Re: [Usability] Removing GNOME splash screens? (was: Re: Future of desktop splash screens - some thoughts)

[Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>]

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004, Samuel Abels wrote:

> Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 20:05:26 +0200
> From: Samuel Abels <newsgroups debain org>
> To: Christian Neumair <chris gnome-de org>
> Cc: usability gnome org
> Subject: Re: [Usability] Removing GNOME splash screens? (was: Re: Future
>     of desktop splash screens - some thoughts)
>
> On Fri, 2004-10-15 at 16:14, Christian Neumair wrote:
> > I now feel like having a splash screen is like looking at your watch
> > while waiting for the bus - it won't drive faster, you're just
> > disappointed that it's late and get upset.
>
> Well, for the same reason you could remove progress bars from all
> applications.
>
> http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/2.0/principles-feedback.html

The splash screen is one way of providing feedback.

Getting rid of the splash screen does not mean getting rid of the
feedback.

> > What about removing it completely? Do we really need "Welcome to
> > GNOME"-fashioned branding?
>
> When I start a GNOME session, I like to see progress. Also, a default
> splash showing the GNOME version number is useful when it comes to bug
> reports, in discussion forums, etc.

There are other ways to access the version information (and build
information and anything else that might be relevant), and if that
information needs to be made easier to find sure that is a seperate issue
from _needing_ a splash screen?

There are certainly a few improvements that could be made to bug-buddy
with regards to automatically providing users with more information.

> It's better if people see the version number often enough to know it
> without having to look into gnome-about.

The splash screen doesn't show the version information for very long and
it certainly doesn't provide a way to cut and paste that information.

> So deactivatable: Yes. Remove completely (or by default): No.

Are you absolutely sure?

- Alan