[Usability] My take on Nautilus must-fix proposal

[Adam Elman <aelman users sourceforge net>]

Folks --

At the GUP meeting a week ago, I promised to write up my take on the 
Nautilus must-fix list and suggest which issues I think should be 
filed as bugs.  I also volunteered Seth to take a look; I know he's 
busy, though, so I'm not sure whether or not he'll have a chance.

So here's my take:

Basically, the only bugs on this list that I'd actually put as 
significant issues for Nautilus (and other than #2, I don't even 
think these totally qualify as "must fix"):
1) Need a "tidy icons" command to clean up icons on the desktop 
besides just "Clean up by name."  This isn't _that_ strong a 
must-fix, but it _does_ exist in nearly every other file manager 
including GMC, and I am one who frequently finds it useful to avoid 
too much clutter on the desktop.  I'm very particular about where my 
icons go, so I get really annoyed doing a "Clean up by name" or 
something like that.

2) Fix Nautilus' behavior of having light-colored text on a 
light-colored background if a light-colored theme is selected. 
Maciej suggested that this is a heuristic that needs tuning, and I 
think that's reasonable.  I do not think that Brian's suggestion of 
allowing the user to directly customize the text color is necessarily 
the right solution; I think it'd be much better for Nautilus simply 
to Do The Right Thing (tm).

3) Change the name of "View Preferences".  I agree with Brian that 
the name here sounds like "Show my preferences" rather than "Change 
the preferences for viewing stuff".  "Customize Views" seems 
reasonable to me, but I'd leave the actual name to the Nautilus 
folks; I know there are strong opinions there about the distinctions 
between "Preferences", "Settings", "Options", and possibly 
"Customizing".

4) Split "Window & Desktop" preferences into "Windows" and "Desktop & 
Trash".  Arguments here seem reasonable to me.  I think I agree with 
Maciej about the problems with moving keyboard shortcuts to a 
"General Preferences" section, though; I'd probably keep them with 
"Windows".

The other issues listed on the current list feel to me like either 
nice things to have, but definitely not critical usability issues 
that have to be fixed before the G2.0 release, or things where I just 
totally disagree with Brian's arguments.  (I'd be happy to go into 
more detail if anyone wants).

I have not really thought about additional issues that _I_ would add 
to the list; I'd also recommend that Brian (and other must-fix folks) 
look over the GNOME 2.0 HIG draft and see if there is anything there 
that might apply; however, that document is still in flux so it might 
or might not be worth the effort.

Anyway, that's my opinion. :)

Adam
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