This appears to be fixed in 14.04. I tested it by downloading google- chrome and opening the deb.
** Changed in: software-center (Ubuntu) Status: Triaged => Fix Released -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to software-center in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1011684 Title: Opening .deb package shows home screen briefly before package screen Status in “software-center” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Bug description: If the software center is launched because the user clicked to install a deb package, it is not needed to load the welcome screen for the software-center. It takes extra time, and is confusing - (where is my deb package?) Then after the front page loads, the deb page appears and the install option is there... What I would propose is that software-center detects if it is launched with the deb option, and if so.. don't load the front screen, load a template of the view that will appear to install the deb. That will give the application a snappy response and wont be confusing. To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/1011684/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp