Comments on: 5 Reasons A Dark Theme will Ruin Ubuntu

By: trent

trent — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:06:59 +0000

I agree with you Ben, I like balance. All dark is too much and too light can hurt your eyes. I hope some genius design pops up soon and Ubuntu adds it as the default, though I’m getting a little concerned.

Not to say the current is terrible, its very usable and basic. At some point though if you want to become mainstream you have to achieve a mainstream look and feel..

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:49:41 +0000

Everyone’s fighting both sides. It’s crazy.
Bright colours are a little tougher on the eyes, dark colours aren’t much better. What’s wrong with some balance? My monitor is Black by default. I like middling colours of low hue for controls (since seeing it on Mac) and I also like bright paper.

Comments please on my current desktop – I can’t change it a great deal, except sometimes I go for caramel menu’s…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2853866802_bd7346ea5e_b.jpg

Try to ignore the desktop background. Black is nice, wood (ibex mockup style) is cool too. Greys look smart and professional – and I get less headaches, and waste less time thinking about my interface than I used to.

I am glad that ubuntu didn’t satisfy me off the bat – now my desktop is unique – as are most people’s.

In case you’re interested, my basic theme was OSV (which has issues of being too dark, but colours can be adjusted. GTK theme is SUNDAY. Oddly with ‘brown/gold’ glassy buttons, which really grow on you!

By: trent

trent — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:04:32 +0000

But thats my entire point. Dark colors are fine, just not the entire theme. Vista does have a darker theme, but there is a mix of vibrant colors and some dark ones. Back to Tillus’ point that Ubuntu needs a theme that is “innovative” and “Just Works”. I think this is the best way to effectively reach all types of users.

By: JM

JM — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:55:08 +0000

Trent wrote: Black is professional, but it is generally offset with a lighter color. Iâm not oppose to dark colors, I think everything being dark is not ideal. A combination of light and dark would be the best approach.

I’ve been using Linux for a few years and dislike Ubuntu’s current theme. OK I can change it… but I just got a new laptop (which is black btw) and provided with Vista Business. Before reinstalling my favorite distro, I have decided to test the pre-installed OS in order to know if it is so bad. Well, Vista is provided with a dark theme (the toolbar) and it looks, to me, professional. But there is a mix with lighter colors (windows, background). And I don’t feel much depressed ;) Same with OSX where colours are mixed: dark background and grey/blue for the rest. My conclusion: Dark can look professional in addition with lighter colors (not flashy). I’m sure other guidelines can be found and create maybe a better impression.

By: trent

trent — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:17:37 +0000

Yes, I think innovation is EXTREMELY important at this point, something to set it apart, but yet still something basic enough you can’t argue about it. something not so extreme.

By: tillus

tillus — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:57:15 +0000

/agree
also I must say, that the dark theme is not going to be the main/standard/default-theme, but an alternative you’ll be able to choose
(If I’d design this theme, I’d really make the brown less saturated and use a somewhat ‘glossier’ orange. And I wouldn’t replace white with teal. Bah.)

However, what Ubuntu needs is an *innovative* theme, something attractive, something you do not need to discuss/argue about/whatsoever, a theme that just works…

By: trent

trent — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:21:54 +0000

Black is professional, but it is generally offset with a lighter color. I’m not oppose to dark colors, I think everything being dark is not ideal. A combination of light and dark would be the best approach.

By: kaola_linux

kaola_linux — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:51:04 +0000

I think black is professional..It blends well on corporate attires..Would you agree?Most of the employees use a black suit most of the time..Black blends well on other colors..Black is simple and professional…

By: SoftwareExplorer

SoftwareExplorer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:07:14 +0000

I like dark themes, but I think that ubuntu , being a kind of ambassador for Linux, should use a theme that a windows user who is used to light colors can use without feeling depressed. I think that brown is not that pretty either though.

By: trent

trent — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:38:40 +0000

I personally don’t like the theme. I do see how testing this in a beta release could help resolve issues with apps, perfectly logical. From the people I know and deal with on a regular basis many people are doing good just to get on a computer and check email, much less change a theme.

When designing any software you can’t assume anyone is at any level beyond an absolute beginner. You can’t assume people can jump right in and start changing themes and backgrounds. I think people have stayed away from linux in the past because they knew it took a fairly savvy user to use it. However, all linux distro’s have come a long way and people are still hesitant to try it. It is possible to make a great design by going all dark. I think it would be in Ubuntu’s best interest to try and hit something in the middle to be pleasing to all types of users.

Thanks to everyone for keeping the comments clean. Even if I’m completely wrong (or right :) ) I hope something good comes out of this and the next release is by far the best yet. Who knows maybe the thoughts and comments here will inspire someone to create the next ground breaking theme that shocks the world.