Re: Usability-issues - part I

[Peter Bloomfield <PeterBloomfield bellsouth net>]

On 03/25/2003, Darko Obradovic wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> After using balsa for quite some time now, I noticed quite some 
> things in the UI which could be solved in a slightly better way for 
> daily usage, at least imho.
> Te thing I've git the best suggetsion for right now is identity 
> handling:
> 
> Current state in the compose-window is a row for "from", optional of 
> course. I have the row on by default, and when clicking on "compose" 
> the text is always marked/selected, which often destroys the X-
> clipboard, that's not good. Very fine is the detection of the correct 
> identity when replying emails. However, to change the identity, you 
> have to click on a toolbar-button or a menu entry, giving a new 
> windows, and so on, not that user-friendly. And there's the 
> addressbook-button on the right... I think the only real benefit for 
> that is eased spoofing of your friends mails. *g*

Yes, it is kinda weird that Balsa would encourage users to send out 
mail `from' anyone in their address book!

> My suggestion would be: People only having defined one identity 
> shouldn't see this row ever by default.

Anyone who doesn't want to see that line can always hide it from the 
View menu--that seems like enough to me.

> People having multiple identities should get a dropdown-field with 
> their defined identitites to choose from. No text should be pre-
> selected. The addressbook-button should be left out, the identity-
> choosing-window as well. It would be somewhat simpler in my 
> imagination.

I believe you'd need to show the `From' address as well as the 
identity, which is identified by a name. Perhaps the right hand end of 
the space currently used by the From address-entry could be used for 
the dropdown list.

> Whether to make that filed editable or not might be discussed, I 
> can't decide for pros and cons.

I'm with Melanie: editable.

> If I were able to code, I'd come up with a patch, but so I just can 
> come up with some thoughts. :)

So we'd take out the Edit=>Select Identity item, and the corresponding 
toolbar button? Seems like a net gain to me...

Peter