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

List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: K Menu layout idea
From:       Troels Tolstrup <troels () tolstrup ! org>
Date:       2002-05-31 15:21:22
[Download RAW message or body]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

This is my second attempt at sending this mail. The first mail was too 
large due to some screenshots and was held for moderation. If the 
moderator reads this then please just ignore that one as i was simply 
stupid and didnt consider the fact that 3 small screenshots would take 
that much space :)

> what seems more natural to others on the list: being asked
> immediately after installing or immediately after running?

Actually after reading your discussion i think my conclusion is that
this is a bad solution. While you might end up getting it to work i
highly doubt the users will love it, if even understand it.

Say you install a new irc client and answer the questions a bit too
fast, wouldnt you get upset if you suddenly couldnt find your old irc
client anymore? I sure would.

Besides, i don't think the user should really be bothered with things
that should be automatic.

It should not be hard for the kmenu to figure out which programs are
actually used and then hide the ones that aren't. (it might be a
problem for programs started in other ways, but im sure there can be
made a reasonable work around)

As much as i hate to admit it, i actually think microsoft did something
right with the new start menu style in win xp.

I hated it at first, but i eventually found myself using it. I have put 
up some screenshots on http://www.tolstrup.org/kde/xpmenu.html
in case some of you havent seen it before.

The first menu contains a list of most used programs, as well as a few
fixed programs like a web browser and mail client, and other things
that the user should find, like help, control panel, etc.

As well as a button to access the full list of applications. The second
thing i think they did right is that they automatically hide entries
you havent used for a while, while still providing easy access to them
(see screenshots 2 and 3 on http://www.tolstrup.org/kde/xpmenu.html for 
those who havent seen it before) I really hated this at
first as well, but i have to admit that i started to like it after a
while. Of course now that i wanted to take a screenshot, xp forgot to
hide inactive entries :) But i took a copy of office 2000's menus
instead which works in the same way.

I think this in combination with better application groupings might be a
good thing.

I think their new control panel style might be a good thing for newbies
as well, though i personally never got to like that, but it is very
task orientated.

And the final option that you can turn on for their start menu is that 
it can highlight new entries.

Mvh
Troels
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org

iD8DBQE897BvmTmAA3i3lrERAmDwAJ9hfqbya8BpgDEGigdmjC3nzafurACgoAA9
ofwaImHOsdI60StT+CSmBZY=
=6Dws
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

_______________________________________________
kde-usability mailing list
kde-usability@mail.kde.org
http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability
[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]