20 Ubuntu Karmic Annoyances
Image by petechaps. Some rights reserved.
My list of Ubuntu Karmic papercuts (okay some are big and most are application specific so they're not strictly "papercuts") that could be easily fixed or were once working:
- If you are mounting shares from disks on your network and you are using wifi, the shares don't unmount when you try to shut down. This is a major pain. (The pain is amplified because folks keep marking the bug "fixed" when it's not.) I switched from Hardy (and Jaunty) to solve another problem using remote shares, so this was a nasty surprise.
- Empathy won't set status to "hidden" or "invisible". (Empathy sets you to "busy" even if you choose "hidden") and Empathy won't let you set a default status. (There must be a reason that Empathy replaced Pidgin, but I can't detect what that reason might have been.)
- Empathy doesn't work easily (or well) with the Facebook chat plugin. Once you get it working, a major pain, Facebook contacts won't stay in their group.
- Empathy's spellchecker doesn't speak English. (Or maybe it just doesn't speak U.S. English.)
- "Send to" in Nautilus has a choice for Empathy but it doesn't work because you cannot select a contact.
- If the location you select for your backup files isn't available, the default setting for Simple Backup is to write them to the local disk. This fills up the local disk and can lock you out if you run backups automatically. Then it's time for TOTAL FRIGGING PANIC. If you figure it out before doing something stupid, a rescue with Ubuntu on a stick works. (There is an option to abort the backup if the backup location isn't available, but it's not the default option. Surprise! And the error message -- something utterly irrelevant about "gnome power manager" is misleading and . . . stupid.)
- I don't think Simple Backup's pruning of backup files works the way it is supposed to either, but I'll never need those backups, right?
- There is a confusing array of multimedia options, but none of them let you bookmark online radio stations. Play radio stations, yes. Choose from a list of stations, yes. Bookmark those you use most often, no.
- Why Rhythmbox stores downloaded podcasts using indecipherable names is beyond me. (So, I now use gpodder. But getting gpodder to save podcasts where you want them saved requires contortions.)
- Firefox goes into URL erase mode if Firefox -- or maybe it's the computer -- isn't used for a bit. Any character you type in the address bar replaces what is already there. So instead of an address you get one or two highlighted characters. (Minimizing and then restoring the Firefox window fixes the problem, but come on!)
- Firefox doesn't follow Gnome's font preferences. At least I think this is why the fonts look crappy in Firefox. (I was so happy when linux figured out the fuzzy font issue several years ago, but it's back in Firefox.)
- Evolution won't save changes to remote calendars. This makes it useless for keeping our calendars jointly. (So, I use Sunbird instead. But Sunbird automatically locks remote calendars if it cannot connect to them. So, if there's no internet connection, even briefly, you must unlock every single one of your calendars individually.)
- Can't easily remove Evolution though it's useless.
- Qt applications (VLC, Treeline) that once looked fine now have horrible font problems. There's a fix here.
- Sound Juicer, the default CD ripper works beautifully but doesn't check track/filenames for "bad" characters. Instead, if it encounters one when ripping to a network share, it simply stops ripping and pops up a window saying something about the "resource" being unavailable.
- Switching from a local to an external monitor can cause my netbook to lock up. And the process of switching external monitors has gotten buggy. It never goes smoothly when I go from the external monitor at home to the one in my office.
- Using wifi and then plugging in a wired connection requires a restart to use the wireless connection again. Worked fine in Jaunty. (I think.)
- On my netbook, network manager's wired connection icon is a black blob. The wireless one is fine. This is true when plugged into a standard 17" display.
- Karmic doesn't play as well with my netbook as Jaunty did. It's a pain. The numlock key isn't reliably on or off. The touchpad lock key must be pressed a couple times before it works. The built in microphone doesn't work. The external display switch is now pretty much broken. The default power management settings don't have a "do nothing" option when the lid is closed on AC power.
- Can anyone really get pam-mount to work? I've spent fruitless hours trying. It's what keeps Gerty from dropping windows entirely.
- What's the difference between eject and unmount for a usb disk? Sometimes both choices are available in the dropdown list.
- Cheese, the default webcam app, won't let you choose where to save photos, videos, etc. It just does its own thing. (Cutest app name I can think of though.)
Comments:
Comment from: Hohlraum [Visitor] 
I feel ya. Been using linux on the desktop 40hrs/week for over a decade and most releases are half new features and half regressions. As "evolutionary" as the development is with the linux desktop you'd think stuff would break less but I'm sure most of this development is like herding cats. :)
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01/28/10 @ 09:13
Comment from: Greg [Visitor]
Most of the issues that you pointed out are with applications not Ubuntu itself. I find it hard to blame Ubuntu for something that they include as part of their distribution and did not code. That is like trying to blame Microsoft because HP's printer software sucks. It is comments like this that make people scared of trying Linux. If you want to blame someone for something not working direct it to the specific app and do it in a constructive way that helps the community.
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01/28/10 @ 09:26
Comment from: Dave [Visitor] · http://www.daverea.com/
· http://www.daverea.com/
Right there with ya buddy - 9.10 was definitely a step backwards for Ubuntu. I've been running it since late December and still haven't worked out various printing difficulties, gotten used to Empathy or enjoyed consistent suspend/resume behavior. I hope 10.04 is an improvement over this go-'round!
As for these issues being Ubuntu-vs-app problems, nearly all of the OP's complaints were with Ubuntu-supported, Ubuntu-integrated and Ubuntu-maintained packages. Also sounds like the OP is a responsible bug-reporter, too, not just someone who gripes away in the blogosphere without taking issues through the proper channels. Integrating and testing software is hard, especially so when defects are introduced upstream, but taking this many steps back in one release is disappointing.
Note, however, that no one here is talking about abandoning Linux, or even jumping ship for another distro - that's the beauty of Desktop Linux; you have several ways to deal with most tasks, and a community of [mostly] helpful folks who've got your back.
As for these issues being Ubuntu-vs-app problems, nearly all of the OP's complaints were with Ubuntu-supported, Ubuntu-integrated and Ubuntu-maintained packages. Also sounds like the OP is a responsible bug-reporter, too, not just someone who gripes away in the blogosphere without taking issues through the proper channels. Integrating and testing software is hard, especially so when defects are introduced upstream, but taking this many steps back in one release is disappointing.
Note, however, that no one here is talking about abandoning Linux, or even jumping ship for another distro - that's the beauty of Desktop Linux; you have several ways to deal with most tasks, and a community of [mostly] helpful folks who've got your back.
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01/28/10 @ 09:33
Comment from: Steve [Visitor]
Does not mount a floppy. An issue since the first 9.10 Beta, and never resolved. When I filed a bug report, I just received a sarcastic response. Getting too big for its own good.
I found a home with Mandriva. So far EVERYTHING works just fine!
I found a home with Mandriva. So far EVERYTHING works just fine!
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01/28/10 @ 09:38
Comment from: Darren [Visitor]
It's stuff like this that force me away from Gnome. Gnome on Ubuntu is really inconsistent and there are lots of things that just make you think 'what?!'. Now with KDE 4 on Kubuntu 9.10 and I find it difficult to think of anything that doesn't make complete sense.
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01/28/10 @ 10:10
Comment from: Todd [Visitor]
The VPN tab in the network tab doesn't work. When you click on it all of the buttons are gray. I'm pretty sure I remember this not working in Jaunty either.
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01/28/10 @ 10:35
Comment from: Yves [Visitor]
Glad to see there is one place in the community where people admit that Karmic has many regressions.
Telling the truth is not being negative... I finally downgraded back to jaunty and am waiting for the LTS to come.
And I still believe in Unbuntu and Gnome all the same!
Telling the truth is not being negative... I finally downgraded back to jaunty and am waiting for the LTS to come.
And I still believe in Unbuntu and Gnome all the same!
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01/28/10 @ 10:43
Comment from: Aeiluindae [Visitor]
I hate Empathy in general. It lacks critical functionality that Pidgin had, won't integrate with Skype, and doesn't show me as being online no matter what I do sometimes. It has potential, but they stuck it in way before it was ready for prime time. And not being able remove certain things (like evolution, or GNOME) is really annoying.
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01/28/10 @ 10:53
Comment from: Cywhale [Visitor] · http://www.cywhale.de
· http://www.cywhale.de
Firefox issues:
Bad font rendering in ff 3.6 went away after recompiling firefox from mozilla sources - tokke me 1.5h on a samsung nc10 but it's quite worth it.
The problem with the one or two characters in the url bar went away after deactivating some extensions, don't know for sure if it maybe was omnibar...
Bad font rendering in ff 3.6 went away after recompiling firefox from mozilla sources - tokke me 1.5h on a samsung nc10 but it's quite worth it.
The problem with the one or two characters in the url bar went away after deactivating some extensions, don't know for sure if it maybe was omnibar...
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01/28/10 @ 10:59
Comment from: wingnutz [Visitor]
Empathy sucks! That's why I use songbird.. i has loads of add-ons, it's also possible to bookmark online radios, websites, cd-ripping etc. As for Firefox, I need to agree: the fonts look horrible, it looks like we were back in 90's.
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01/28/10 @ 11:09
Comment from: Johannes [Visitor] · http://www.johannes-eva.net/
· http://www.johannes-eva.net/
Wow, that's a huge list.
Nevertheless, for me at least, Karmic was a great release. I don't use some of the software you cite, though, as Empathy or Evolution.
For having installed Karmic on many computers, it works very very well in almost all cases!
Nevertheless, for me at least, Karmic was a great release. I don't use some of the software you cite, though, as Empathy or Evolution.
For having installed Karmic on many computers, it works very very well in almost all cases!
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01/28/10 @ 11:31
Comment from: TheMasterOfUnix [Visitor]
I've read your list about 15 times now and my suggestion is to re-install. I have been running Ubuntu and Linux Mint since their respective inceptions and have never encountered any of the issues you 'claim' to be having. It appears you may have a faulty install. Re-download the ISO and be sure to run a check before and after burning. Also be sure to burn at the slowest possible speed your burner will allow.
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01/28/10 @ 11:39
Comment from: The One [Visitor]
To "Wingnutz" Empathy is an Instant Messenger/Chat Client and Songbird is a Music/Media Player. I fail to see what either has to do with one another.
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01/28/10 @ 11:43
Comment from: Saint DanBert [Visitor]
I'm trying to run Karmic on a Tablet-PC (Emperor Raven Tablet, aka=Thinkpad X61 Tablet) and would like to add some things.
A. Add/Remove devices is now entirely auto-magic. In addition, there is precious little information available about how things (1)are supposed to work, and (2) actually work, and (3) how to provide end-user configuration. A very obvious problem involves XORG configuration. There is no more xorg.conf and no instructions for the preferred way to provide those details when devices do not work auto-magically.
B. Karmic has completely embraced UPSTART as the boot-time processing engine .,. complete with missing end-user use and configuration details.
C. Karmic has completely embraced GRUB2 as the bootloader ... complete with missing end-user use and configuration details.
I know that I can "read the code" but this sort of major shift in functionality is a serious dis-service to the end-user, even power-user, community.
A. Add/Remove devices is now entirely auto-magic. In addition, there is precious little information available about how things (1)are supposed to work, and (2) actually work, and (3) how to provide end-user configuration. A very obvious problem involves XORG configuration. There is no more xorg.conf and no instructions for the preferred way to provide those details when devices do not work auto-magically.
B. Karmic has completely embraced UPSTART as the boot-time processing engine .,. complete with missing end-user use and configuration details.
C. Karmic has completely embraced GRUB2 as the bootloader ... complete with missing end-user use and configuration details.
I know that I can "read the code" but this sort of major shift in functionality is a serious dis-service to the end-user, even power-user, community.
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01/28/10 @ 12:06
Comment from: theboy [Member]
Hey! First, I'm a huge ubuntu fan. "Annoyance" is not the same as "This really sucks don't even think of installing it!" See Dave's comment above.
This is a list of things I wish worked better. I'm, generally, a Karmic fan. Most everything works well and reliably (and yes, better than on windows.) The Ubuntu community is great, and Ubuntu is the best distro I have used. Is there anything wrong with wanting everything to work?
Second, yes, most things on this list are application-specific. I'm using Karmic as a regular user would use Karmic. This is a list of things that bug me. Most of the apps are part of the standard Karmic release -- empathy, for example, was chosen to replace pidgin. Most of the substitutes apps I use are typical substitutes, too, usually provoked by problems with those that come with Karmic.
Finally, masteroftheunix, if you don't think these things are "real," click through on some of the links. I haven't linked each annoyance, but for many of these things, you'll see that I'm not the only one with problems. Others, of course, are matters of opinion or have been problems with earlier releases. And, it's always possible that I have some things on the list that result from my goofs, though I've tried to avoid those! (I have one laptop, one netbook, and two desktops running Karmic, I don't think it's likely that I or the other people reporting similar problems screwed up the installation.)
This is a list of things I wish worked better. I'm, generally, a Karmic fan. Most everything works well and reliably (and yes, better than on windows.) The Ubuntu community is great, and Ubuntu is the best distro I have used. Is there anything wrong with wanting everything to work?
Second, yes, most things on this list are application-specific. I'm using Karmic as a regular user would use Karmic. This is a list of things that bug me. Most of the apps are part of the standard Karmic release -- empathy, for example, was chosen to replace pidgin. Most of the substitutes apps I use are typical substitutes, too, usually provoked by problems with those that come with Karmic.
Finally, masteroftheunix, if you don't think these things are "real," click through on some of the links. I haven't linked each annoyance, but for many of these things, you'll see that I'm not the only one with problems. Others, of course, are matters of opinion or have been problems with earlier releases. And, it's always possible that I have some things on the list that result from my goofs, though I've tried to avoid those! (I have one laptop, one netbook, and two desktops running Karmic, I don't think it's likely that I or the other people reporting similar problems screwed up the installation.)
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01/28/10 @ 13:11
Comment from: Ambleston Dack [Visitor]
First rule of thumb with Linux, check that your hardware is compatible. Use the LiveCD for as long as possible before you install. This way, you will see if there are any "issues" with your setup. Been using Ubuntu from more or less the word go, and apart from my old Sony Ericsson phone not working with 8.10 onwards, I've never had any issues with it.
As Greg pointed out, these issues are with the Apps that Ubuntu bundles, start firing at their respective bug lists.
Way back when, when Windows 95 first came out, I had hell with it. I reverted back to Windows 3.11 and stayed with it until Windows 98. Talk to long time Apple users and they'll tell you issues they've had with their OS. No OS is perfect, but the problem with Linux is, the great unwashed (that's us, by the way) gets to see the development going on with Linux. Imagine if the Windows unwashed saw that!
As Greg pointed out, these issues are with the Apps that Ubuntu bundles, start firing at their respective bug lists.
Way back when, when Windows 95 first came out, I had hell with it. I reverted back to Windows 3.11 and stayed with it until Windows 98. Talk to long time Apple users and they'll tell you issues they've had with their OS. No OS is perfect, but the problem with Linux is, the great unwashed (that's us, by the way) gets to see the development going on with Linux. Imagine if the Windows unwashed saw that!
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01/28/10 @ 13:35
Comment from: Digikid [Visitor] · http://www.raiden.,net
· http://www.raiden.,net
The BIGGEST issue for me are the DNS problems. Due to Canonical messing around with the DNS settings the net speed is inconsistent at best. There is no real fix for this...even using OpenDNS does not fix the problem.
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01/28/10 @ 13:52
Comment from: sachin p [Visitor] · http://Google
· http://Google
It is easier said than Done!!!
Why don't you Guys go ahead and fix some of the issues ?
Why don't you Guys go ahead and fix some of the issues ?
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01/28/10 @ 15:05
Comment from: Apopas [Visitor]
I don;t use Ubuntu but about 21, in general means this:
umount: keeps your usb device there to mount it again later.
eject: removes it totally from the OS, so you have to unplug and plug it again if you want to mount it.
umount: keeps your usb device there to mount it again later.
eject: removes it totally from the OS, so you have to unplug and plug it again if you want to mount it.
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01/28/10 @ 16:27
Comment from: GreyGeek [Visitor]
Don't people read the manuals any more?
From the Cheese manual:
5.2. Saving photos and videos to an alternate location
To save a photo to an alternate place on your system where you can easily find them, find the photo or video that you wish to save in the photo stream, right click on it and select Save As from the pop-up menu. This will bring up a standard Save File dialog that will allow you to save it to a new location as well as rename it if you so wish to do.
From the Cheese manual:
5.2. Saving photos and videos to an alternate location
To save a photo to an alternate place on your system where you can easily find them, find the photo or video that you wish to save in the photo stream, right click on it and select Save As from the pop-up menu. This will bring up a standard Save File dialog that will allow you to save it to a new location as well as rename it if you so wish to do.
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01/28/10 @ 16:39
Comment from: theboy [Member]
@Apopas - Ah. Makes sense. Thanks.
@GreyGeek - Thanks. It's a workaround. BUT the problem isn't moving or saving another copy of the photo or video once Cheese saves. A guy can also track them down in Nautilus and move them around.
The annoyance is not being able to set a default location for Cheese to save everything. I can't find a way to do it through Cheese itself. And though I haven't turned the whole computer upside down looking for the Cheese config file, I have looked a bit and can't find one.
@GreyGeek - Thanks. It's a workaround. BUT the problem isn't moving or saving another copy of the photo or video once Cheese saves. A guy can also track them down in Nautilus and move them around.
The annoyance is not being able to set a default location for Cheese to save everything. I can't find a way to do it through Cheese itself. And though I haven't turned the whole computer upside down looking for the Cheese config file, I have looked a bit and can't find one.
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01/28/10 @ 16:50
Comment from: moiecoute [Visitor]
This release from Ubuntu is the worst since version 5.
The one that gets me is Grub. Why switch from stable software to beta software which had/has very little support in terms of customisation and then during testing not be able to pick up all the issues of upgrade that were missed. Pulseaudio as well.
Karmic saw the nerds take back Ubuntu and shaft the usability community that has tried to turn Ubuntu into an everyday o/s alternate that everyday people would use.
The one that gets me is Grub. Why switch from stable software to beta software which had/has very little support in terms of customisation and then during testing not be able to pick up all the issues of upgrade that were missed. Pulseaudio as well.
Karmic saw the nerds take back Ubuntu and shaft the usability community that has tried to turn Ubuntu into an everyday o/s alternate that everyday people would use.
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01/28/10 @ 17:04
Comment from: Diego [Visitor]
I don't know about you... but for me that is the fun part about this...
I spend most of my time Fixing problems, but i really enjoy it.
I spend most of my time Fixing problems, but i really enjoy it.
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01/29/10 @ 10:49
Comment from: bill [Visitor]
"...hard to blame Ubuntu for something that they include" then who do you blame?
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01/29/10 @ 12:06
Comment from: Patricio Aumedes [Visitor]
If you have an USB Reader for microSD or SD memories, you can choose ejecet to replace the memory without unplugging the Reader. If you choose Unmount, the Reader will not read until you replug it.
Sorry for my bad English.
Great article!
We hope Cannonical do something about this bugs
Bye
Sorry for my bad English.
Great article!
We hope Cannonical do something about this bugs
Bye
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01/29/10 @ 13:24
Comment from: VoltageX [Visitor]
Developers can't fix what they don't know about.
Submit your bugs and problems to Ubuntu's bug reporting system at launchpad.net
Submit your bugs and problems to Ubuntu's bug reporting system at launchpad.net
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01/30/10 @ 07:08
Comment from: theboy [Member]
@Voltage - True. You might notice that many items are linked to bug reports.
As you point out, filing a bug report is probably the best way for a regular person to get a problem fixed. It's a good thing to get into the habit of doing.
Nonetheless, filing a bug report isn't the easiest thing in the world. Figuring out how to file one takes a bit of effort, and for most regular folks it's intimidating. Granted, you get the hang of it pretty quickly. The follow up - particularly when a bug you've reported is ignored or marked as fixed when you think it isn't - can be frustrating.
A good thing about Ubuntu bug reporting is that on the Ubuntu bug site the responses and comments are typically friendly and forgiving.
As you point out, filing a bug report is probably the best way for a regular person to get a problem fixed. It's a good thing to get into the habit of doing.
Nonetheless, filing a bug report isn't the easiest thing in the world. Figuring out how to file one takes a bit of effort, and for most regular folks it's intimidating. Granted, you get the hang of it pretty quickly. The follow up - particularly when a bug you've reported is ignored or marked as fixed when you think it isn't - can be frustrating.
A good thing about Ubuntu bug reporting is that on the Ubuntu bug site the responses and comments are typically friendly and forgiving.
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01/30/10 @ 09:16
Comment from: Perberos [Visitor] · http://www.kokuban.com.ar/
· http://www.kokuban.com.ar/
Welcome to GNU/Linux.
Ubuntu is NOT GNU/Linux.
Now should be a good idea report all those problems to each application specific website.
Grettings
Ubuntu is NOT GNU/Linux.
Now should be a good idea report all those problems to each application specific website.
Grettings
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01/31/10 @ 15:06
Comment from: theboy [Member]
@Perberos
OMG! You are right! I never realized that! Nor did any of the commenters above!
I think you should immediately share your insight with the ubuntu launchpad folks. They can stop collecting bugs for any of the gnu apps! That would make their work much easier.
AND, I could probably figure out a way to boot the kernel without them and then look at my blank screen. Now that would be fun.
But, oh wait, the kernel. The kernel isn't unbuntu either. Hmmm.
You're right. After I sort through it all, applying your perceptive insight and advice of course, I can see that as far as ubuntu goes, there's nothing at all to complain about.
So, why am I complaining? Why am I filing bug reports on launchpad ubuntu?- Why did I link to some ubuntu-reported bugs above? Whatever was I thinking?! Every mistake is some other project's! Not Ubuntu's! Ubuntu is perfect! Mea culpa. Mea culpa.
Oh. Except the brown themes. Those are something ubuntu did. But they've actually grown on me. I . . . actually don't mind them.
Sheesh.
OMG! You are right! I never realized that! Nor did any of the commenters above!
I think you should immediately share your insight with the ubuntu launchpad folks. They can stop collecting bugs for any of the gnu apps! That would make their work much easier.
AND, I could probably figure out a way to boot the kernel without them and then look at my blank screen. Now that would be fun.
But, oh wait, the kernel. The kernel isn't unbuntu either. Hmmm.
You're right. After I sort through it all, applying your perceptive insight and advice of course, I can see that as far as ubuntu goes, there's nothing at all to complain about.
So, why am I complaining? Why am I filing bug reports on launchpad ubuntu?- Why did I link to some ubuntu-reported bugs above? Whatever was I thinking?! Every mistake is some other project's! Not Ubuntu's! Ubuntu is perfect! Mea culpa. Mea culpa.
Oh. Except the brown themes. Those are something ubuntu did. But they've actually grown on me. I . . . actually don't mind them.
Sheesh.
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02/01/10 @ 18:31 
