On 11/7/07, Vincent <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On 06/11/2007, jmak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hello all, > > <snip> > > In this spirit of radicalness let me propose a few ideas relating to > > xubuntu next release. The most radical among these would be the > > suggestion of changing the current gnome layout back to the original > > xfce layout. This is why. The two panels layout is a usability > > disaster for older machines with small monitor size. It doesn't > > optimize but rather restricts the availability of valuable > > screen-space. The two oversized panels simply takes up too much > > precious screen estate that users of older computers would like to > > utilize to the fullest. Furthermore, copying the gnome layout prevents > > xubuntu to develop a healthy personality, which is a fundamental > > requirement for a brand. It is like in real life, you are original > > when you are yourself, as soon as you try to imitate someone else you > > become a fake. In addition, the traditional layout is much more > > pleasing, but this is a matter of preference. It is my experience that > > new users, when they have choices, always prefer the traditional > > layout to the gnome mimic. > > From a usability point of view this is a disaster. Well, not a disaster, but > not optimal too. The screen corners are the areas that are clicked most > easily, so not placing anything there is terrible. A panel ought to be full > width to at least be able to put e.g. the applications menu and a "Show > desktop" button in the corners. I could agree with the top panel being > removed because then you use the hot corner in the top right-hand side for > the close button of windows, but a panel that is not full width is terrible. > Furthermore, IMHO it looks weird, when you have a window open to be able to > view the desktop. > > I do really think that, even if the panels were to be kept, they should be > decreased in size. 34px is *way* too large. I think 26px would be fine, > perhaps a bit larger to be safe. > > Also, I don't think we should change it "just to be different". This layout > has been researched, thought has been put into it, and it's not just > something pretty, it's something that's useful. I mean, the whole WIMP > concept is something other OS's use, so should we abandon it to keep > Xubuntu's own identity? Of course not, it's what users are used to and what > many like. Personally, I have not seen that many Xubuntu screenshots where > the panel layout was customized, even though the makers of those screenshots > did customize their machine - e.g. decrease the panel size, change GTK
Look at this nicely themed Mint panel. http://www.linuxmint.com/pictures/screenshots/daryna/xfce/desktop.png > > > <snip> > > > > Notice the themed panel. It is medium gray, from the usability point > > of view make more sense than using the contrasty white. It provides a > > more appropriate background for the application launchers. > > Gray *is* considered ugly by most people, but on the other hand, what you > did with Gutsy was awesome, so I'll trust you one this one ;-) > > > As the ubuntu people said, Hardy would be all about polish and usability. > > > > In the spirit of the above, I am proposing the following items to be > > considered for xubuntu Hardy. Some of the proposals require subtle > > fine-tunings but they are necessary to develop a consistent and > > polished look and feel. > > > > The list. > > > > 1) Let's go back to the original xfce panel layout. > > See my comments above. > > > 2) Let's theme the panel > > How are they not now? > > > 3) Add new icon theme-NuoveXT, the one we already agreed upon during > > feisty phase. > > Yeah, it's time that gets in ;-) > > > 4) Take out the icon label backgrounds. They are distracting and are > > usability anomalies. And ugly too. > > The problem with that would be that the labels might become unreadable once > a user customizes his background. This is a problem because there is no easy > graphical way to bring back the icon label backgrounds and to set its > colour, and since Linux is also for a big part about customizability, users > *will* want to change at least their desktop backgrounds. > > > 5) New gdm. > > Sure :) > > > 6) New usplash--let see how is the new usplash re-write program will > > affect the artworks' parameters. > > /me hopes it will make the boot more unified, without flashing. > > > 7) New wallpaper > > Cool :) > > > 8) Keep the current murrina theme for the time being; however, if the > > ubuntu people come up with better ones we might consider switching. > > Look at some of the ubuntu proposals below, they are really great. > > The current one has received many positive comments. The Ubuntu proposals > may be cool, but I think this affects "Xubuntu's own identity" much more > than the panel layout. > > > 9) Customize the Gimp splash screen like ubuntu developers are > > planning. I already suggested this a couple of releases ago but then > > it was ignored. I still have the artwork, which can be implemented > > now. > > It wasn't ignored, it's just not possible since we use the same package as > Ubuntu so we have to use their splash. > > <snip> > > > > jmak > > > > Best, > > -- > Vincent > -- > xubuntu-devel mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel > > -- http://jozmak.blogspot.com/ -- xubuntu-devel mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel
