Re: Browser Mode by Default [Was: Nautilus]

["Shane O'Connor" <Shane Oconnor Sun COM>]

Hi,

I didn't mean to open a can of worms ;) The only reason I posted was
because quite a few users have asked me recently why the default is
spatial, all of whom don't like it. Maybe they have to get used to it
but personally think this feature doesn't endear itself to most point
and click users. 

Thanks
Shane

[1] In the past I've spent a few years working with windows users and
the over-riding lesson I learnt is that, while they do want cool
features, they want simplicity even more.

On Wed, 2005-12-21 at 15:26, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> <quote who="Shane O'Connor">
> 
> > I recently started looking at gnome2.12 builds (moving on to 2.13 now) and
> > I just can't get my head around the default view for Nautilus - the
> > spatial view (a new window for each folder opened) is sooooo annoying ;)
> 
> Thanks for raising this, I've been procrastinating, because I know it's a
> controversial issue.
> 
> I strongly agree that we should ship browser mode by default, especially now
> that it has been so wonderfully refreshed (as of 2.12). I raised this during
> my talk at GUADEC. I'm very glad that in this instance we've been willing to
> take a risk, but we should also be willing to admit mistakes. The theory and
> implementation of Nautilus' spatial mode is excellent, but in practice, it
> is *not* a benefit to our users.
> 
>  * A massive, massive majority of users in my relatively unscientific broad
>    based testing have responded with, "Why are all these windows all over my
>    screen?" The muscle memory familiarity doesn't help them when their main
>    reaction is intellectual fear.
> 
>  * A misdirected attempt to fix that issue by making preceding windows
>    'close behind' failed, converting the "Why are all these windows all over
>    my screen?" catchcry to "Why is this window dancing all over the screen?"
> 
>  * We manage too much data, everything is moving toward search, it's hard to
>    manage the naturally abstract nature of search and the tactile nature of
>    a pure spatial file manager.
> 
>  * Ubuntu has switched to browse mode by default. That change has been very
>    successful, with lots of positive user feedback. Spatial was just jarring
>    and unhelpful. Hard to sell on first experience when it's decidedly odd.
> 
> It's a rad feature, particularly for the geeky users who dig it, and because
> it is implemented so purely. I fully support keeping it in Nautilus. But let
> us admit that it was useful to try as the default, but ultimately admit to a
> mistake and move on.
> 
> Our users, people who choose to love or hate GNOME, don't understand why we
> have done this and don't want to. They just want a file manager that doesn't
> punch them in the face.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> - Jeff
> 
> -- 
> linux.conf.au 2006: Dunedin, New Zealand               http://linux.conf.au/
>  
>      "Linux is not like Novell, it isn't going to run out of money - it
>               started off bankrupt, in a way." - Steve Ballmer
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