Ubuntu: the good and the bad

Last Sunday, at a friend's party, someone started a discussion on the impending release of Windows 7. Most of us being from IT, it was a "hot" topic to discuss.
Before I could mention that I use Linux for 99.9% of my tasks at home and at work, a non-IT guy, said he used Ubuntu on his Sony VAIO. Predictably I was pleasantly surprised as Linux is something my friends and aquaintances know the merits of, but do not wish to (yet) deploy on their PCs or laptops.
As the conversation progressed, it was apparent that the non-IT guy had a Macbook, on which he ended up pouring his precious favourite spirit. So, he switched to Ubuntu rather than go back to Windows.
So, here is my personal analysis of what is good and not-so-good about Ubuntu:
The Good
Its great to see that almost a joe-average user decided to install Ubuntu Jaunty rather than revert to the "comfort" of Windows. This clearly implies that the user migration to Linux has started trickling. Full marks to Ubuntu for making the system easy enough.
The Bad
When I asked the guy why he chose Ubuntu, the answer was that he was used to MacOS X interface and Ubuntu provided a much similar look and feel. I couldn't help wondering if this is the cause of few Windows users migrating to Ubuntu. Take, for example, Kubuntu. It comes with KDE and (as numerous reports and rants on the internet say) provides a Windows-like look and feel.
Would the statistics for migration to Linux look any different if Canonical had gone with KDE/4 and provided a Windows-lookalike desktop? We have had 10 iterations of admittedly the most popular Linux distributions out there. Maybe its time to switch the strategy and target users who want the familiar look of Windows without its legendary ills. If that's too radical now, why not provide an option to choose the look-and-feel during installation (and during Live-CD startup) by showing the user screenshots of KDE and GNOME (looking similar to Windows and MacOS X respectively)?
Disclaimer: This is not a rant against any particular desktop, although I do prefer KDE over GNOME. Its simply offering users what they seem to want.

Features I love in KDE4: Column view in Dolphin

Until recently, I was accustomed to the icon view in file managers. This was a habit carried over, partly from Windows Explorer, but mainly from Konqueror, the file manager of KDE 3.5; and in those rare moments when I used GNOME, I always used Nautilus with the icon view.

So, it seemed logical to carry on with the icon view tradition in Dolphin/KDE4. However, couple of moons ago, I tried the column view and I found it infinitely more productive, especially for documents and other textual information. I am vaguely aware that the column view has existed on the Mac for a long time. However, since I've never had the luxury of owning one, I thank Dolphin/KDE developers for this nifty feature. Here is the obligatory screenshot:

Of course, while browsing photo collections, icon view with previews would be a better choice but when I'm at work, column view is an absolute boon.Managing files is so much easier now, particularly when you have directory hierarchy that runs several levels deep. No more going back and forth to search for the right location or file. The column view complements the breadcrumb navigation bar; and in some respects, improves it by providing quick visual feedback of the entire directory tree you have traversed. Then, there is the cool horizintal slide effect when the columns are too many to fit in the current window view.

To use column view in Dolphin, you can either use the Menu item View -> View Mode -> Columns or click on the icon in the toolbar. There is also the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+3.

Why I love to hate NetworkManager

I recently invested in a USB internet key from 3. The technology market, down under here in Australia, is either ignorant of Linux or indifferent to it, or both. So, it surprised me when the sales guy reassured me that configuring it on Linux should be easy as the drivers come with the OS. Good to know ;-) but this post is not about linux and hardware support.
I decided to try it on my work laptop and I decided to go with Ubuntu. Jaunty had been out in the wild less than a month ago and promised improved mobile broadband support. It delivered on the promise. I use KDE as my default desktop decided to install the GNOME-based ubuntu. Don't ask me why. Anyway, it all went well and the networkmanager applet detected that my USB key is configured for mobile broadband from 3. So far, so good.
Frustration scenario one: On my way home from work on the train one day, I booted up my laptop and within minutes, literally, I was on slashdot.org. This went well until I reached Milson's Point, a station close to where I live. I noticed that I could not browse anymore. I clicked on the networkmanager applet which had conveniently disconnected from the "3" network and was now connected to another one. I all but exclaimed "What the ... ?" Looking at the network ssid it had connected it, it turned out to be a motel close to the station offering, presumably, free wifi for its customers.

Frustration scenario two: I live in an apartment block where every home has its own wireless router. Typically, scanning on a wireless device will list out all the networks in the building. If, at a given point in my home, the signal from my personal network is weaker than my neighbour's, guess which one the nm applet will prefer? The neighbour's of course. Never mind that I would have to consult a cracker's manual to break into it!

With all the user-friendliness it brings, networkmanager goes overboard when looking for a suitable network to connect to. It almost makes the choices for me. I am not happy with it. Nor would a Joe Average be when he finds that its trying to connect to a network which has the strongest signal strength -- *and* a secret key that Joe does not know of.

I hope the networkmanager developers tone down this level of user-friendliness and offer the choice to the user to ...
1. Set a preferred/default network (even when the signal is weak)
2. Don't go about disconnecting a working connection (even if a stronger signal is detected)

In case they don't, the applet is sure to find a place in Linus' "interface nazi" hall-of-fame (at least for me) where the software deems what is best for the user.