> I think we need to focus a bit more on the fundamental reasons why we > use workspaces. I for one often switch to a new workspace because i > don't want to see any of what i was working on before. I don't want > tabs from before, apps from before, any single thing, just a clean, > open, new desktop. The only other way i use it is to have a second > reference, so that I can have two docs side by side and a third on the > next workspace.
> So, if my goal is to have a brand new clean open space, why clutter it > up with the tabs and such? Because, as was pointed out before, exaggerating on the "clearing up" impression have the undesirable side effect of looking like you *closed* everything instead of just putting it aside. Visually, the tab metaphor make very clear that something has been *added*, not destroyed. > And if these tabs in the mockups (which do look nice, by the way) > operate in the way describe, what possible benefit is there to not > just minimizing apps? If every open app on every open workspace is on > something that is basically the taskbar to begin with (just with > workspace grouping added) then its actually more cluttered, more > duplicated feature, and quite frankly, not helpful yet. I kinda agree. I initially liked Remco's and Luke's mockups, but after thinking a while I think filling each tab with app icons increase clutter rather than reducing. > I'd like to re-bring up my idea for a set of tabs along the top that > are not workspace with open apps contained, but rather app layers for > assignable programs. we have one widget layer which many use for > widgets or tomboy, but what if we design a stackable layer system? > have the first tab be for standard desktop/workspace environment. the > workspace switcher can remain as is until a more suitable option is > worked out. then, instead of rolling over to a new desktop, we click > to activate the tab on top for messenging apps, and up pops of > 'widget' type layer. This would de-saturate or fade the original > workspace, and would bring up whatever you have open in this layer, > like email, IM, gwibber, which would be interacted with in the > standard way. both panels would remain as-is, but the taskbar would > show what is open and active on the 'widget' messenger layer. A second > layer can have a file browser, or whatever. The user can open anything > he or she feels on these different layers, but they are not > restricted. If i want to pin an IM conversation to my primary > workspace instead of the IM layer, thats fine, I can open it the > standard way, or perhaps click and drag it to the top of the screen, > to the original workspace tab. > This, i think, would better situate the app specific use of > workspaces, much better then a series of full workspaces. I for one > keep one down and to the left with email always open. But this would > work better for keeping things from getting cluttered. Email would be > in the second tab, available on every single workspace, just the same > as music or any other custom stuff. This would add a whole new > dimension of workspace use, so rather then just a series of never > ending desktops, we could get some always quickly available, task > specific (but specific to the user, not assigned) workspace layers. Yes, I was thinking more or less on those lines as well. But instead of layers, the metaphor I had in mind was "pages of a book." _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ayatana Post to : ayatana@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ayatana More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
