Obviously, I think this is a good move. To recap switching to Yahoo for search would have alienated users because it’s a worse search engine, but more important would have overwritten people’s existing experience on upgrade.

In an email to the ubuntu-devel mailing list titled “Follow up to Default Search Provider Changes for 10.04” Rick Spencer writes:

Each release we determine the best default web browser and the best default search engine for Ubuntu. When choosing the best default search provider, we consider factors such as user experience, user preferences, and costs and benefits for Ubuntu and the browsers and other projects that make up Ubuntu. Up until Ubuntu 9.10 these defaults have always been Firefox and Google. Earlier in the 10.04 cycle I announced that we would be changing the default search provider to Yahoo!, and we implemented that change for several milestones.

However, for the final release, we will use Google as the default provider. I have asked the Ubuntu Desktop team to change the default back to Google as soon as reasonably possible, but certainly by final freeze on April 15th.

It was not our intention to “flap” between providers, but the underlying circumstances can change unpredictably. In this case, choosing Google will be familiar to everybody upgrading from 9.10 to 10.04 and the change will only be visible to those who have been part of the development cycle for 10.04.

All thanks the Ubuntu Masters!

Don’t Downgrade the Experience

He quotes Rick Spencer, Canonical:

No, this will effect [sic] upgrades if the computer is currently set to Google. This is not because of anything special for this particular change. This is because Ubuntu always changes to new defaults for users who are on old defaults.

Once I’ve installed software, it’s no longer “defaults”, it’s my experience. Any change to the experience better be to improve the experience, otherwise you jeopardize alienating me and your other customers.

It Can’t be About Money

The search engine in Firefox is Google because it’s the best (of the infants).

In my co-worker Noël Jackon’s post today “Art First”

I respect Jay-Z for his music, but love the man for his words.

via YouTube - “NY-Z” – An ABSOLUT Collaboration with Jay-Z.

At the Jay-Z saysat the 11:30 mark “it can’t be about money. There has to be something in there that is true to both sides. … when the align … At the end of the day no one loses when it’s like that.”

Stay true to yourself, and true to your customers.

I’m Staying Hopeful

Ubuntu has hugely help make Linux and open source flavors many more people can enjoy.

I’m staying hopeful that Ubuntu will stay focus on their customers’ experience!

In the meantime, I’m also staying pragmatic and swallowing bitter proprietary medicine everyday.

Having Fun

My co-worker Alex “Viper” today shared this parody of Jay-Z “Empire State of Mind” titled “Galactic Empire State of Mind” by College Humor:

Customers’ care about one thing, a good experience.

April 8th Update: Yahoo will not be the default search engine in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx. Related article “Ubuntu Linux Still Searching Google“

Yesterday, I did an install of Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on the Dell Dimension E520. The install went well; I haven’t experienced any hardware problems (yet), but I’m near tears for all the (minor) experience issues.

I’ve been using Ubuntu since the first release three years ago, and maybe I should be used to the problems, but with a new installation they are back in my face. My passion for Ubuntu, open source and free culture, also makes it hurt more — probably a good thing.

There is more to why it hurts. Complimenting my natural critical thinking, I have spent over seven years developing an eye for software issues, so my discomfort with each of the issues is definitely heightened, but I’ve learned in working with people on the software problems they are experiencing, that minor problems resonate and eventual exasperate people.

Part of me is begging the other part of me to switch to a Mac, but my pain is the pain I have the largest stake in healing, so here I am starting to work through the problems. Although a high cost, I’m willing to pay it, because I can and the benefits are well worth it!