Re: [gnome-love] Start-Menu

[Sander Spies <SanderSpies gmx net>]

Well first I'm sorry for replying DIRECTLY to your email address, 
instead of the
gnome-love mailing list. I'm quite new to the concept of mailing lists. 
But
anyway, here is my post again:

> Hi Thijs,
>
> Although I'm not very well known with the programming of GTK and 
> Gnome,
> I would like to help with the GKickOff project. It would be a nice 
> beginning in
> the world of GTK/Gnome programming. Some personal opinions on the 
> project:
> -------------------------------------------------
> I think that we have to look at the startmenu's of today's 
> desktops(kde, windows xp) and
> of the future desktops(kde cvs,windows longhorn). Also the kde 
> Slicker project is worth looking at.
> What i would like to see at the startmenu? I would like to see the 
> things that I need.
>
> A  webdesigner would like to see an input box for the w3c validator 
> service for example. Or if I'm
> someone working at a bank, wouldn't it be easy to see the latest 
> stocks in a folder? Just some of
> my personal opinions. I hope to hear from you soon!
>
>
> Sander Spies (Also Dutch, btw.)

Well you asked where I lived ("Waar kom je vandaan? :)"), I live in 
Almere. Some
other information: 19 years old, still studying, gentoo and gnome 
envangelist, and
I get a kick out of sending hyperlinks that make windows computers 
crash. 
Anyway, on the stuff that was written. I totally I agree with Thijs. We 
should
not try to be yet another start menu imitator. No, we should create a 
gnome
menu that follows the gnome 2 filosofy of less is more. And I think the
startmenu should apply to our individual needs. Thijs already talked 
about
his little sister, and I also named some examples. I think we need to 
create
some use-cases. For example, take my dad, what does my dad do
on his win98se machine: write a letter with word, internet banking with 
internet
explorer and do some work with some programs that are specific for his 
work.
What would be easy for him? He should be able to see the programs that 
he uses.
And a list of visited websites would be nice, instead of just the word 
Galeon or
Epiphany. You would see www.internetbank.com. With perhaps a preview of 
the
website. And perhaps some applets which are specific for his type of 
work. Perhaps
a whole program in the gnome menu.... just some of my ideas...anyhow, 
I'm going to
create an idea with gimp. And will send it to you guys when I'm done 
with it. 
Sander



On 2003.05.04 13:34, Thijs Thiessens wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I wasn't very clear in my first post, so here is bit explanation.
>
> First of all, I use gnome since I use Linux, which is probably from
> around 1998. I have also used KDE a lot, but for some unknown reason I
> really loved gnome much more than I ever loved KDE, or any other
> desktop
> manager.
>
> Besides the other plans I have related to the theming concept, here is
> what I want for the start menu, but please consider the fact, that I
> don't want millions of configuration options that drive me crazy like
> in
> KDE. Remember also that this is an effort from a users point of view.
> I
> know I can edit all things I want, but not my little sister, who just
> wants to find Frozen-Bubble easy.
>
> The basic framework I have in mind;
>
> The gnome-menu
> The gnome-menu-editor
> The gnome-menu-configurator
>
> The gnome-menu would be based on modules, each wich can be graphically
> configured.
> The gnome-menu has at least one module in which we could place small
> applets. Remember though that people also uses the menu-bar for this.
> The gnome-menu would be task oriented, as it's default setting.
> The gnome-menu should have a clear and clean organisation.
> The gnome-menu can be placed anywhere you like.
> The gnome-menu should have some ability to draw it's content from a
> remote source.
> The gnome-menu should take advantage of the flexibility of XML.
> Their will alway's be an option to use the original gnome-menu.
> With gnome-menu-editor we can build a new theme for the gnome-menu.
> With gnome-menu-configurator we can configure our current theme, based
> on the configuration options the designer has build in for this theme.
> The gnome-menu, and it's two applications should be developed in C.
>
> These are a few simple thoughts I have in mind.
> More important, we should assemble some CRAZY designers, who can think
> of original GNOME-like designs. Not those stupid Windows look alike
> things I have seen from other discussions. But creative, inventive
> things which are good to use, functional, yet very compelling.
> Remember
> that the design of the Windows start menu, isn't nonfunctional, in
> contrast, it is very usable. It's just very ugly. :)
>
> I'm a programmer, and I don't even use the gnome-menu much. But please
> consider that users of a computer need a starting place in which they
> can choose a specific task they would like the computer to perform.
> They
> don't want to see a list of programs installed on the computer.
>
> It would be nice to see some comments of the gnome developers. Perhaps
> they have certain plans already availible for the gnome-menu.
>
> To start things, perhaps I can organise some contest for the best
> gnome-menu. People can send in their ideas, and creations, along with
> some comments on why they have designed it that way. It should give us
> at least an idea of what people want. Rather than that we try to
> figure
> out what they want. To make them enthusiastic, I will search for a
> very
> nice award alike thing.. :)
>
> These are all just thoughts, comments are welcome.
>
>
>
> Thijs
>
> p.s
>
> (Waar kom je vandaan? :) )
>
>
>
>
>
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