Another view on file dialogs.



	Just in case I've not caused enough of stir, where's another way entirely
that obsoletes (or at least, greatly reduces the need for) file dialogs. 
That is, the environment where you are always working with the DATA, not
with the programs.
	Example: excepting games and other programs you "use," have a common "New
file" dialog which lets you pick the type and then loads the appropriate
program for you (talk about ease of use!), or an "Open file" dialog which
indexes your data with meta-info (added user notes, etc) to allow easier
finding (rather than always resorting to the hierarchical directory tree). 
Way more docu-centric, and where Win95 seemed to be heading (before MS
decided that we needed to be "web centric" for some unknown reason).
	People don't think about the tools, just the job.  Why force them to think
of the tools?  Why force them to LOAD hammer, then open
/toolbox/nailbox/nail_file and get_a_nail, and then perform_hammering?  Why
can't we have the interface equivalent of, "I'm going to be putting a
picture on the wall, give me a hammer and a nail so I can work" ?

	Oh, and on "web centric"ness of the latest Nautalis.. I have to say that
"web centric" is just a special sub case of docu-centric.  Rather than being
* data oriented, it's * web data oriented.  I just wish Eazel would be
working on making Gnome docu-centric, instead of web-centric.  (Not meant as
a flame, btw)

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    www.kuro5hin.org -- technology and culture, from the trenches.




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