Re: [Usability] Dynamic Workspaces

[Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>]

On Fri, 5 Mar 2004, David Christian Berg wrote:

> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 00:02:52 +0100
> From: David Christian Berg <david berg gmx net>
> Reply-To: david sipsolutions com
> To: Reinout van Schouwen <reinout cs vu nl>
> Cc: usability gnome org
> Subject: Re: [Usability] Dynamic Workspaces
>
> On Thu, 2004-03-04 at 16:41, Reinout van Schouwen wrote:
> > On Thu, 4 Mar 2004, Julien Olivier wrote:
> >
> > > I like your proposal but just wonders: why not simply use tabs instead
> > > of workspaces ?
> >
> > Is a workspace (metaphorically) equivalent to a tabbed notebook?
>
> one could think so, but still, I think, that tabs take up too much
> space.. rather have a right click menu on the desktops or a closebutton
> showing up, when hovering them for a while...
>
> > > That would be consistant with Epiphany/Mozilla's behaviour.
> >
> > The only reason Epiphany uses tabs is that something better utilizing SDI
> > hasn't come along yet. Tabs are not good, they are a (sometimes) necessary
> > evil.
>
> Disagreed! Tabs are good, I like them, so they are good :)
> I never understood, why people dislike tabs.
>
> Take care
>
> David

Once more and yet again ...

Part of the reason that tabs have caught on is that creating another top
level window is somewhat expensive and slow.  This is a reason to fix top
opening of top level windows and make them faster rather than a good
reason for tabs.

Another reason is that most window managers are crap.  Tabs provide a way
to organise their documents that some users find convenient.  This is a
reason to have better grouping functionality in the tasklist not a
particularly good reason for tabs.

Unfortunately tabs as they stand must be implemented on a per application
basis, it would help if tabs could be implemented at the Window Manager
level (I think this has been done, i forget the name of it though).

I think the amount of screen space taken up by tabs was one of the smaller
complaints (already mentioned above).

Tabs dont scale particularly well either for very large collections of
documents.

A large part of the objections to tabs is that they are just a workaround
when what is needed is a better tasklist and task management system rather
than unthinkingly throwing tabbed interfaces at everything.

Tabs are good enough, but there are far from ideal.

Damn, there are more reasons but I cannot remember them without having to
dig through the mailing list archives (which I might have time to do
tomorrow).  Help me Reinout!  Surely this FAQ must be covered in the HIG
somewhere?  (If not it is really time I properly collect all the facts
together, something for Friday afternoon methinkns.)  If you have a look
at the Interface Hall of Shame you will probably find many more of the
complaints against tabs.

Sincerely

Alan Horkan
http://advogato.org/person/AlanHorkan/