Matthew Thomas wrote:
> bhuvan wrote:
>
>> ...
>> messages for multiple accounts. A checkbox in each (POP and IMAP)
>> server panel with pref "Log onto this account at startup of mail"
>> ...
>> (66460 ), having a checkbox on the AccountCentral page that says "Next
>> time, take me to the Inbox directly" or something similar would help
>> ...
>
>
> This seems like a gradual process of repeatedly adding features, each
> one designed to patch up the problems caused by the previous one. I
> wasn't here at the time, but I would guess this is the same process by
> which the UI of the Search function and the Forms Manager in Navigator
> got into the embarrassing states they are in today.
>
> You are gambling that each new addition will improve usability, but
> since you are adding complexity, you are gambling at worse and worse
> odds each time.
>
> Problem:
> Some people are confused when they first open the mail window, the
> account is selected in the folder pane, and nothing is displayed in
> the thread or message panes.
> Implemented solution:
> Design a high-falutin' `Account Central' page, which duplicates
> functions in the menus and toolbar -- with the inevitable result
> that some users will be permanently slowed by forever thinking that
> they *have* to come here to access those functions. (That wouldn't
> be bad in itself, were it not for the fact that going to Account
> Central to do these things is vastly slower than accessing them by
> any of the other methods.)
You also have to remember that Account Central can help lot of people
who are sophisticated enough to browse through menus and use toolbars
effectively. So, effectively we are improving the usability from their
perspective. Those who can use menus effectively would never conclude
that the Account Central is the only way. They will select the most
appropriate route for them to access the various features. Usability
studies suggest that people are having trouble finding certain features
and performing certain actions. Like all other features, Account Central
will also go through a round usability studies and will be modified
based on the feedback we receive.
>
> Alternative solution:
> Select the Inbox, rather than the account, when the mail window is
> first opened. In the rare event that the user does choose the
> account level, show a simple summary of the folders/groups in that
> account, with the number of read and unread messages in each.
I think providing a way to do various account related actions is better
than just displaying folder info (which appears on the status bar as
well as the folder pane itself). At startup, we are driving towards the
solution to pick Inbox...
>
> Problem:
> Some people like their mail to be checked automatically when they
> open a mail window. Other people don't.
> Implemented solution:
> Have a per-account pref for whether or not an account is checked at
> startup. To completely remove all possibility of the user
> understanding this behavior, have different defaults for this pref
> with different types of account.
Having different set of defaults is finalized yet. If we have to go
with different defaults, I think,
it will be because that that particular default value is best suited for
the usage patterns and expectations of user with those account types.
bhuvan
>
> Alternative solution:
> If the user is in online mode when they open their mail window, then
> check their mail in all their accounts. If they're in offline mode,
> then don't. (As I said before, online/offline mode should be
> persistent between invocations of an application, but should not be
> shared across Mozilla applications.) Provide keyboard shortcuts for
> checking mail in all accounts (Ctrl+Shift+T) or just the selected
> folder (or Inbox of the selected account) (Ctrl+T).
>
