Re: Proposal, and about icons in the path

[famrom ran es (Guillermo S. Romero / unnamed / Familia Romero)]

>If the filesystem layout is too confusing, why not simply change it? To
>illustrate my point, let's compare the two systems with which I'm most
>familiar: MacOS and Windows. I apologize for ignoring other systems like
>OS/2, but I can't speak about something I haven't used.

Gnome is a desktop, not a new OS. And not only Linux based, so go an tell
AIX, HP-UX, IRIX etc guys to change file system. Or Linux guys that do not
care about Gnome.

>For a long time, Windows has had the infamous File Manager/Program Manager
[...]
>feature of the Apple menu I do use is Recent Applications, but that's
>probably a power-user feature.

I would like to see Gnome Desktop as Gnome Room. I have my room, my home,
with doors, some go more deeper inside and one goes outside (aka "parent"
aka ".." ). When the program or doc is mine, I go through one of the
"inside" doors. When it is shared (like book in town library) I travel out,
and walk a bit. I can always setup links from inside to outside, so walk is
shorter.

Place some yellow notes near monitor with the really hard to remember
things, and you are set. Like arrows in the mall (cinema this way, parking
that elevator, toilet that way, etc).

>My point is that it is as easy for me to launch an application using the
>Finder as it is with the Start menu. And I haven't even mentioned that many
>applications can be properly installed even if they don't come with an
>installer (and MacOS has no package manager, probably because many people
>wouldn't need one). So why does Windows have Program Manager/Start menu?
>Because the filesystem is cluttered and most files are poorly named.

Unix system is not perfect, but works, is fast and uses acronyms. I have few
problem to teach my family about Unix, even being not native English (they
learn a bit of English while learning Unix, do not ask me why the learn two
things at the same time and faster than other guys only one thing).

I think Unix hierarchy has some problems, but tradition keep them sometimes,
other times they are removed. That rare thing are not related to usersm just
admins.

And with correct PATH, "you" (normal user) do not care about files (except
to avoid trojans, like the old su trick, but thats an admin problem too, use
always /bin/su, I doubt normal user will need su).

What is more, with Gnome utils, "you" do not requiere path, you just click
on menus or icon that were set by others (the admin).

>(Windows supports long file names, yet I have files with names like
>msimn.exe. Why?)

Compatibility. They still keep compatibility with old 8+3 system. It is a
lot funnier with .dll names. I even read somewhere that some servers can
only provide 8+3 files (can not remember where).

>Thus there are two general choices as I see them: you can hide the
>filesystem, which does not actually reduce its complexity, or you can make
>the filesystem simple enough that the user can manipulate it directly
>without confusion or danger.

Or you can create a new mental image for the user, so nothing is hidden,
just   "repainted" (like icon themes). When he decides to use "original
things", he will use it fast, cos the images will be still there. You speak
about a building with neighbours, shared zones and the like, and thats the
same than directories. You can even paint windows, elevators or satellite
antennae in the computer box. ;]

I think this "Room" idea looks promissing... is like 3D but without the need
of new video card or window system. After all, what are icons? Modem realted
things have phones, cd-rom or cd-audio have shiny disks, etc.

GSR