From kde-core-devel  Fri Apr 28 21:14:14 2000
From: Waldo Bastian <bastian () kde ! org>
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 21:14:14 +0000
To: kde-core-devel
Subject: Re: Stupid idea :-)
X-MARC-Message: https://marc.info/?l=kde-core-devel&m=95696125217512

On Fri, 28 Apr 2000, aleXXX wrote:
> Do you think switching between the windows/tasks only using the taskbar is
> easier than simply clicking in the desired window ?

If you want to take full advantage of screen size, you would like to have the 
screen in which you are working to be as big as possible. (Assuming you don't 
need much interaction between the various tasks you do) This means that the 
other windows are most likely to be hidden anyway. So you would need to use 
the taskbar already. Having the other applications minimized automatically 
makes your screen a bit tidier and gives you better access to the desktop.

> Many people use windows this way, i.e. they minimize all apps they are not
> using and have only the one they are currently working with  displayed.
> IMHO this behaviour is caused by the fact that MS windows has no virtual
> desktops so there is simply no room for more open windows.
> X doesn't have this limitation. :-)

The fact alone that many people use their desktop this way would justify such 
an option IMO. The user should have the freedom to choose the way he/she 
likes to work. We can offer better/more efficient ways, but we shouldn't 
force a behaviour upon them simply because we think it is superior.

I don't think this option is superior to the existing situation, I just think 
that new users might like it because it makes the desktop simpler/less 
intimidating. (A lot of people are "afraid" to touch a computer because it is 
such a complex thing which they don't understand. So if we can somehow reduce 
the visual information on the screen, this may help to lower their fear.)

Cheers,
Waldo