I just switched from Arch Linux to Ubuntu 10.10. I'm running the Fluxbox window manager, and I use xlockmore to lock my screen with the following key shortcut:

192   :Exec xlock-mode marquee +usefirst -icongeometry 240x240 -message "back in a minute..."

The problem I'm having is that xlock is definitely not using my first key as part of my password. Instead, it uses some randomized fade pattern to fade to the password screen. I find this highly annoying, as when I get back to my desk and start entering my password it doesn't register password characters until the fade pattern is complete.

I've also tried the following modifications with no difference:

192 :Exec xlock -mode marquee -usefirst -icongeometry 240x240 -message "back in a minute..."

192 :Exec xlock -mode marquee -icongeometry 240x240 -message "back in a minute..."

The first example worked flawlessly on Arch. Does Ubuntu have some sort of system default that you can't override on the command-line?