software updater lacks check button

[Dazed_75]

Yes, I realize that the design as indicated by https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates shows that it was intentional to remove the button. I am here to report the design is flawed for several reasons. Please read the following scenario carefully:

Computer (running Ubuntu 12.10) is turned on and connected to the internet, updates are discovered but not installed before the computer is shut down (in my case because I was on battery in a cafe).

Computer is turned on days later but only connected to the internet after maybe 5 minutes. Software updater still says 10 updates are needed. I know there should be more but there is no button to check and after 30 minutes it has not rechecked (poor but valid according to the design). I could have rechecked from the command line but the average user could not so I did not.

I let update manager do the 10 updates after which it stated my computer was up to date. Knowing better, I invoked it directly from the Dash. It did the immediate check and found 1 security update, 4-5 regular updates and 3 optionals. This could have been worse as we know that one of the common failures is when the update want to update a package to Ver X but before doing so, Ver Y comes out and Ver X is not available (or similar scenarios).

As I see it, there should always be a Check or Re-Check button (especially if checking was done more than X minutes ago). Another option (less palatable to some) would be to always recheck before doing updates and re-verify if more are found. A worse alternative would be to re-check AFTER doing updates. Not doing so raises the risk of inexperienced users being confronted with errors they are not prepared to handle.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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