Re: Novell Start menu [was Re: [Usability] Thoughts on GNOME and DTP]




--- Alan Horkan <horkana@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Firstly though, a negative. I wish to lobby
strongly against the Windows
XP-style start menu proposed by Novell:



http://www.osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=13589&comment_id=93581

This appears to be a definite step backwards for
us. The current system is
much better. Do other people share this
sentiment?

Yes and no. I have my reservations and since I find
Windows XP rather
annoying I wouldn't choose that menu layout for
myself (I use the
"Classic" style of start menu when I use windows, I
always change it back
if at all possible). However it will benefit some
users to be able to
configure Gnome in a way that more closely resembles
what they are used
to, it is good to give users what they want. This
menu applet is just
another applet to choose from and is highly unlikely
to become the Gnome
default. There is really very little to talk about
on this topic, and if
I recall correctly the topic was beaten out on the
desktop-devel list when
Novell released their work.

The problem with the XP-style start menu is that it's
enourmous and bloated.
The problem with the current GNOME menubar (apart from
its lack of a name... see other threads!) is that it
doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the desktop
and applications. Making it a panel item gives the
user and the distros flexibility, but there's a
certain something about it I can't put my finger on.
(I nearly wrote 'finder' there, talk about a Freudian
slip!)

Desktop environments need a central point of access to
launch apps and configure the system. The only ones
that really work from the aesthetic point of view are
the old X desktop menu (but too geeky and
non-discoverable) and the Apple menu, because it
simply flows into the rest of the menu bar.
The current GNOME menubar feels a bit like a sore
thumb... or toe ;)



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