"I also think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also silly for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per session." No, it is something very valuable, though only really on mobile or public systems: when I am using my laptop it allows me to quickly throw it in to suspend or lock the screen when I walk away. It is something that I have found many users come to love once they get used to it being there (for the most part the ability to lock, suspend or switch user is handy (especially in a school-like or family environment). While the user switcher is probably necessary I do feel the power button is a worth while addition, especially given that we are taking up a solid 24 odd pixels of the users screen that, lets face it, do very little more than provide a launcher, clock and status items. (I am not debating the need for the top panel, things definitely become crowded all squashed into the bottom, but this area should be utilized better.)
"As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left hand side a list of your most commonly used applications. I've set it to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently. As a result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it." I agree this is definitely a useful function that would be nice to see however given how well organized a typical gnome Applications menu is compared to a windows all programs menu (without any user intervention) it becomes less important. While teaching basic computing skills to elderly people (I run classes for a charity called Age Concern) I find that many are confused as to why their programs sometimes appear in the frequently used list, why they move and why all the programs they need are not there. In this scenario, well named and *subject categorized* (not manufacturer or application suite organized) programs lists are a generally good idea. What would be nice is a way of making it more obvious that they can add their own applications to the top bar to allow single click access to them and to make use of the space there rather than ending up like windows' quick launch that many people do not realize can actually be added to. Just some thoughts On 04/02/2008, Andrew Laignel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I totally agree with this. > > Only functions that are used on an extremely regular basis should have > an icon on the desktop. I do like the way Ubuntu has a 'places' menu > along with 'applications' as if your going to do something then it's > either going to involve a) opening a file or b) running a program > though, but too many icons just leads to clutter and creates confusion. > > I'd go as far as to say that I seriously doubt more than 80% of the > general population, if exposed to Ubuntu, would ever use the button. It > really shouldn't be there as it doesn't deserve the prominence. I also > think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also silly > for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per > session. > > I think the power button position is a response to the anti-MS trolling > of 'You have to click Start to shut down, lol' which is a ridiculous > complaint. From a usability point of view calling the button 'Start' > and making it an entirely different colour draws the attention of the > users to it. Metaphorically it means 'Start doing things here'. > > Real attention I think should be paid to the Gnome UI layout. As far as > I know it is exactly the same as upstream Gnome and I have seen no > significant changes or improvements since Warty. There are many ways it > can be improved upon to streamline workflow, save space and improve > usability. Since Ubuntu is 'Linux for human beings' I believe this > should be given a top priority as user experience is key to retaining > your userbase. > > As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left > hand side a list of your most commonly used applications. I've set it > to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently. As a > result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never > more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it. > > Gnome at the moment still has functionality akin to Windows 98 and I > feel virtually all the effort is on either dealing with bugs or adding > new software with seemingly virtually no focus from the Ubuntu camp at > improving Gnome significantly. > > I am working on a few potential UI improvement mockups but I am rather > busy these days. I believe that the system GUI is one of the most > important aspects of an OS, and if given sufficient love it would help > pull Linux into the mainstream. Users care about looks and usability > far more than stability and freedom. > > Although this is Ubuntu Artwork, I do think Usability should be given a > top priority, or even it's own list (it deserves it!). > > Sumit Chandra Agarwal wrote: > > I'm not sure if this is quite on-topic for the art list, but it has to > > do with visual presentation so I thought I'd try here first: > > > > As it is the top panel in Ubuntu is as cluttered or more cluttered than > > Windows or Mac desktops, with the addition of another panel at the > > bottom. One item that is significant taking up a lot of space on the > > upper panel is the fast user switching applet, which manifests itself as > > text showing the current user name. > > > > This is a great feature. However, I would *guess* that for greater than > > 50% of Ubuntu users this is unnecessary as they are using the machine as > > a *personal* computer and as such they are the only user registered on > > the system. This makes the applet pointless and it only adds to clutter > > and eating away at space. > > > > Could Ubuntu be configured to intelligently only add the applet if there > > is more than one user registered to the system? > > > > Sorry if this is off-topic, > > -Sumit > > > > > > > -- > Andrew Laignel > Dot Cafe Limited > > Web Development & Graphic Design > http://www.dotcafedesigns.com/ > > > -- > ubuntu-art mailing list > ubuntu-art@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-art >
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