Many windows do not fit a 1024x600 netbook screen

[Rafael Belmonte]

I have a netbook computer with a screen resolution of 1024x600 (10 inches).
I find that many windows in Ubuntu does not fit the screen, hidding many buttons and controls from the user's eyes.
This happens for:
-Ubiquity (the Ubuntu installer).
-File dialogs to save or open a file.
-Some systems settings assistants like the Bluetooth configuration assistant.
-LibreOffice dialog to open/save a file.

The default size of this kind of windows should be preconfigured, or they should detect the screen dimensions.
I will attach some screenshots, take a look at them to understand the problem better.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: ubuntu-desktop 1.245
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Nov 13 15:55:56 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=es_ES.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubuntu-meta
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Aleksander Śmierciak (aleksander-smierciak)]

I confirm, having a 1024x600 netbook myself. Some windows and menus, which are rich in buttons, fields and lists (for example, Thunderbird Account configuration window, Firefox options window) are too large to fit on such small screen.
This issue will be even more critical in GNOME 3 because of larger controlls and bars, but even now it is a pain in the neck.

[Aleksander Śmierciak (aleksander-smierciak)]

Brian, the 1024x600 resolution isn't the only one affected. I'd make a guess that even the 1366x768 won't be enough for some windows, actually most of those listed above (for example, Thunderbird config window, which equals to around two vertical netbook screens).

[Simon P. (simpre)]

That problem has long been a pain for netbook users running Ubuntu.

In many cases the big windows are not even necessary and wasting a lot of vertical screen space. Like for the "Open file dialogue": It could easily be made smaller to into a netbook screen without loosing any information.