Comment 11 for bug 494772

I agree that Patch #1 solves most of the problem, I don't think a title alone is going to do it. Going back to the tone of the message, I think right now we're describing a serious problem ("no updates for you!") ... and that's it.

David Siegel's mockup[1] from bug #517732 is getting closer, I think...
[1] http://launchpadlibrarian.net/38800803/Update%20on%20Battery%20Warning.png

...but this thing is still appearing completely out of the blue! I like how Palm does this: "You have a system update, and it will download over the next week." Relaxed, simple, not saying "do-this-now-or-your-phone-explodes!"

In the current case, this updater message reveals itself at a very specific point in time, producing a particular urgency that isn't necessary, or (by its own admission) a remotely good idea.

Instead of an updater exploding out of nowhere and saying "hey, you needed to to install updates but you're on battery, so you can't! (Unless you really want me to)", it should say, in a nice box that appears behind everything, "by the way, there are updates; I suggest you install them next time the computer is on AC power" (or even "I will install them next time the computer is plugged in" if update-notifier can do that). The difference is in whether we talk to the user with solutions or problems.