Comment 747 for bug 532633
Revision history for this message
| BobPendleton (bob-pendleton) wrote Re: [Bug 532633] Re: [Master] Window Control buttons: position/order/alignment | #747 |
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On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Alexander Pas <email address hidden> wrote:
> Dear Mark Shuttleworth, and everyone else thinking it was a good change
> to place those buttons on the left side of the window.
>
> Please go read a book on Interaction Design, for example: About Face 3,
> ISBN 9780470084113
>
> Now, After you have read that book, explain to me, why you want to have
> the Ejector Seat Button placed right above the Cockpit Lights Switch.
It has been made very clear by Shuttleworth and others at Ubuntu that
they have not read any such book and are not interested in reading it
and they are not willing to listen to people who have read it. At
least not right now.
Shuttleworth made his billions by creating a company that sold a
highly technical information product, a security certificate, to
highly technical customers for a highly technical purpose. But, he
sold it at a better price and under more reasonable terms than the
competition. That created a lot of value and even though he was not
able to actually compete with the high priced vendors he did create a
business that he could sell to a high priced vendor. Now, he seems to
think that that success qualifies him to create a product for use by
non-technical customers for a non-technical purpose. It does not. But,
the buttons are only the most visible part of his play in 10.4.
The key thing to note about 10.4 is the addition of the music store.
Which is again a business based on selling an information product at a
better price and under better terms than the competition. The music
store is an attempt to monetize Ubuntu in a huge way. It is designed
to both generate revenue and to create a demand for Ubuntu. By
limiting access to the music store to Ubuntu 10.4 and above he is also
making Ubuntu "sticky" for users. the music store is extremely
compelling.
The me-menu is another interesting play. Once you get on Ubuntu, the
me-menu is designed to make Ubuntu "sticky" for the user by making
Ubuntu the primary way you access you social media. If it catches on
it will place Ubuntu in position to monetize access to social media.
It will also place Ubuntu in a position to provide value added
services through the social media sites that drive more users to
Ubuntu.
It is my considered opinion that Shuttleworth is planning yet another
play with the intention of monetizing Ubuntu while at the same time
making it even more sticky. If in the short run he loses 10%, or even
50%, of the current users he does not care. Losing users does not cost
him any money. If he can make $1/year from the users that stay Ubuntu
will be generating 6 to 12 million dollars a year in revenue and he
will have accomplished his goal.
My guess is that Shuttleworth is positioning Ubuntu as a one stop
solution for companies that want to build the next generation of
networked social and entertainment systems. Whether placed in a net
book or a phone a software platform that includes a nice way to get
music and other media as well as a nice way to access all your social
connections and communication the Ubuntu that I see emerging is a
killer application. That become especially true if it is prices low
enough that these devices can be sold across the entire world and not
just in North America and Europe.
Shuttleworth has no reason to care if the metaphorical ejector seat
button is next to the metaphorical cabin light switch so long as
Ubuntu generates revenue. Even if someone hits the wrong button at
least no one will actually be ejected. Remember he can move them back
any time he wants to. On the other hand my laptop goes to the black
screen (which I think I will start calling the Shuttleworth screen)
every twenty minutes or so. Firefox doesn't work correctly. blah blah
blah... nothing has been done about any of the bug reports I have
filed since alpha 3 was released... If this keeps up Ubuntu could lose
enough users to actually matter to Shuttleworth.
No, I am not saying that I disagree with you. I am saying that
Shuttleworth has a plan to make money off of Ubuntu and even if his
actions cost him 50% of existing users that does not matter if it
actually makes Ubuntu cash flow positive. So, don't expect Ubuntu to
see the light any time soon. After it is making money then they will
have to worry about making changes that costs them customers.
Customers have a monetary value. Users do not. That is the world view
that is driving the current changes in Ubuntu.
I don't like it. I think that Shuttleworth is very misguided in not
putting the buttons back. It would make a lot of people very happy. It
would give the illusion that he actually cares what we think. It would
makes us all happy and give us a warm fuzzy feeling and we would stick
around and generate revenue for Ubuntu. Pissed of users actually have
a negative value because they generate negative advertising while not
providing revenue. Pissed off users also do not provide free testing
and free technical consultation. I don't think he understands that.
Bob Pendleton
>
> Others, read this blog post to see a short version:
> http://
>
> --
> [Master] Window Control buttons: position/
> https:/
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of a duplicate bug.
>
> Status in “light-themes” package in Ubuntu: Won't Fix
> Status in “metacity” package in Ubuntu: Invalid
>
> Bug description:
> === Master Bug ===
> (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/
>
> === Desire ===
> "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 ====
> 1. Only new themes, such as Ambiance and Radiance will have buttons on the left by default. You can continue using old themes, such as Human, in Lucid and those themes will continue to have buttons on the right side (according to http://
>
> 2. To revert to old layout, run in a terminal:
> $ gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/
>
> ==== Return to defaults ====
> If you would like to return to the system/theme default then run:
> $ gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/
>
> ==== Responses ====
> Canonical Design Team Leader (Ivanka Majic) - 2010-03-10 and 2010-03-17
> http://
> http://
>
> Ubuntu SABDFL (Mark Shuttleworth) replies on this bug report - 2010-03-15 onwards
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
> http://
>
> Canonical Ubuntu Community Leader (Jono Bacon) response - 2010-03-24
> http://
>
> === Code of Conduct ===
> To maintain a respectful atmosphere, while commenting please follow the code of conduct - http://
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https:/
>
--
+------
+ Bob Pendleton: writer and programmer
+ email: <email address hidden>
+ web: www.TheGrumpyPr