[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: Abstracting the Linux Desktop from the File-system
From:       Troels Tolstrup <troels () tolstrup ! org>
Date:       2002-12-04 22:03:25
[Download RAW message or body]

On Lørdag den 30. november 2002 11:56, Marcos Dione wrote:
>   well, I gave it a try, setting the desktop to not show hidden
> files. and I found that everything I got in my home (now also my
> desktop) are files I wanted at hand and dirs that I created for
> organizing my stuff. the only strange file (i.e., I dind't
> consciously created) was lynx_bookmaks.html file!

Im glad it worked for you, but the problem is that for many others it 
wouldnt work.

At work i would not be able to get rid of the following folders: 
public_html, kde, qt, progs, bin.

Sure i could put kde, qt, and bin into progs too, but i like having easy 
shell access to them. public_html and the progs dirs are impossible to 
get rid of though, and i would not want to see those on my desktop.

<off topic>and yes, that really is how my kde and qt are installed, and 
progs are holding the additional programs and libraries needed to 
compile it, including things like automake and autoconf, which are too 
old on some of the systems. I have actually considered installing my 
own compiler and glibc too</off topic>

You might not think that 5 folders is much of a problem, but it is a 
problem if they are combined with all the other stuff that i keep in my 
homedir, which i would have to bury deeper if i dont want a cluttered 
desktop. So for me, making home == desktop would mean that it would be 
more difficult to access things, not easier.

I think the big difference is that a desktop with 50 icons in it would 
be cluttered, while i dont mind a homedir with 100 files in it as long 
as their are sanely named.

>   I don't think it's a so bad idea. OTOH, as the desktop never
> contained anything, I never put things there and never used it.

Which is how many people work. And i think this is the problem. Some 
people put lots of stuff on the desktop, and some people dont use it at 
all for documents but only for quick access icons, and some dont use it 
at all.

I see other big operating systems moving away from putting stuff on the 
desktop (windows xp), and i still dont think they pulled that idea out 
of thin air.

I see people both for and againt this, but neither side actually coming 
up with research data as to why their side is correct. And i frankly 
don't think there is more to say in this debate unless the ones in 
favour of the change can make a better supported (read: tested and 
documented) case as to why their way is superior.

Mvh
Troels
 
>> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<
[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]