Comment 425 for bug 532633

On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 5:02 AM, Richard <email address hidden> wrote:
> Clearly there are many people (including me) who don't like the new
> title bar layout, and the loss of the application's icon from the title
> bar - so as a minimum there should be a GUI way to easily revert to the
> older layout, and this should be the default when choosing a different
> theme.  Existing themes such as Human and many others were designed
> around the old layout, so why is the new layout imposed on them?
>
> Also, this will really not help at all with maximising the ease of
> transition for Windows users (bug 1) - they can adapt to the system
> menus being on the top of the screen, but this will just be another
> roadblock in adopting Ubuntu.

Let me point out the unstated assumption here. That is that you can
transition Windows users to Linux. The sad truth is that it is hard to
transition Linux users to Linux. My work requires me to use Windows at
work. That requirement forces me to maintain a Windows box on the
shelf above my main Ubuntu desktop. I am not unlike the vast majority
of computer users in the US. I must use Windows at work or starve.

You can get people to use Linux as their second interface on new types
of devices because they expect a new interface. You can sometimes get
people using a Linux live CD as their secure/banking system (as some
banks are starting to push.) But, you can not expect to move most
people from Windows to Linux because of their need to eat. If you make
the interfaces to different the switch over costs becomes to high and
people will just junk the one that they see as different. For most
people that will be the Linux system.

By the way, Gnome lets you put control bars an any edge of the screen
and Windows lets you move the task bar to any edge of the screen. It
isn't hard to make Gnome look and feel a lot like Windows. You can
make it look so much the same it can be confusing. In fact so
confusing that I just went looking for the preference menu and
realized I was logged on to my Windows box.

Bob Pendleton

>
> Another problem with the Light theme is the highlighted area just below
> middle of the top panel - this draws the eye to that part of the screen
> for no purpose.  Normally such highlights are used in web and UI design
> to draw the eye to the most important part of the screen, but here it's
> just used for no reason I can see.
>
> Instead of imposing this annoying change, how about fixing a real issue
> that is causing accessibility and usability problems to users today -
> the fact that on large screens (or any screen for someone with
> visual/motor disabilities) it's very hard to resize a window using most
> Ubuntu themes:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/metacity/+bug/160311
>
> --
> [Master] Window Control buttons: position/order/alignment
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/532633
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of a duplicate bug.
>
> Status in “light-themes” package in Ubuntu: Triaged
> Status in “metacity” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> *** As per the design team's request***
> All bugs concerning the window controls are being duped to this master bug.
> All the decisions regarding the position/order/alignment will be dealt as a one.
> -----
>
> Please centre the window title like in previous Human theme, and also re-order the window controls in classic order, positioned on the right side (menu - title - minimize, maximize close).
>
> ==== Workaround ====
> To revert to old layout, enter in terminal:
> $ gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout --type string "menu:minimize,maximize,close"
>
> --OR--
>
> Use this PPA: https://launchpad.net/~stownsend42/+archive/light-themes
> This option will also fix the graphical appearance of the buttons.
>
> ==== Overview ====
> Canonical design team leader - "Those pesky buttons" - 2010-03-10
> http://www.ivankamajic.com/?p=281
> http://podcast.ubuntu-uk.org/2010/03/17/s03e03-behind-the-screen/ (30-minute interview starting at 39:10)
>
> Mark Shuttleworth's reply (on this bug report) - 2010-03-15
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/light-themes/+bug/532633/comments/110 + ~10 following replies
>
> =======
> To maintain a respectful atmosphere, while commenting please follow the code of conduct - http://www.ubuntu.com/community/conduct/ .
>
>
>
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>

--
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+ Bob Pendleton: writer and programmer
+ email: <email address hidden>
+ web: www.TheGrumpyProgrammer.com