Re: Definition of "desktop" - was a Usability topic.

["Eugene O'Connor" <eugene oconnor sun com>]

This term also affects Nautilus, so cc'ing the list.

Pat Costello wrote:
> 
> Jeff states:
> 
> > But the desktop is the "thingy wot has icons on it"...
> 
> Interestingly, there has been low-intensity smouldering over the term "desktop"
> for some time. I'd like to refer you (and everyone else) to the GNOME Foundation
> statement on the http://www.gnome.org/intro/findout.html page, namely:
> 
> o The GNOME desktop: an easy to use windows-based environment for users.
> 
> This definition does not imply that the desktop is the "thingy behind the
> icons". This definition in fact implies that the desktop is the sum of all
> parts, in other words the complete environment. The documentation team have
> attempted to apply this definition consistently. The GNOME Foundation definition
> for "desktop" has some logical consequences. The foremost of these consequences,
> as far as the present discussion is concerned, is that "Desktop" is the single
> most globally-encompassing term available to us, not GNOME. Another consequence
> of the GNOME Foundation definition of "desktop" is that the "thingy behind the
> icons" must be called the "desktop background".
> 
> Information for people on the gnome-doc-list:
> ---------------------------------------------
> 
> I've copied this mail to the documentation list, because a key terminology issue
> is now being discussed. You can catch up with earlier mails in the thread at the
> following location:
> 
> http://mail.gnome.org/archives/usability/index.html
> 
> Pat
> 
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