[desktop-discuss] [indiana-discuss] Indiana desktop UI spec - early draft

[Shawn Walker]

On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 1:26 PM, James Cornell <sparcdr at sparcdr.com> wrote:
> Shawn Walker wrote:
>  >
>  > I would agree if I believe they were redundant.
>  >
>  > The precious screen real estate argument is starting to get specious
>  > as screens get bigger and bigger.
>  >
>  > Plus, as others mentioned earlier, having something "right there" that
>  > doesn't auto-hide, is a great productivity boost for power-users.
>  >
>  > I like being able to reach up to the Places menu and instantly access
>  > folders I frequently use, or quickly get to the systems options while
>  > I'm in an application.
>  >
>  > In addition, I think Ubuntu has proven that it has wide popularity
>  > among its users.
>  >
>  > Still, this is something that could be relegated to a "appearance" or
>  > style applet that could easily reconfigure the desktop for the user
>  > based on a set of pre-defined profiles.
>  >
>  >
>  If the user is running an e-mail client that integrates with the tray,
>  why would he need an icon to launch the program when the applet in the
>  tray lets them open up their inbox?  If there's two browsers easily

Because it isn't open right now and thus isn't in the tray?

>  accessible on a default layout which provide the same functionality, why
>  put the user at a disadvantage?  Use what's the fastest, most reliable,
>  and leave the rest in the menus.

I'm a little lost on the two browsers item.

>  Things that should be just there include:
>
>  Battery applet
>  Sound applet
>  Web browser
>  Desktop computer icon
>  Trash (I don't find the panel-based icon useful since I can just remove
>  icons with right click)
>   -- When does a user typically delete more than one item without having
>  a nautilus browser open?  The default behavoir of a full experience
>  nautilus file browser takes care of having the trash icon at all)
>
>  Nothing more, nothing less, maybe a workspace switcher (Which has been
>  the norm) and a clock (Obviously)

Don't forget network manager icon; especially needful for wireless users.
That and the mail client shortcut to me.

-- 
Shawn Walker, Software and Systems Analyst
http://binarycrusader.blogspot.com/

"To err is human -- and to blame it on a computer is even more so." -
Robert Orben