What Applications Should be in the Standard Installation?

“Ubuntu is first and foremost a GNOME distribution. It takes
GNOME applications unless there’s a definitive reason not to. For
example, Firefox was originally used instead of the GNOME default
Epiphany browser because Epiphany was in a terrible state at the
time, and FF is still preferred because it’s a very poplar browser
and serves as a familiar signpost to switchers. But mostly, you’ve
got Totem, Nautlius, Evolution, and all the gang. Ubuntu thus looks
much like any other GNOME distribution.

“But it doesn’t have to be that way. The questions about The
GIMP are great — they represent a critical look at what should be
included. How many people do advanced photo editing? Few, probably.
I would guess that the same can be said for PIMminess. Has the
average user even even opened Evolution? Most home users handle all
their personal business through web services like Yahoo! or
Google.”

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