[opensuse-factory] Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

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Christian Jäger

7 May 2007 7 May '07

20:38

The main-menu has grown quite large meanwhile and contains lots of 'dead space' IMHO. My father, for example, wasn't able to locate the logout-button... Big Board is not the way to go (I hope). So, I'd thought the menu could perhaps use some slimming-down. It could be done by re-organizing the layout to provide better overview - while not compromising functionality too much. Unfortunately I have nothing to contribute but these thoughts and mockups: Mocked-up slimmer gnome-main-menu: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8469/cleangnomemainmenumockuzv9.png There's two ways to reduce the current menu's complexity: Omitting unneccessary items and arranging the remaing ones 'smarter'. 1. Removing unneccessary space-stealers - Lock screen (who needs this?) - whole-width search-field on top 2. Re-grouping items - Install software goes into the 'applications'-tab where users need it. - Control-center becomes a tab of its own, called 'System'. - Connection and HD-status go into the System-tab This leaves us with few, but important menu items on the right-hand bar: 'Help' and 'Logout'. As shrinking the 'Search'-menu has gained us space, these find a place in the top-bar of the menu, next to the search-field. You have already realized that I couldn't resist mocking up an integrated control-center and application-browser: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8961/appbrowsermockup3io4.png http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1451/controlcentermockup3dw9.png It would also be terrific if 'search' would act as a filter, or better: a search, on the category shown, if the user doesn't hit the return-key. I hope you don't find mockups too bothersome; especially coming from a non-coder. Yours, Chris --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

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Alberto Passalacqua

7 May 7 May

21:40

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Re: Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

Thanks Christian. As I already said to you I think there are a lot of good and interesting ideas in your mockups. I like the idea of the integrated app-browser and control centre a lot. Plus, the more I look to the simplified menu the more I like it :-) I put the link to the discussion which went on on opensuse-gnome@opensuese.org between you and me: http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-gnome/2007-05/msg00013.html Regards, Alberto Il giorno lun, 07/05/2007 alle 22.38 +0200, Christian Jäger ha scritto:

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The main-menu has grown quite large meanwhile and contains lots of 'dead space' IMHO. My father, for example, wasn't able to locate the logout-button... Big Board is not the way to go (I hope).

So, I'd thought the menu could perhaps use some slimming-down. It could be done by re-organizing the layout to provide better overview - while not compromising functionality too much.

Unfortunately I have nothing to contribute but these thoughts and mockups:

Mocked-up slimmer gnome-main-menu: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8469/cleangnomemainmenumockuzv9.png

There's two ways to reduce the current menu's complexity: Omitting unneccessary items and arranging the remaing ones 'smarter'.

1. Removing unneccessary space-stealers

- Lock screen (who needs this?) - whole-width search-field on top

2. Re-grouping items

- Install software goes into the 'applications'-tab where users need it. - Control-center becomes a tab of its own, called 'System'. - Connection and HD-status go into the System-tab

This leaves us with few, but important menu items on the right-hand bar: 'Help' and 'Logout'.

As shrinking the 'Search'-menu has gained us space, these find a place in the top-bar of the menu, next to the search-field.

You have already realized that I couldn't resist mocking up an integrated control-center and application-browser: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8961/appbrowsermockup3io4.png http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1451/controlcentermockup3dw9.png

It would also be terrific if 'search' would act as a filter, or better: a search, on the category shown, if the user doesn't hit the return-key.

I hope you don't find mockups too bothersome; especially coming from a non-coder.

Yours, Chris

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Vincenzo Barranco

8 May 8 May

06:51

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Re: Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

Hi,

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You have already realized that I couldn't resist mocking up an integrated control-center and application-browser: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8961/appbrowsermockup3io4.png http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1451/controlcentermockup3dw9.png This are very more better of the Novell's one, why don't we work ion this?

Vincenzo --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

Andreas Jaeger

12:35

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Re: Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

"Vincenzo Barranco" writes:

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Hi,

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You have already realized that I couldn't resist mocking up an integrated control-center and application-browser: http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8961/appbrowsermockup3io4.png http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1451/controlcentermockup3dw9.png This are very more better of the Novell's one, why don't we work ion this?

I would suggest to move this discussion either to the gnome or the ux (usability/design) mailing list... Andreas -- Andreas Jaeger, aj@suse.de, http://www.suse.de/~aj/ SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, GF: Markus Rex, HRB 16746 (AG Nürnberg) Maxfeldstr. 5, 90409 Nürnberg, Germany GPG fingerprint = 93A3 365E CE47 B889 DF7F FED1 389A 563C C272 A126

Jochen Hayek

10:49

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"CJ" == Christian Jäger writes:

CJ> 1. Removing unneccessary space-stealers CJ> - Lock screen (who needs this?) I need it. For locking my screen I type Alt-F1 and then I select the "Lock Screen" entry using cursor keys. Are you not locking your screen? How else do you lock your screen? --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

Dominique Leuenberger

11:37

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

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On 08-05-2007 at 13:49, Jochen Hayek wrote:

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"CJ" == Christian Jäger writes:

CJ> 1. Removing unneccessary space-stealers

CJ> - Lock screen (who needs this?)

I need it.

For locking my screen I type Alt-F1 and then I select the "Lock Screen" entry using cursor keys.

Are you not locking your screen?

How else do you lock your screen?

I have my desktop arranged with a second panel on top with some nifty things I need: left corner: terminal, then the mini commander and on the right I have lock screen, logout and shutdown, together with the system monitor. So basically I don't need the lock screen down there in the menu... but I agree: it should be about a free choice, not forcing the user. Dominique -- TMF is a global management and accounting outsourcing firm with 72 offices in 56 countries and over 2,000 professionals (February 2007). TMF is expanding rapidly throughout the world. Learn more about our unique network and our services and visit our website at www.tmf-group.com. The information contained in this e-mail communication is confidential and solely intended for the person to whom it is addressed. If someone other than the intended recipient should receive or come into possession of this e-mail communication, he/she will not be entitled to read, disseminate, disclose or duplicate it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to notify the sender and to destroy the original e-mail communication. TMF is neither liable for the correct and complete transmission of the information contained in this e-mail communication nor for any delay in its receipt. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been checked for the presence of computer viruses. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

JP Rosevear

12:33

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

On Tue, 2007-05-08 at 13:37 +0200, Dominique Leuenberger wrote:

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On 08-05-2007 at 13:49, Jochen Hayek wrote:

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> "CJ" == Christian Jäger writes:

CJ> 1. Removing unneccessary space-stealers

CJ> - Lock screen (who needs this?)

I need it.

For locking my screen I type Alt-F1 and then I select the "Lock Screen" entry using cursor keys.

Are you not locking your screen?

How else do you lock your screen?

I have my desktop arranged with a second panel on top with some nifty things I need: left corner: terminal, then the mini commander and on the right I have lock screen, logout and shutdown, together with the system monitor.

So basically I don't need the lock screen down there in the menu... but I agree: it should be about a free choice, not forcing the user.

Well, you in particular can right click on the item and remove it :-). (PS there is an #opensuse-gnome irc and mailing list too). -JP -- JP Rosevear Novell, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

Christian Jäger

13:31

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

Am Dienstag, den 08.05.2007, 12:49 +0200 schrieb Jochen Hayek:

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I need it.

For locking my screen I type Alt-F1 and then I select the "Lock Screen" entry using cursor keys.

Are you not locking your screen?

How else do you lock your screen?

Usually I just don't because, if you haven't changed Gnome-defaults, after a few minutes the screensaver will lock the screen. I mean, I see your point, this is not always a good idea in a working-environment. But there are lots of other options that lots of other people would also have good reasons to want them integrated into the main-menu. What about fast user-switching? Run command (Alt+F2)? And Standby? Hibernate? Reboot? Should we have them in the main-menu? You could make all these options pop-up when you hold down the left mouse-key for two seconds, or have an extra sub-menu like Vista does, of course...: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/11/21vistaOff.PNG I am hinting here at a very good blog entry about the sense and non-sense of the many session-options in Vista's menu; don't know whether you already happen to know it, it's well worth reading: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/11/21.html Personally, I tend to agree with the author on that you should not try to make everyone happy because by the resulting abundance of choices you hopelessly confuse most users and thus void the value of all the options for them. An intelligent design can make some of that choice unneccessary, as Joel writes. While hiding additional entries (hold mouse-button pressed to reveal options) would be better than having all these buttons in the menu all the time IMHO, Joel's suggestions seem even better: Imagine having one Logout-button, clicking on which will lock the screen and show a countdown. During this time you can decide to lock the screen more permanently, log back on, switch users, reboot, whatever. When the countdown goes to zero, the machine goes to sleep (save-to-ram, if possible). After some hours without use it would wake up briefly and shutdown properly. So with one button you would cover locking your screen, a no-brainer 'off'-switch for novice users, and a menu with all the session-related options you need. (Gnome's logout-button already works similarly, so it would be just an extension of that.) If your machine supports save-to-ram, you would only need one click to secure your machine if not two clicks. What do you think? --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

Christian Jäger

15 May 15 May

20:45

New subject: [opensuse-factory] Anyone interested in revamping the gnome-main-menu?

Excuse me Andreas, I just wanted to report that as a result, the following bugs have been posted: Bug 274817 - revamping the GNOME main menu layout to something simpler (https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=274817) Bug 274852: Merging gnome main menu's 'Documents' and 'Places'-tabs https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=274852 Bug 274868: integrating the application-browser into gnome main-menu https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=274868 Bug 274934: integrating control-center into gnome main menu https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=274934 Discussion takes place on opensuse-gnome list. Thank you. Best Wishes, Chris --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org

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participants (7)

Alberto Passalacqua
Andreas Jaeger
Christian Jäger
Dominique Leuenberger
Jochen Hayek
JP Rosevear
Vincenzo Barranco