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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: ksytray madness
From:       William Leese <william () leese ! nl>
Date:       2003-10-23 18:22:19
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Fabrice Mous wrote:

>On Thursday 23 October 2003 19:38, William Leese wrote:
>  
>
>>Simon Perreault wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>Of course we could (and should) improve this. Thoughts?
>>>      
>>>
>>The XP approach removes one of the benefits of the systray idea: access
>>to various functionality within a single click.
>>
>>All applications should simply provide a way to turnoff their systray
>>icon. The screenshot provided looks to be a cornercase. If you make use
>>of many applications that use the systray, then you just have to make
>>your panel larger or put the systray in it's own panel.
>>    
>>
>
>Okay the following applications are not uncommon for most users to have 
>running
>
>khotkeys
>korganizer
>klipper
>kmix
>knotes
>oooqs
>kget
>
>These are icons will reside in the systray when starting KDE (7 in total). And 
>I haven't started any other programs as a user yet. 
>
>Want to watch television? start kwintv = 8 icons
>or 
>want to listen music 
>start juk or noatun = also 8 icons 
>
>I consider this realy too much icons so imo it doesn't appear like a 
>cornercase
>
Fair enough. The systray has enough room when in it's size is set to 
'normal' - which it is by default.

Isn't this just a symptom of a problem, that where the problem is that 
the systray's role has outgrown the original concept?

Systray's current uses are:
- Notification
- Quick background app./service manipulation
- mini-ui for a full blown application

It looks like the systray has been disigned with only the first 2 in 
mind. The 3rd item became populair on Windows in recent years, which is 
why Microsoft introduced the sidebar in Longhorn. Perhaps this problem 
should be solved in the same way. In any case, by hiding the systray 
icons in any way you basically killing off it's use for the 2nd item.

- William


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