Re: [Usability] Reasoning behind default panel setup?

[David Tenser <djst mozilla gmail com>]

On 1/11/06, Steve Frécinaux <nudrema gmail com> wrote:
> David Tenser wrote:
>
> > This is what I'm proposing, basically: http://djst.org/files/gnomepanel/
>
> > I provided screenshots for two different resolutions, 800x600 and
> > 1024x768. For safety, I also provided screenshots with the workspace
> > switcher included.
>
> It looks usable. Anyway I'm still sceptic about the 32px height. It
> seems it wastes lots of space, especially since the icons from the
> window list have kept their previous size. It should grow from 16x16 to
> 24x24 to look better, souldn't it ?

Probably it should, yes. That's another story though, as the icons for
the window list comes from the application itself. If all apps
provided a svg icon, it would be possible. Not sure if the spec.
permits that.

>
> You replaced the 3-item menu bar with a simple menu. Are you thinking of
> rearranging it or do you propose to use the current one ?

My proposal is in fact to make it more usable by including a
three-column menu, with clear labels above each column (Applications,
Places, System). This would make it all accessible in one click, just
as it is now. Perhaps two columns would be enough, if it's somehow
possible to include Places and System below each other (after all,
they include less elements than Applications).

>
> I don't honnestly like that old-fashioned menu and prefer the current
> one. Here are the main reasons :
>   - Places submenu is something I often use, and people who don't use the
>     CLI surely do so. Using it is easier with the bar.
>   - Bar labels are self-describing. You know you'll find apps in the app
>     menu, and places in the places menu. On the other hand, the old menu
>     has no label and it is not obvious it is a menu, especially if you
>     are not used to.
> Anyway the menu bar takes more place so it surely fits worse in a
> single bar panel.
>
> There is no net/wifi applet, and, more important, notification area
> (which is required for apps like gaim, rhythmbox) is missing.

I completely missed that! I need to provide new screenshots. How embarassing. :)

> I didn't tell you what panel layout I'm using. In fact it vary quite
> often. Now I only have one (24px, on top), and here is what it looks
> like :
>   - window selector (useful when you don't remember on which desktop
>     a window is)
>   - Gnome menu bar
>   - various often-used launchers (~10)
>   - a notification area
>   - battery, network and cpu monitor
>   - volume selector
>   - clock
>
> As you can see, I only have one panel, no window list and no desktop
> selector. But, well, I'm a power user which loves his keyboard :-) I use
> <Meta><Fx> to switch to xth desktop, <Alt><tab> to switch windows, etc.

It seems most people who use Gnome for a long time resort to one
panel. That is encouraging.

--
David Tenser