I just wanted to start a discussion about how ubuntu.com launch page has become more and more entreprise oriented lately and how it might affect the opinion of new linux users in search of their first desktop distro.
The reason I posted this in the desktop category is that it impacts the desktop directly, more specifically its promotion. Of course, if you think this topic should be moved to another category, please feel free to do so.
Also, please note that this is just my own opinion based on my own experience and is therefore not based on any data whatsoever.
To put it simply: I am wondering whether the launch page might not look a bit too intimidating for newcomers which could cause them to consider other distros that might have a much more “newcomer friendly” website.
The launch page is for the most part great, (I personally think the toolbar is a massive design success) but I feel that it’s missing a crucial detail: it doesn’t explain what the Ubuntu OS is nor does it talk about the Desktop at all. Instead, it’s main purpose is to promote the various services provided by Canonical that are part of the Ubuntu ecosystem. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a company promoting its services. But the problem is for the newcomers. They need to know that Ubuntu is for them as well. The only way for them to discover that the desktop exists would be to click on “Products” → “Ubuntu OS” → “Ubuntu Desktop” and load a complete different page.
I think the text: " Modern enterprise open source" is misleading and gives the impression that Ubuntu is not about personal use. If I had read this at the time I was looking for Windows alternatives, I would simply never had tried Ubuntu, thinking I am not part of its user target. And many people like me started with Ubuntu for personal use and grew up to become software engineers in companies that use Ubuntu. That’s why I think the desktop promotion should be part of the first thing a user sees on the main website.
I do not know whether this feedback might be useful or not, but thank you anyway for taking the time to read me.
