[opensuse-factory] Musings on the New SUSE Menu System
Here are some of my thoughts on the first look and use of the new SUSE Menu system (panel?) This is cool however to make it UberCool... :-) The default icon graphics are just a little too big meaning that, for example, on the Leave page a scroll bar appears that is not really neccessary. If there is more items than can fit on a page maybe don't have scroll bars but use the up down arrows at the top and bottom of the menu area, similar to Firefox's bookmarks menu system. Don't have the search tips as the default screen when the menu is opened each time. Maybe do this once then use the favourites as the default. Or even let the user decide. Have a config button between the username and the openSUSE button that brings up the personal settings relevant to the panel. I found it hard to find the correct ones in the KDE configuration. Also under this button could be things like editing the favourites, changing icon size, etc. And finally I think the menu popouts should be automatic. At present I have to click on the item to have the sub menu appear. There should be a small delay but the item should appear automatically if the cursor if held over the item. This is the same behaviour as the classic menu. This includes the "back" button as well. Any thoughts Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
Jim Pye wrote:
Here are some of my thoughts on the first look and use of the new SUSE Menu system (panel?)
This is cool however to make it UberCool... :-)
The default icon graphics are just a little too big meaning that, for example, on the Leave page a scroll bar appears that is not really neccessary.
If there is more items than can fit on a page maybe don't have scroll bars but use the up down arrows at the top and bottom of the menu area, similar to Firefox's bookmarks menu system.
Don't have the search tips as the default screen when the menu is opened each time. Maybe do this once then use the favourites as the default. Or even let the user decide.
Have a config button between the username and the openSUSE button that brings up the personal settings relevant to the panel. I found it hard to find the correct ones in the KDE configuration. Also under this button could be things like editing the favourites, changing icon size, etc.
And finally I think the menu popouts should be automatic. At present I have to click on the item to have the sub menu appear. There should be a small delay but the item should appear automatically if the cursor if held over the item. This is the same behaviour as the classic menu. This includes the "back" button as well.
Any thoughts
Jim
To add one more annoyance. Menu should have optional setting not to pop up on hover, but on click. Last night I edited something and menu popped many times as I pushed mouse out of editor window, so that I can see text without cursor, and left close to menu button. I switched to classic KDE style to turn off this. I have feeling that menu is too empty. It looks like the one on http://en.opensuse.org/Kickoff , but it is a lot of room that you have to drag mouse over, for nothing. The search screen usage direction as default is bad, also, because it disappears right after mouse cursor touches favorites and user (me) has feeling that something was not right. First time I canceled menu and came back to it, just to see what happened. Favorites would be good default choice, instead. Even better make tabs order configurable, default on first tab from left. It will be good if type of tab can be configurable too, instead of fixed. For instance I can live fine without logout options, they are present on right mouse button long enough to be automatic choice, but I have many favorites, that are now on the desktop, because I don't like scrolling. With configurable type of tab I will set two favorites tabs, and have little need to see the desktop, and even lesser to scroll that is counter productive to menu idea. Information who is logged in could be put at the top of the menu window, just above search. That way mouse mileage can be kept low, login information will be present and menu will have title line: openSUSE User:konqui@klempnerai BTW, from the Kickoff page: KDE Classic: Suse Linux Professional 10.1 with the common KDE start menu (KDE 3.5) KDE KickOff: Suse Linux Professional 10.1 with the new Kickoff start menu -- Regards, Rajko. Visit http://en.opensuse.org/MiniSUSE --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 2006-09-20 at 22:36 -0500, Rajko M wrote:
To add one more annoyance. Menu should have optional setting not to pop up on hover, but on click. Last night I edited something and menu popped many times as I pushed mouse out of editor window, so that I can see text without cursor, and left close to menu button. I switched to classic KDE style to turn off this.
Yes this is a good idea. I twice ended up typing into the search bar because the menu had popped up "by accident". Must keep the moving eyes though :-)
I have feeling that menu is too empty. It looks like the one on http://en.opensuse.org/Kickoff , but it is a lot of room that you have to drag mouse over, for nothing.
The search screen usage direction as default is bad, also, because it disappears right after mouse cursor touches favorites and user (me) has feeling that something was not right. First time I canceled menu and came back to it, just to see what happened. Favorites would be good default choice, instead.
Even better make tabs order configurable, default on first tab from left.
This is a good one.
It will be good if type of tab can be configurable too, instead of fixed. For instance I can live fine without logout options, they are present on right mouse button long enough to be automatic choice, but I have many favorites, that are now on the desktop, because I don't like scrolling. With configurable type of tab I will set two favorites tabs, and have little need to see the desktop, and even lesser to scroll that is counter productive to menu idea.
Information who is logged in could be put at the top of the menu window, just above search. That way mouse mileage can be kept low, login information will be present and menu will have title line: openSUSE User:konqui@klempnerai
I knew that something was missing. A title bar will split the menu from the background making it stand out a little better. If not a menu bar maybe a little more 3D sculpting would be very "low temperature".
BTW, from the Kickoff page: KDE Classic: Suse Linux Professional 10.1 with the common KDE start menu (KDE 3.5) KDE KickOff: Suse Linux Professional 10.1 with the new Kickoff start menu
Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
Am Donnerstag, 21. September 2006 06:54 schrieb Jim Pye:
On Wed, 2006-09-20 at 22:36 -0500, Rajko M wrote:
To add one more annoyance. Menu should have optional setting not to pop up on hover, but on click. Last night I edited something and menu popped many times as I pushed mouse out of editor window, so that I can see text without cursor, and left close to menu button. I switched to classic KDE style to turn off this.
Yes this is a good idea. I twice ended up typing into the search bar because the menu had popped up "by accident".
I agree. Menu should appear on click only.
Must keep the moving eyes though :-)
+1 -- Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Marcel Hilzinger Linux New Media AG Süskindstr. 4 D-81929 München Tel: +49 (89) 99 34 11 0 Fax: +49 (89) 99 34 11 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Thursday 21 September 2006 05:01, Jim Pye wrote:
Here are some of my thoughts on the first look and use of the new SUSE Menu system (panel?)
This is cool however to make it UberCool... :-)
The default icon graphics are just a little too big meaning that, for example, on the Leave page a scroll bar appears that is not really neccessary.
The menu is resizeable by dragging the upper right corner; you can make it so there are no more scroll bars in any tab. Navigating in the menu tree just by hovering with the mouse pointer can be confusing. Say that you chose something in level one by hovering, then you go in level 2. Until you examine the options there you might already end up in level 3 if it happens that the mouse pointer was over a level2 option that had subobtions in level 3. You'd have to move the pointer away quickly. Beginners don't do that. However, I'd wish that the menu doesn't pop up on hover, but on click. Just on hover makes it appear too many times "by accident". Eventually, on hover, animate the gecko so it entices clicking :-) --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Thu, 2006-09-21 at 09:38 +0300, Silviu Marin-Caea wrote:
The menu is resizeable by dragging the upper right corner; you can make it so there are no more scroll bars in any tab.
Thanks for the tip. Yep did remove the scroll bars. Maybe the default size for a 1024x768 screen needs to be a little bit bigger.
Navigating in the menu tree just by hovering with the mouse pointer can be confusing.
Say that you chose something in level one by hovering, then you go in level 2. Until you examine the options there you might already end up in level 3 if it happens that the mouse pointer was over a level2 option that had subobtions in level 3. You'd have to move the pointer away quickly. Beginners don't do that.
On rethink of this, after your comments, I can see that having the menu items disappearing under the cursor would be confusing. Maybe having the "control" for the hover action at the right hand end of the menu item, around the arrow, and having to click the item for the rest of the line?
However, I'd wish that the menu doesn't pop up on hover, but on click. Just on hover makes it appear too many times "by accident". Eventually, on hover, animate the gecko so it entices clicking :-)
Still think the eyes are cool :-) Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Thursday 21 September 2006 13:49, Jim Pye wrote:
On rethink of this, after your comments, I can see that having the menu items disappearing under the cursor would be confusing. Maybe having the "control" for the hover action at the right hand end of the menu item, around the arrow, and having to click the item for the rest of the line?
This is a very good idea. It caters to the experts and does not impose on the newbies.
Still think the eyes are cool :-)
The eyes are the best feature of the whole design. :-) --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
Torsdag 21 september 2006 04:01 skrev Jim Pye:
This is cool however to make it UberCool... :-)
I'd suggest kcontrol (or "personal settings") moved to "my computer"-tab. Also "vote" for launch on hover to be configurable. Martin --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
participants (5)
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Jim Pye -
Marcel Hilzinger -
Martin Schlander -
Rajko M -
Silviu Marin-Caea