4 ms·

I'm excited for the next iteration when they revamp the default theme. Ubuntu owns but it needs to look prettier out of the box to really grab prospective swit

I'm excited for the next iteration when they revamp the default theme. Ubuntu owns but it needs to look prettier out of the box to really grab prospective switchers.

windsurfer 18y ago
I think it's refreshing that Ubuntu doesn't go for the "shiny and blue" feel that Vista 7 and OS X are going for. Also, 9.04 ships with 3 community themes that are very attractive.
- sant0sk1 18y ago
  I don't fault them for not copying OS X like Microsoft did, but they do need to improve the default. Optional community themes don't help much because people need to turn the machine on and think: "Ooohhhh" not "Hmm, I bet I can make this look cooler if I go searching through the Preferences menu"
  - windsurfer 18y ago
    I remember listening to an interview with one of the original Doom developers. He said that one of the ways that they keep players interested in a game where players can go anywhere they want was by hiding secret power-ups and prizes all over a level. By rewarding a player who goes exploring, it communicates to the player that the developers want you to be interested, and that exploring can be fun. Linux is sort of like that. You can't use all of it without exploring, so it's good to hide little customizations and treats all over so when somebody stumbles across it, they say "This is so cool!" and keep looking, learning. :)
mkuhn 18y ago
I can only suggest to try using the Dust Theme. It can be found in the package gnome-themes-ubuntu.
- quisxt 18y ago
  Actually, you don't need to install anything. Dust is one of the default themes now :)
  - mkuhn 18y ago
    Ah, cool, didn't know that. This definitely is an advance :-)
    - LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
      I'm using "New Wave" theme which has a very pleasant muted gray and black look to it. It's very easy on my eyes.
Mongoose 18y ago
People have been saying that for 2 years. "The next version" is always when they'll dump the sordid brown.
- cujo 18y ago
  I don't think brown is the problem. The problem is that their brown is orange.
  - nailer 18y ago
    It's a combination of brown, peach (the colors from the original 'human skin tones' Ubuntu concept) and orange/red (newer, based on the Canonical logo). I actually tried to organize a theme contest in conjuction with DeviantArt for 8.04, working with Ubuntu Artwork team, with prizes etc. The first thing that happened was that winners were limited to working with the existing palette. The directive comes from Mark Shuttleworth and Ubuntu art are powerless to change it. The contest didn't go ahead. However Mark seems to have recently changed his mind.
- thenduks 18y ago
  I'm down with the brown.
- mlok 18y ago
  Around me, people do like the Ubuntu look. But they're neither IT nor marketing savvy, so they're probably wrong :)
  - raquo 18y ago
    > But they're neither IT nor marketing savvy, so they're probably wrong :) Really, geeks and marketers can't be wrong about what normal people like, except when that contradicts with what normal people say they like :)
gnaritas 18y ago
I love Ubuntu's default look, better than Windows or Mac. The lack of blue is very refreshing; the brown looks great.
cdeutmey 18y ago
The default theme for PCLOS Gnome tempted me to try it and as a result convert from Ubuntu. The distro first has to look nice to get people interested and then work well to keep them on it.
mattyb 18y ago
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009-February/000536.html https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009... "The desktop will have a designer's fingerprints all over it - we're now beginning the serious push to a new look. Brown has served us well but the Koala is considering other options. Come to UDS for a preview of the whole new look."

I'm excited for the next iteration when they revamp the default theme. Ubuntu owns but it needs to look prettier out of the box to really grab prospective switchers.

windsurfer 18y ago

I think it's refreshing that Ubuntu doesn't go for the "shiny and blue" feel that Vista 7 and OS X are going for. Also, 9.04 ships with 3 community themes that are very attractive.

sant0sk1 18y ago
I don't fault them for not copying OS X like Microsoft did, but they do need to improve the default. Optional community themes don't help much because people need to turn the machine on and think: "Ooohhhh" not "Hmm, I bet I can make this look cooler if I go searching through the Preferences menu"
- windsurfer 18y ago
  I remember listening to an interview with one of the original Doom developers. He said that one of the ways that they keep players interested in a game where players can go anywhere they want was by hiding secret power-ups and prizes all over a level. By rewarding a player who goes exploring, it communicates to the player that the developers want you to be interested, and that exploring can be fun. Linux is sort of like that. You can't use all of it without exploring, so it's good to hide little customizations and treats all over so when somebody stumbles across it, they say "This is so cool!" and keep looking, learning. :)

mkuhn 18y ago

I can only suggest to try using the Dust Theme. It can be found in the package gnome-themes-ubuntu.

quisxt 18y ago
Actually, you don't need to install anything. Dust is one of the default themes now :)
- mkuhn 18y ago
  Ah, cool, didn't know that. This definitely is an advance :-)
  - LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
    I'm using "New Wave" theme which has a very pleasant muted gray and black look to it. It's very easy on my eyes.

Mongoose 18y ago

People have been saying that for 2 years. "The next version" is always when they'll dump the sordid brown.

cujo 18y ago
I don't think brown is the problem. The problem is that their brown is orange.
- nailer 18y ago
  It's a combination of brown, peach (the colors from the original 'human skin tones' Ubuntu concept) and orange/red (newer, based on the Canonical logo). I actually tried to organize a theme contest in conjuction with DeviantArt for 8.04, working with Ubuntu Artwork team, with prizes etc. The first thing that happened was that winners were limited to working with the existing palette. The directive comes from Mark Shuttleworth and Ubuntu art are powerless to change it. The contest didn't go ahead. However Mark seems to have recently changed his mind.
thenduks 18y ago
I'm down with the brown.
mlok 18y ago
Around me, people do like the Ubuntu look. But they're neither IT nor marketing savvy, so they're probably wrong :)
- raquo 18y ago
  > But they're neither IT nor marketing savvy, so they're probably wrong :) Really, geeks and marketers can't be wrong about what normal people like, except when that contradicts with what normal people say they like :)

gnaritas 18y ago

I love Ubuntu's default look, better than Windows or Mac. The lack of blue is very refreshing; the brown looks great.

cdeutmey 18y ago

The default theme for PCLOS Gnome tempted me to try it and as a result convert from Ubuntu. The distro first has to look nice to get people interested and then work well to keep them on it.

mattyb 18y ago

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009-February/000536.html https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009... "The desktop will have a designer's fingerprints all over it - we're now beginning the serious push to a new look. Brown has served us well but the Koala is considering other options. Come to UDS for a preview of the whole new look."