I think that this thread would feel more love on ubuntu-desktop than it will get on ubuntu-art ;-)
-- Ken On Tuesday 05 February 2008 15:52:38 Webmaster, Jhnet.co.uk wrote: > "I also think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also > silly > for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per > session." No, it is something very valuable, though only really on mobile > or public systems: when I am using my laptop it allows me to quickly throw > it in to suspend or lock the screen when I walk away. It is something that > I have found many users come to love once they get used to it being there > (for the most part the ability to lock, suspend or switch user is handy > (especially in a school-like or family environment). While the user > switcher is probably necessary I do feel the power button is a worth while > addition, especially given that we are taking up a solid 24 odd pixels of > the users screen that, lets face it, do very little more than provide a > launcher, clock and status items. (I am not debating the need for the top > panel, things definitely become crowded all squashed into the bottom, but > this area should be utilized better.) > > "As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left > hand side a list of your most commonly used applications. I've set it > to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently. As a > result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never > more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it." > I agree this is definitely a useful function that would be nice to see > however given how well organized a typical gnome Applications menu is > compared to a windows all programs menu (without any user intervention) it > becomes less important. While teaching basic computing skills to elderly > people (I run classes for a charity called Age Concern) I find that many > are confused as to why their programs sometimes appear in the frequently > used list, why they move and why all the programs they need are not there. > In this scenario, well named and *subject categorized* (not manufacturer or > application suite organized) programs lists are a generally good idea. What > would be nice is a way of making it more obvious that they can add their > own applications to the top bar to allow single click access to them and to > make use of the space there rather than ending up like windows' quick > launch that many people do not realize can actually be added to. > > Just some thoughts > > On 04/02/2008, Andrew Laignel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I totally agree with this. > > > > Only functions that are used on an extremely regular basis should have > > an icon on the desktop. I do like the way Ubuntu has a 'places' menu > > along with 'applications' as if your going to do something then it's > > either going to involve a) opening a file or b) running a program > > though, but too many icons just leads to clutter and creates confusion. > > > > I'd go as far as to say that I seriously doubt more than 80% of the > > general population, if exposed to Ubuntu, would ever use the button. It > > really shouldn't be there as it doesn't deserve the prominence. I also > > think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also silly > > for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per > > session. > > > > I think the power button position is a response to the anti-MS trolling > > of 'You have to click Start to shut down, lol' which is a ridiculous > > complaint. From a usability point of view calling the button 'Start' > > and making it an entirely different colour draws the attention of the > > users to it. Metaphorically it means 'Start doing things here'. > > > > Real attention I think should be paid to the Gnome UI layout. As far as > > I know it is exactly the same as upstream Gnome and I have seen no > > significant changes or improvements since Warty. There are many ways it > > can be improved upon to streamline workflow, save space and improve > > usability. Since Ubuntu is 'Linux for human beings' I believe this > > should be given a top priority as user experience is key to retaining > > your userbase. > > > > As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left > > hand side a list of your most commonly used applications. I've set it > > to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently. As a > > result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never > > more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it. > > > > Gnome at the moment still has functionality akin to Windows 98 and I > > feel virtually all the effort is on either dealing with bugs or adding > > new software with seemingly virtually no focus from the Ubuntu camp at > > improving Gnome significantly. > > > > I am working on a few potential UI improvement mockups but I am rather > > busy these days. I believe that the system GUI is one of the most > > important aspects of an OS, and if given sufficient love it would help > > pull Linux into the mainstream. Users care about looks and usability > > far more than stability and freedom. > > > > Although this is Ubuntu Artwork, I do think Usability should be given a > > top priority, or even it's own list (it deserves it!). > > > > Sumit Chandra Agarwal wrote: > > > I'm not sure if this is quite on-topic for the art list, but it has to > > > do with visual presentation so I thought I'd try here first: > > > > > > As it is the top panel in Ubuntu is as cluttered or more cluttered than > > > Windows or Mac desktops, with the addition of another panel at the > > > bottom. One item that is significant taking up a lot of space on the > > > upper panel is the fast user switching applet, which manifests itself > > > as text showing the current user name. > > > > > > This is a great feature. However, I would *guess* that for greater than > > > 50% of Ubuntu users this is unnecessary as they are using the machine > > > as a *personal* computer and as such they are the only user registered > > > on the system. This makes the applet pointless and it only adds to > > > clutter and eating away at space. > > > > > > Could Ubuntu be configured to intelligently only add the applet if > > > there is more than one user registered to the system? > > > > > > Sorry if this is off-topic, > > > -Sumit > > > > -- > > Andrew Laignel > > Dot Cafe Limited > > > > Web Development & Graphic Design > > http://www.dotcafedesigns.com/ > > > > > > -- > > ubuntu-art mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-art -- ubuntu-art mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-art
