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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: Keramik for KDE 3.1
From:       Philippe FREMY <P.FREMY () OBERTHURCS ! com>
Date:       2002-07-19 12:19:54
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	Hi,

I would like to make the additional comments on what has been already said:

- putting dangerous and non dangerous button aside is a bad idea. Everybody
agrees.

- the close button is used very often by people. I use it very often. I very
rarely see people going through file->quit to quit their application. Either
they are power users and hit C-X, or they are normal users and close the
window with the button. Maximise and minimise buttons are used less often.

- putting the close button on the left and keeping max/min on the right is a
bad idea. I tried once. It took me a day or two to get acustomed. It was
great until I got my new job, where I work daily on windows. It was then a
pain because I would never know if the close button is on the left or on the
right. Evening, on the left, day, on the right. Switching was hard because
closing an application is something you do without thinking. It is a reflex.
Keeping the button on the right to keep compatibility with other desktop is
important.

- one thing my father keep telling me when learning to use a computer was
"you must be very precise". I had never realised that. But looking how he
used the computer, I noticed that:
	+ he doesn't see very well the limits of the buttons.
	+ he doesn't distinguish very well between colors. His color scheme
is very very flashy (ugly for me), because he needs moree contrast to see
things correctely
	+ He doesn't always know where his mouse pointer is. 
	+ Sometimes, the mouse moves too fast for him
	+ He is not sure whether the mouse is exactly on the button or not.
I have seen him maximising when he wanted to close and vice-versa.

The problems he has are generic, not specific to him. By solving them, we
will also help power users. The difference between power users and non
experienced users is that power users can adapt. But if they don't have to
adapt, it will be easier for them too.

- My suggestion is to have from left to right: min, max, the title, and the
close button. It would be a good idea to make the close button bigger. If it
is isolated, this is not very dangerous. If it used often, it should be easy
to use.

- remove the menu. I am a power user and almost never needed it. The only
time where I was needing it was when my mouse was suddenly not working. It
was very useful in this case, but this is not something we should take too
much into account. Power users will be able to find the rmb menu, where you
have only advanced options.

- remove the sticky button. It confuses users. Even power users don't
understand immediately what it is for. And this is not very useful. Out of
the hundreds windows I open everyday, only one of them is sticky. In my
case, this feature clutters 100 windows for just one where it is useful. And
I would have found other way to activate it. Stickyness is not a requirement
of the normal user, they first have to learn how to deal with multiple
desktops.

- I support what Aaron says.

- I support what Engenia says. She is absolutely right in her screenshots,
especially with the tabs. It should be very ovious which tab is selected.


	regards,

	Philippe

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