[Usability]From application- to user-centric configuration



Hi,

I've been wondering, do you think it would be possible to get rid of the
current application-centric configuration model anytime soon?

Personally, I'm getting sick and tired of configuring new browser, or
mail client, to the same settings I've already configured to countless
other applications.  Proxies, fonts, languages, java/javascript on/off,
homepage, bookmarks, e-mail address, IMAP servers, mail folder
locations, addressbook, you name it.

Every single time I want to try a new application, I have to enter the
same information over and over again.  Why do I have to do that?

For example, I have one e-mail address you can use to send me mail.
I don't have one you can use to send mail to my mutt, another for
evolution, third for sylpheed, and so on.

I think the configuration of such things should not revolve around the
application, but the functionality of the application, or sometimes the
user.  When configuring evolution I'm not really thinking about
configuring evolution, I'm thinking I'm configuring a mail client.  When
I want to try some other mail client I only wonder why I have to do that
all over again.  Didn't I just configure a mail client?  Why can't the
applications share that configuration?

Do you think something like this could be used in GNOME?  I think it
would significantly reduce the configuration effort of users.  Diversity
and having the possibility to choose are good, but when you have to
repeat everything again and again for every choice, it becomes a PITA.


-- 
Tommi Komulainen                                 Tommi Komulainen iki fi
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