Re: [Evolution] new user impressions

[Brian Grossman <brian SoftHome net>]

I picked up the latest snapshot (200101130728).  Even better.

More observations/moans/bug reports:

2.1. How can I get mail into a particular folder?  I have brian
        go to one maildir, brian-voicemail go to another maildir and
        brian-bugtraq go to yet another.  I'd like to define separate
        incoming mail servers for each and have each get incorporated into
        a different folder instead of them all going into Inbox.

2.2 When I search for "voicemail" then say show all, the first
        message of that search would be a good one to center in the
        message list.  Or the first selected one, which I think should
        remain selected.  As it is, on "show all" the message lists starts
        over at the top and the selected messages are deselected.

        Switching to Outbox then back to Inbox retains my place in the
        message list and my selected messages.

2.3 I got a wav file attachment (a voicemail) in a message.  I couldn't
        figure out how to play it without saving it.

2.4 The deb file no longer includes the help files.  Dpkg deletes
        the old ones on upgrade.

2.5 Getting new mail makes the number of messages in the shortcut bar go
        out of sync with the number in the folder pseudo dropdown menu.

2.6 I can't resize the date field in the message list.  I would
        be happy with a simple 01/16 for the date.  I prefer leaving the
        space for more subject.  Also, I'd like to change the order of the
        fields.

2.7 Numbers.  I know that'll be controversial, but I get lost
        when scrolling around in a large list of messages.  Numbers would
        make nice landmarks.  It couldn't be on by default though, since
        it would confuse most people when the numbers change after they
        delete a message or resort the list.  Or maybe I'm just too
        used to MH.

2.8 Shift scroll wheel could scroll faster.  Like mozilla does.

2.9 Is there a way to uniq duplicate messages?  Stupid spammers.

> > 2. Maildir support for get mail is weird.  When I told it to use
> >       /home/brian/Maildir, it insisted on using /home/brian/Maildir/inbox.
>
> You could always rename your default folder to "inbox". *shrug*

I don't understand.  A maildir doesn't generally have an explicit inbox
subdir.  Having one violates the letter of the maildir spec.

> > 5. How do I change the default identity?
>
> I've totally rewritten the config druid/editor so you should find it a
> lot more intuitive now.

It is!  I can't edit the incoming mail server type now, though.  I have to
add a new config and delete the old one.

> > 8. Where's my vi/emacs?  I'm a lot more productive in vi than in a gui edit
> or.
>
> It will take a bit of work to be able to embed emacs and/or vi. We do
> plan to support this but it may be a while.

Yay!  Any idea if anybody's bonoboized vim?

> > 9. Needs key shortcuts, like n for next message, c for compose,
> >       f for forward, d for delete, ctrl-return for commit.
> >       Pointing and clicking the mouse is not a comfortable activity.
>
> n and p already work for next/previous. We've also got some other
> keyboard shortcuts, but they may be alt-<something>. I will agree though
> that we need better ones.

Ah, I see.  I have to click on a message to put focus in the message list.
Personally, I'm fonder of point to focus than of click to focus.

> > 12. Needs more detail in error messages.  For example, when my SMTP
>
> The illegal seek seems wrong. Probably a bug in the SMTP code. In any
> event, I suppose we could try to grab errors from the SMTP server but
> not all SMTP servers give them out and it's not even required by the
> spec.

They have to give at least the 3-digit reply code, I think.

> > 15. What do all the icons to the left of messages mean?  Some are obvious,
> >       but for example, what does an envelope with an arrow on it mean?
> >       (tooltips would help)
>
> Replied-to?

I'd have never guessed.  It's probably obvious to a windows user though.

> > 17. How can I specify a non-standard port for smtp and pop?
>
> In the hostname entry, enter: my.host.com:37

Perfect.

> > 21. I'd like to have multiple transports and tie them to my multiple
> >       identities.
>
> Again, my new config dialogs already solve this problem.

How about a default transport to make 2.1 easier?

Brian