IT Professionals

Accomplishing The Obvious

Posted by on Feb 20, 2007 | 2 Comments

Because I simply cannot wait any longer for Ubuntu to “get it,” I am beginning work with a pre-selected developer to create Advanced Display Options for Ubuntu Dapper and Edgy. The features will include:

  • Easy to use GUI

.

  • Show the Driver, Manufacturer on “Display Information” tab.
  • Show the monitor configurations on “Monitor” tab.
  • Show the display adapter configurations in a tab named “Adapter.”
  • Dual monitors can be setup using “Monitor” tab, and by clicking add a monitor.
  • Driver specific options in Adapter tab.
  • OpenGL, Composite options (Beryl) is configurable in Adapter tab.
  • Safe mode option in Adapter tab.
  • Resolution (wide screen support) support in Monitor tab.
  • Update driver in Adapter tab.

    • Yes, this is the real deal and all of the back-end stuff has been explored; it can be done and much of this (excluding Beryl) should have been done a long time ago.

    By the end of the week, we will have two pages set up to begin the public end of this project: the hosting page at code.google.com and a Fundable page to help me to fund the developers and get this done faster. Remember, Open Source is not free as in free lunch. My goal is to make sure the lead developer can financially take time away from other projects to get this rolled out ASAP. I personally will be adding funds to the Fundable account myself; those of you wanting to see improved display functionality are encouraged to join me once it is ready to be posted. The finished utility will be installable as a .Deb package. Stay tuned…

    • Mark Hill

      That’s a welcome step forward, but why are you only thinking about only two monitors? We have five video outputs on most of our computers here. I’d love to start deploying Linux instead, but Windows XP has set a high standard for generality regarding the number, placement, resolution, and orientation of the monitors. As a developer, I can use my IDE on a fifth monitor while viewing the quad-monitor spread that my users see. Even if my Linux users were constrained to two identical monitors, I’d like to prototype with a third monitor for development. Would you like a quad video card to work with? We can send you one.

    • http://www.matthartley.com Matt Hartley

      Mark: I agree 150%.

      In an effort to get this rolled out asap, we will concentrate on dual-monitor to start with and emergency (improved) support for those poor folks with wide-screens still pulling their hair out just to get things working. Immediately after this, you are right, 3-4 monitor support needs to happen and will be at the top of the list for a rapid release cycle.

      I may take you up on the offer for the quad monitor card here fairly soon. Email me at matt at lockergnome.com if you could so I have access to you when we are ready if you could. :)