more convenient than they will find it to be an "invasion of privacy". The ones concerned about it will turn it off or boycott Ubuntu.

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ummm.. no. Let me check that. EDIT - just checked on my phone and it seemed ok. Could you detail what you are seeing and what browser. Thanks!

Firefox 25 and its probably due to a lack of javascript (sorry if this wastes your time) because what I see is this in Firebug: This setup should take less than 400 mb RAM on startup. ... ...

yeah, I didn't plan on nojs. might have to look for a better github plugin!

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 1) It's a search box. Stuff not typed in the search box never leaves the machine Is this even an argument? If the box isn't used (crippling the user interface) there is nothing to discuss. You may also argue that if the pc is powered off there aren't privacy problems. > 2) It's plainly obvious the first time you use it that results are coming back from the Internet. So discovering that you lost your privacy after t…

Do you have a problem with Google search? Google search as the default page in Mozilla Firefox? The omnibox in Chrome? Search is just a bit more deeply integrated with Ubuntu. The vast majority of users will find it more convenient than they will find it to be an "invasion of privacy". The ones concerned about it will turn it off or boycott Ubuntu.

I have a problem with the omnibox in Chrome, the others are fine. In fact I expect to send my searches to another service when I use Google search and the default page in Mozilla Firefox. I wouldn't expect that every single thing I type in the url bar is sent to Google (omnibox case) and non technical people don't expect it either.

The expectation of privacy is the problem here. I don't find omnibox or the unity bar bad per se, I find it a privacy issue if the users don't clearly understand what is going to happen with what they write.

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

here's mine - http://www.lambdacurry.com/super-fast-lean-ubuntu-setup/ It removes Unity and switches to gnome-shell, removes nautilus and other stuff and replaces it with nemo, geany, etc. I do have some additional tweaks to improve wifi, etc. but the base install brings my RSS with firefox (I consider that a minimum) to about 500 mb on 12.04

Why even use Ubuntu at this point? Why not Debian? Or even something totally different?

Why switch to Debian? It's not like his customization does transform it into a radically different distro. For one thing, he keeps the Ubuntu repos (which I personally find better on a Desktop).

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Debian. But I wish they had a stable version released more often.

You could try getting on the testing release which (as far as I can tell) is still ten times as stable as Ubuntu while still getting frequent updates. Testing is the best of both worlds IMO (stability freshness)

[deleted]

Re: Fix Ubuntu

#290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And you feel proud to use a well polished system that Canonical prepared for you without paying? Motto: I have my OS, it's free & I owe nothing, Canonical can look for themself? The alternative (well polished, reasonably easy/user friendly) is apple and windows. No more free. I think much criticism is shallow.

Nope, I don't use Ubuntu.

So you're not concerned about Ubuntu. Why don't you then let Ubuntu try _their_ thing and be happy with the Linux ecosystem which provides so much choice? Why the strong critisizing?

It was an apt-get remove --purge .. to remove the things I didn't like. The things I like I can download from everywhere, much much more difficult with Mac/Windows (how would I e.g. get XCode other than through iTunes?)

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