[Usability]Re: Notification Area guidelines

[Chris Chabot <chabotc xs4all nl>]

> Agreed. Using the notification area as some kind of weird alternative
> to minimization seems pretty wacky.
>  
Actualy, in a way it does not, think about this posible metaphore:
A tray icon is on all desktops, not just the one where the window would 
be minimized. If i click my tray icon to open up the window and see 
whats up, does the app move desktops? Isn't that just as confusing?

I think a part of the confusion comes from the fact that it is not a 
'mail notification', which would flash 'you have mail' and you would 
launch a mail program to check it. Instead, this type of program is 
Client / Server /GUI in one, so while they do want the 'server' to be 
running, so they can recieve messages, they do not want the GUI in their 
desktop space the whole time. I gues the only posible solution to that 
would be to split the app in three, a server, a notification applet, and 
a client.. But wouldn't that suck to have to restart the client the 
whole time? (and really, wouldnt building your own client/server model & 
protocols and all the other extra overhead be a bit overkill for a 
gaim/gnomeicu like program?)

I think the server+notification is what people are percieving and 
expecting, and they don't really want to see every service they are 
running on their taskbar.

So with the new "client / server / notification" in one concept, Doesn't 
it make sense that it can show and hide the GUI window?

Ps, on another topic in this thread

> Should single-click or double-click activate the icon?
I would say single click, since every menu & launcher on the taskbar is 
single & right click for action & applet-menu, why confuse ppl?


   -- Chris


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