[ubuntu-uk] Upgrading to 12.04 - catering tor nontechnical users

[Alan Bell]

On 30/04/12 12:20, alex at acockell.eclipse.co.uk wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Looking at those screenshots, there is one GLARING omission... the 
> default radio button is "YES - I do want to upgrade".  With the risk 
> for non-technical users, surely this should have the default radio 
> button (which actions when you hit Return) set as NO.
>
> This way, upgrades are a deliberate action.  Maybe YES should take the 
> user into a warning page, "Show me what I get" stuff, and almost an 
> "Are you sure" cycle with several backout options offered.
>
> Non-tech users shouldn't be left with "Accept default option... 'hose' 
> system".  Much better to be warned "This will replace your operating 
> environment - are you sure?".... "Are you REALLY sure?"  Then go to 
> the "Start upgrade/cancel page.
>
well it doesn't hose the system, it upgrades it to newer and better stuff.
> I found out the hard way (useful about having a second partition 
> running 10;04 alpha and main env running 9.10 production when I bought 
> my netbook preinstalled from Linux Emporium) that on a laptop, you 
> need to have the battery in and nothing connected - relying purely on 
> the on-board pointers during an upgrade.  This type of thing would 
> need to be warned about - aka
>
> "You appear to be upgrading on a laptop.  Before starting the upgrade, 
> please ensure the battery is in, and disconnect all USB devices, 
> especially mice".
well that simply isn't the case, I just completed an upgrade on a laptop 
that has a totally broken battery, it is only in for cosmetic reasons. 
It had a USB mouse plugged in, as does my other laptop I upgraded a 
while back. If there is a problem then it is better to file a bug and 
get the problem fixed rather than giving up and warning people about 
known problems.
>
> ... before kicking off...
>
> Consider the case of someone accepting upgrades onto a preinstalled 
> machine.
>
for OEM builds where Canonical is involved they will be tested by the 
OEM team. Linux emporium ones are not certified I think, so they just 
get tested by linux emporium and anyone who has got one who feels like 
testing it before the final images.

-- 
I work at http://libertus.co.uk