The tradition in Ubuntu seems to be to include one or two versions of the default wallpaper and call it done. Unlike Windows and OS X, Ubuntu has never had any significant selection of wallpapers. You either used the default or got your own. Meanwhile, Windows 7 has a vast array of wallpapers of every type: abstract, landscape, animals, flowers, green hills with a blue sky, etc. In fact I did a comparison a while ago that pointed out exactly this difference.

In Karmic Koala (9.10), though, Ubuntu seems to be shifting more towards the Windows 7 style. A page has been setup on the Wiki for people to contribute artwork in three categories: default wallpaper, abstract extras, and photographic extras. The plan is apparently to offer, in addition to the default wallpaper, a selection of more diverse alternative wallpapers, including photographs, which is a first for Ubuntu. I should note that these wallpapers may be offered in a separate package.

This change is quite exciting, since it makes it really simple for Ubuntu users to find a wallpaper they like. It’s almost impossible to find one wallpaper everyone likes, but finding a wallpaper for everyone in a selection of 20 might be possible.

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