Should GNOME Get a Global Application Menubar?

[Thom Holwerda <slakje quicknet nl>]

Hi boys and girls,


Yesterday, I posted a poll on OSNews [1] about the possible inclusion  
of a patch (i.e. as presented in bug #353076 [2]) that provides GNOME  
with the option (via a panel applet) of using a global application  
menubar setup, similar to i.e. Mac OS, Amiga, or KDE. The poll  
question was:

"Should this patch (or any other patch providing similar  
functionality) be integrated into the default installation of GNOME,  
as an option, *turned off by default*?" (yes/no)

Note the emphasis on "option", and "turned off by default". The poll  
results show that 80% of the OSNews readers who voted (1154 votes  
cast as of writing) would like to see this included in GNOME.  
Obviously, the statistic validity of such a poll is limited, since  
the readers of OSNews do not qualify as a representative group of  
GNOME users. However, that does not negate the fact that this result  
does give a rough indication of how "wanted" such a patch actually is.

More interesting are the comments posted on this story (150 as of  
writing). A lot of arguments were posted both in favour and against  
the patch. These range from application of Fitts' Law and similar  
laws, compatibility problems with other toolkits, to less screen  
clutter, problems concerning multiple monitors, and optimal use of  
GNOME's dual-panel layout. The comments actually remained fairly  
civil, so contrary to many other GNOME/KDE related threads, your  
faith in mankind won't be affected this time.

I am not trying to push any of you either way. I'm just giving you  
the results of the poll, as well as comprehensive list of arguments  
in favour and against. Do with it as you please.

Thanks for the hard work you boys and girls put into GNOME, it is  
much appreciated,


Thom Holwerda
---
Managing editor at http://www.osnews.com


[1] http://www.osnews.com/story.php/17932/Should-GNOME-Get-a-Global- 
Application-Menubar
[2] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=353076