Click
The slidebar adjust the time before the screensaver is activated.
The "Activate screensaver..." and "Lock screen..." checkboxes need to be
unchecked.
Take a look at the too.

I used your suggestion. I don't mind using passwords but if I go to the kitchen
to make a sandwich or something, I do not want to keep logging on or if I am
reading a long article, etc.

GB, that is my complaint with the default short timeout and PW requirement.

I don't know what version of Ubuntu you're using, but you can lengthen or
turn it off altogether in the screensaver settings. In pre-11.04 I think
this option was under system->preferences->screensaver

This is a bad idea. Passwords protect you and are not the enemy. Windows is
just catching on to this idea, but it is part of Linux for a good reason.
Change your thinking and you will be happier.

Passwords are an excellent option. I would qualify that with the following though: if you are on a
home computer desktop, I personally don't think there is a need for a
password entry every time the screen saver comes up. Especially if most of
the time that happens while you are reading over something or thinking and
actually sitting at the computer. The "password on screensaver" can be
disabled while keeping the password requirement when the user logs out.
That is the way I have it set up and use a key combo (cntrl+F11) to logout
whenever I am stepping away. This is just my opinion and preference.

Also, I'd say there's nothing wrong with changing the length of time between
screensaver appearances when it is popping up, say, every 5 minutes if that
is too frequent for a given users computing habits. It's not uncommon for
me to stare at the screen when I am writing for 20+ minutes thinking of what
to write or how to rearrange a paragraph. I'm cool hitting a button to pop
up the screen if it starts to go or goes dark. But it breaks my train of
thought if I have to actually enter a password.

Laptops, on the other hand, I keep the password on screensaver appearance
just in case the screen goes dark and I step away forgeting to log out (my
laptop turns the screen off rather than an actual saver that I see). Same
with the phone, and it is set to lock at 1 minute.

In summary, I think passwords and their implementation on Ubuntu is
generally excellent, but their use should be tailored to a user's needs
based on how a computer is being employed. I would personally be miserable,
rather than happier, if I had to enter a password every time I didn't touch
a key or the mouse for 5 minutes on my desktop. Even at 15 or 20 it is
pushing my tolerance.

This 15 minute persistence of the administrative user password when entering
sudo in the terminal, on the other hand, is one place Ubuntu should have
changed default password behaviour. Maybe by the current version, they
have. Of course, it is all pretty worthless if someone can login as root
shell in recovery mode without a password or just pull the drive if they
have physical access.

You can turn off locking the screen and not even use a screensaver. Those
are just frills and not really just a part of Linux. Passwords are not
unique to Linux, but they are integral to the OS and trying to circumvent
them is not a good idea especially for newbies. Linux veterans are not put
off by them. So what kind of user are we talking about?
As always I try to look at the big picture and think of others reading and
try to reinforce Linux ways. :-)
We are probably in agreement on the big picture. Sure turn off screen locks
and remove passwords from screensavers. They are just annoyances anyway, but
it is not wise to bypass built in security. Users do so at their peril.

Yes it sounds like we are in complete agreement then. :)