Re: gnome-shell-list Digest, Vol 27, Issue 27

[lofton alley <lha3r alumni virginia edu>]

As regards the use of multi-windows for a single task:

I just completed grading and entering grades for a relatively large number of students (200+) and a relatively large number of different scoring scenarios (7+ exams+on-going assessment spreadsheets as well as separate sheets for each assessment) that required me to often have multiple spreadsheets open on different desktop/windows along with assignments in one or two windows as well as file browsers to keep track of the document location (Completed, group assignment/ individual assignment, text/presentation/video, etc.).

In order to work efficiently I was using gnome 3/ shell along with cairo dock and kept multiple (usually 4-6) desktops active.

I hope the picture is clear, at least somewhat. But, what happened is instructive. I was using the workplace switcher in cairo dock at the beginning and found it extremely quick and easy to switch workplaces. However, oftentimes the file browser was hidden behind the spreadsheet or document or whatever that was on top in the workspace. When that happened a switch to the overview would let me see all available windows on the workspace.

It was a little weird, but it was working, then disaster struck! The workspace switcher in cairo dock crashed and refused to run. It removed itself from the dock entirely (still no clue why) and I was forced to use only the overview for the process. Well, it did work, and it was ALMOST better than using the switcher (this was BTW, a rather extensive test, over a month now of daily work under tight deadlines and, well, I'm in Asia, working for Hong Kong overlords who routinely expect 10-12 hour days while I refuse to work more than 7-8 but work fast and hard for those hours). The thing that didn't work so well was the placement of the overview trigger for the mouse up in the top left-hand corner. 

It was the extra movement to that hot-spot that seemed to be dragging things a little. Yes I am accustomed to using the dock, of course, but after a month should have overcome that. Still it doesn't feel like it is in a comfortable place. Oh, don't tell me to use a keyboard shortcut, of course i do use that sometimes, but when my hand is on the mouse, switching to the keyboard is just as great a loss as moving the mouse to the corner.

So now, I am using the overview exclusively (here at work where I am on the box most of my day), but i do want it in a different location, like in my dock? I don't know what would be a better solution for me, actually. I should also note that I have the same setup at home (fedora 14 with gnome3/shell and cairo dock) at home where the workplace switcher is working. The difference is that i seldom work across desktops at home, preferring instead to open two app windows on a single workspace (but then that is usually file browser work which is different from what I do here. And i use the overview and the workplace switcher together at home. I do believe that I need the switcher less at home than here though, although it is there as a legacy rather than a need.

Does that muddy the water????

On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 7:19 AM, <gnome-shell-list-request gnome org> wrote:

Send gnome-shell-list mailing list submissions to
       gnome-shell-list gnome org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
       http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-shell-list
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
       gnome-shell-list-request gnome org

You can reach the person managing the list at
       gnome-shell-list-owner gnome org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of gnome-shell-list digest..."


Today's Topics:

  1. Found one or two (Onyeibo Oku)
  2. The favourites bar (Naheem Zaffar)
  3. Re: The favourites bar (Allan Day)
  4. Re: The favourites bar (Gendre Sebastien)
  5. Re: The favourites bar (Appi)
  6. Should the notification be hide/deleted by right click
     (Maciej Piechotka)
  7. Re: The favourites bar (Maciej Piechotka)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:56:41 +0100
From: Onyeibo Oku <twohotis gmail com>
To: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Found one or two
Message-ID: <4D35C649 9090605 gmail com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I just observed that Gnome Shell does not play nice with Wacom Tablet
(Intuos 3). Once the tablet is connected moving to different workspaces
becomes a nightmare except with ALT+TAB.

I also get an error message when I try to access 'My Account' from the
User menu.  It reads: Failed to Contact the accounts service.  Please
make sure that the AccountService is installed and enabled.

What is that?

Off-topic:
Looking to test-run the proposed Nautilus for Gnome3 ... any idea how I
can get those?


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:19:16 +0000
From: Naheem Zaffar <naheemzaffar gmail com>
To: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: The favourites bar
Message-ID:
       <AANLkTimRs1x36kX=WcLuEY2Ye7HcPW8CnnQkTn_OYLoL mail gmail com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have been messing about with gnome-Shell Using Fedora Rawhide, and I like
the overall experience and I can see how it can be used in daily usage.

The main issue I have is that currently, opening a new application is a
relatively long winded process - go to the overlay, then click applications
and then click on the application you want. This just seems to be too long
for commonly used applications (and even clicking the overlay and then
getting the application is two clicks, one more than it would have been with
the classical shell.)

Are there any plans to allow the favourites bar to stay in place outside of
the overlay? I personally think I would like such a thing.

(In future releases it would become even more useful if extended to show
previews of running windows of an application when its icon in the bar is
hovered over.)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-shell-list/attachments/20110118/fc852296/attachment.html>

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:42:11 +0000
From: Allan Day <allanpday gmail com>
To: Naheem Zaffar <naheemzaffar gmail com>
Cc: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Re: The favourites bar
Message-ID: <1295376131 7766 18 camel blackbox lan>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Hey Naheem,

Naheem Zaffar wrote:
> I have been messing about with gnome-Shell Using Fedora Rawhide, and I
> like the overall experience and I can see how it can be used in daily
> usage.

Great to hear that!

> The main issue I have is that currently, opening a new application is
> a relatively long winded process - go to the overlay, then click
> applications and then click on the application you want. This just
> seems to be too long for commonly used applications (and even clicking
> the overlay and then getting the application is two clicks, one more
> than it would have been with the classical shell.)
>
> Are there any plans to allow the favourites bar to stay in place
> outside of the overlay? I personally think I would like such a thing.

No, not really. (There's an explanation of the reasoning for this on the
design FAQ [1].) It's likely that you'll be able to add that
functionality with an extension in a future release, however.

Best wishes,

Allan

[1] http://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell/Design/FAQ
--
Blog: http://afaikblog.wordpress.com/
IRC: aday on irc.gnome.org



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:40:07 +0100
From: Gendre Sebastien <korbe romandie com>
To: Naheem Zaffar <naheemzaffar gmail com>
Cc: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Re: The favourites bar
Message-ID: <1295379607.14763.0.camel@korbeLaptop.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I also think that making the "Dash" accessible at all times would be
very helpful.

Le mardi 18 janvier 2011 ? 18:19 +0000, Naheem Zaffar a ?crit :
> I have been messing about with gnome-Shell Using Fedora Rawhide, and I
> like the overall experience and I can see how it can be used in daily
> usage.
>
> The main issue I have is that currently, opening a new application is
> a relatively long winded process - go to the overlay, then click
> applications and then click on the application you want. This just
> seems to be too long for commonly used applications (and even clicking
> the overlay and then getting the application is two clicks, one more
> than it would have been with the classical shell.)
>
> Are there any plans to allow the favourites bar to stay in place
> outside of the overlay? I personally think I would like such a thing.
>
> (In future releases it would become even more useful if extended to
> show previews of running windows of an application when its icon in
> the bar is hovered over.)
>
> _______________________________________________
> gnome-shell-list mailing list
> gnome-shell-list gnome org
> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-shell-list

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 230 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
URL: <http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-shell-list/attachments/20110118/aec814b7/attachment.bin>

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:52:41 -0600
From: Appi <appi2012 gmail com>
To: Gendre Sebastien <korbe romandie com>
Cc: "gnome-shell-list gnome org" <gnome-shell-list gnome org>
Subject: Re: The favourites bar
Message-ID: <5D054FC2-C4FB-4232-A5AF-2523515A3807 gmail com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From the faq page: "
Why no window list or dock?

The Shell is designed in order to minimise distraction and interuption and to enable users to focus on the task at hand. A persistent window list or dock would interfere with this goal, serving as a constant temptation to switch focus. The separation of window switching functionality into the overview means that an effective solution to switching is provided when it is desired by the user, but that it is hidden from view when it is not necessary.

The omission of a window list or dock also reduces the amount of screen space occupied by the Shell, and therefore makes it better suited to devices with smaller screens."



The reasoning is sound, but the assumption that a task = a window is false. Tasks often rely on multiple windows, and gnome shell makes switching between the two more distracting, the opposite of its goal, by showing the user the state of his entire system when all that is needed is a button to switch to another window.



Furthermore making the dash remain visible, but intellihide would solve the screen space issue.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-shell-list/attachments/20110118/466e3296/attachment.html>

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:10:51 +0000
From: Maciej Piechotka <uzytkownik2 gmail com>
To: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Should the notification be hide/deleted by right click
Message-ID: <1295392251.31899.32.camel@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I have noticed that I'm trying to right-click the notification to make
it 'go away'. Sometimes the notification is no longer needed but it
status seems to persist anyway.

Regards

PS. The usability of this solution have been tested on sample of 1
person.
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 836 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
URL: <http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-shell-list/attachments/20110118/308e51ea/attachment.bin>

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:19:22 +0000
From: Maciej Piechotka <uzytkownik2 gmail com>
To: gnome-shell-list gnome org
Subject: Re: The favourites bar
Message-ID: <1295392762.31899.40.camel@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

On Tue, 2011-01-18 at 15:52 -0600, Appi wrote:
> From the faq page: "
> Why no window list or dock?
> The Shell is designed in order to minimise distraction and interuption
> and to enable users to focus on the task at hand. A persistent window
> list or dock would interfere with this goal, serving as a constant
> temptation to switch focus. The separation of window switching
> functionality into the overview means that an effective solution to
> switching is provided when it is desired by the user, but that it is
> hidden from view when it is not necessary.
>
> The omission of a window list or dock also reduces the amount of
> screen space occupied by the Shell, and therefore makes it better
> suited to devices with smaller screens."
>
>
> The reasoning is sound, but the assumption that a task = a window is
> false. Tasks often rely on multiple windows, and gnome shell makes
> switching between the two more distracting, the opposite of its goal,
> by showing the user the state of his entire system when all that is
> needed is a button to switch to another window.
>


It largely depend on use case. For some people the ability of handling
more then 2 windows at the same time is strange and seems to avoid it.
Others needs to have more then 1 window (both group may be non power
users, although the second group have slightly more 'professional'
biased)

PS. If the premise is false the reasoning may be at most valid (i.e.
premise implies conclusion). Soundness = validity + true premise.

PPS. I believe that in many cases the above argument is valid but not
sound.

>
> Furthermore making the dash remain visible, but intellihide would
> solve the screen space issue.
>

I find the intellihide on bottom hard to cope with (that includes
current notification system). I sometimes want to press something at the
bottom and end up with clicking something else.

Regards
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 836 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
URL: <http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-shell-list/attachments/20110118/54f2dbb4/attachment.bin>

------------------------------

_______________________________________________
gnome-shell-list mailing list
gnome-shell-list gnome org
http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-shell-list


End of gnome-shell-list Digest, Vol 27, Issue 27
************************************************

-- 
Lofton Alley
Lecturer
HKU-SPACE
Suzhou, PR China