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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: KDE 3.0.2 Usability Study - First Steps
From:       Philippe FREMY <P.FREMY () OBERTHURCS ! com>
Date:       2002-07-19 12:54:51
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	Hi,

My comments on the single click vs double click.

- the big majority of people comes from the windows world where double
clicking is the rule, although it is not immediately obvious (my father
keeps asking me "should I single or double click ?").

- some people like me must switch daily between windows and KDE. This is
very difficult to switch its habbits daily for such a thing as unimportant
(with regard of your current task) as selecting a file or closing windows.

It doesn't mean that we should mimic windows everywhere. But we should keep
in mind that it is difficult for users to switch habbits. This is why
keeping double clicking at least as an option is very important.

- obviously, in a single-click world, double-clicking does not make any
sense. How about detecting it the first time and popping a dialog that
explains that "KDE chose single-click because it reduces strain", and
proposing three options:
	. stay as it is
	. have double-click do the same thing as single-click (ie ignore the
second click)
	. switch to double click mode

The dialog would have of course an option for not reappearing again. I think
the dialog should not alter the settings itself, but open the
control-center, so that users can remember how to change it. If the user
change its mind, he then knows that somewhere in the control center, he can
control single/double click.

This doesn't solve the actual problem (does a solution exist ?), but at
least, it helps the user.

On my habbits: I am a double-click guy, undoubtly because of my early
experience with windows. To perform file operations, I am very accustomed to
selecting them first by clicking, and then applying the operation: delete
them with 'del', drag them around with the mouse, copy them with c-x or c-c.

I have also realised that I am not very precise with my mouse pointer. As a
consequence, I don't like rmb menu on files. It is difficult for me to
position the pointer on the exact menu entry.

	Philippe

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