unity-design team mailing list archive

[Lance <lbsolost@xxxxxxxxx>]

   While ubiquity is not a listed project with 
Ayatana I really hope to open up some meaningful discussion regarding 
what I see as a major shortfall in the new ubiquity UI prior to Natty UDS. 

However,
 I’d first like to say that I’m largely impressed with the overall 
appearance of the new ubiquity and just how quickly the devs pulled this
 all together during the Maverick dev cycle.

   
   My goal is to offer constructive criticism from
 an end users perspective without ever being disagreeable. I’m very much
 reminded of what Ivanka Majik said during the dispute regarding the 
ability to change the computer name during installation:

   
   “The Ubuntu Live CD is the first experience 
many new users will have of Ubuntu. The installation experience should 
be attractive and effortless to reassure new users that Ubuntu is the 
right choice. The process should feel safe and should only highlight 
risk when necessary (e.g. when data will be destroyed).”

   
   I simply question whether or not we’re living 
up to that goal if a new user selects “Install alongside other operating
 systems”. The screen following that choice displays a number of options
 including “Use entire partition” and “Use entire disc”. I believe the other options are quite clear, but at this point I want everyone to put their “noob shoes” on ;^)

   
   What partition and/or disc is the installer 
referring to? Also consider that most Windows users are used to 
designations like Drive A, Drive C, etc. Who are we targeting with the 
“alongside” option? The most inexperienced dual/multi booters I’d suspect.

   
   The user has just chosen between three options:

   
   1: Install alongside other operating systems
   2: Erase and use entire disc
   3: Specify partitions manually (advanced)

   
   Having already chosen “Install alongside other 
operating systems” why are they now being asked if they want to “Use 
entire partition” or “Use entire disc”? Didn’t they already make that 
decision?

   
   They already decided not to “Erase and use entire disc” but they’re being asked again. Is that confusing? I think it is.

   
   If they choose “Use entire partition” what 
partition are they agreeing to use? Remember who we’re targeting with 
the “side-by-side” option :^) As previously mentioned many Windows 
users, and sadly some long time Ubuntu users, have no idea what Linux device 
designations are or what they mean.

   
   Possibly exacerbating the problem, even for more experienced users, is this bug:

   
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/657397

   
   I simply identified that too late in the Maverick dev cycle to expect a fix and I’ll certainly follow up on that during Natty iso-testing.

   
   
   I had however filed a bug report regarding this “auto-resize confusion”:

   
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/655950

   
   While I got seriously “off-track” there you’ll see that Evan Dandrea said:

   
   “Regarding
 your original concern of the presence of "use entire disk" and "use 
entire partition" buttons, I fail to see how they do any harm. Their 
presence is part convenience, and part desire to consolidate the 
automatic partitioning options to a single page. The fact that the first
 partitioning page offers you separate "use entire disk" and "resize 
partition" options is arguably a bug, but I am otherwise satisfied with 
the UI.”

   
   I obviously
 disagree but I’d like to point out that I have great respect for Evan. 
During the time I’ve been iso-testing I’ve seen him fix a lot of last 
minute bugs. I know he poured a lot of effort into the new ubiquity and 
I’d hope that everyone agrees that we can disagree without being 
disagreeable :^)

   
   I sincerely hope we 
can begin an open minded debate regarding this issue either here at 
Ayatana or in some more appropriate venue. Many thanks in advance.

   
   BTW, I am Erick Brunzell and/or lbsolst at Launchpad and kansasnoob at Ubuntu Forums.