Re: Gnome-Shell - questions and opinions

[Nex6 <borg borg1911 com>]

On 12/31/2010 01:42 AM, Nex6 wrote:
> On 12/29/2010 02:50 PM, Giovanni Campagna wrote:
> > Il giorno mer, 29/12/2010 alle 14.17 -0800, Nex6 ha scritto:
> > > hi all,
> > >
> > > First I would like to say great work on Gnome/Gnome-shell. I loaded
> > > Gnome-Shell on Fedora 14 and messed arround with it for awhile. I also,
> > > poked around the NET, and the archives of this list (just joined 
> > > today).
> > Current (2.91.4 / git master) gnome-shell experience is very different
> > from the Fedora 14 packaged one (2.31.5). You should use jhbuild to get
> > the latest version, follow instructions at
> > http://live.gnome.org/GnomeShell#building
>
>
> as soon as I get a chance I will upgrade to the latest.
> > > But I sadly, I agree with those that think the use patterns/work-flows
> > > of Gnome-Shell is not right. I really like the "control center" and the
> > > lay-out under your user name. but the whole, activities, pop/zoom thing
> > > click click click. just does not work. it would force you to create
> > > shortcuts on the desktop. just to avoid that mess, the idea of a 
> > > desktop
> > > environment is to help the users with their work-flow. I am not saying
> > > Gnome should copy OSX or windows. but, don't go off the deep end
> > > different just to be different from them. when flipping around the
> > > shell, the constant changing and zooming started to give me a headache.
> > While being different is a marketing point, as it marks the reason for
> > switching to GNOME, gnome-shell is not different for the sake of beign
> > different, every design decision (including the most discussed ones, and
> > including those still under discussion) have been made for its merits.
> > Moving in particular to the zooming effect exposed by the Activities
> > button, this has been reported many times by various users, but it is
> > explicitly part of the design, as the purpose of that mode is to give an
> > overview (hence the technical name, "Activities Overview") of active
> > windows, applications, and tasks (in the future,>  3.1, it will have
> > contacts, desktop search, zeitgeist logging, etc.).
> > Still under discussion is the behaviour wrt window management inside the
> > workspace. Some proposals concentrated on gesture-based window
> > management + shading of minimized windows (possibly shading to icon
> > only), other instead wanted a gesture or button to emulate Alt-tab, or
> > showing the favourite application list on the left of the workspace.
>
>
> while I, as a Systems Design Engineer fully understand the "its by 
> design" reasoning
> and although I have not seen the latest builds the paradigm that 
> Gnome-Shell brings
> does not necessary mean that its correct. in fact, the OSX influences 
> are very apparent.
> and for the record I don't like them in OSX either... why should after 
> I login by default getting
> to my first application is two clicks at least? (unless I create a 
> desktop shortcut?)
>
> and the whole, copying OSXs application view (which I think is 
> terrible in OSX) is likewise
> a bad idea.  if it was combined with a category like view it would be 
> fine but the whole OSX
> likeness is flawed. and is less useful then even OSX as I can turn off 
> expose in osx.
>
> while Gnome shell brings alot of good things that could be great, the 
> workflow and use patterns
> seem very flawed. (at least with the build I have seen).
>
> if your going to try and be different the windows and OSX, at least 
> offer productivity gains
> not costs....
>
> > > ok, why not:
> > >
> > > make the activities a drop down menu/sidebar with no zooming, or better
> > > yet make it optional/move the zoom some where else.
> > The main point of the Activities Overview is to show all the windows at
> > the same time, so this does not make sense in the current design.
>
> flawed, if its the main view your interacting with. you can not add 
> icons to the taskbar only the desktop. and using
> alt-tab is now broken as if I have 4 terminal windows open the alt tab 
> on loads all of them does not flip thru them as single windows.
>
>
> > > next:
> > >
> > > make it possible to add icons/shortcuts to the top menu bar. infact 
> > > make
> > > it easy to do so like add a right click menu item under add to
> > > favorites, as add to top menu. (make it movable)
> > Why clobbering the top menu bar, when adding a favourite is just as
> > clean and fast?
> > (I'm referring to the new overview layout here, 2.31.5 still has the old
> > layout, please update to see what I mean)
>
> again its flawed, as it makes everything two clicks, why? and forces 
> you into the expose like zooming
> which screws with your eyes and focus.
> > > also in the same vain, add a, "add to desktop item"
> > The desktop (as the icon view behind the windows) is going to die,
> > either in 3.0 or 3.2. We should not add more features to it.
> wow..  yup true design productivity lets over design just because we can.

id like to clarify this, I was not intending to be harsh or rude. but as 
an Engineer I see alot of
stuff people do just because its cool not because it was best for the 
user.  I guess I am "colored"
by some of the bad stuff I see (and i see alot). so please take it with 
a grain of salt.....


> > > ok, that's good for now as I explore Gnome Shell I will add more.
> > Thanks for your time reporting, it is always useful getting feedback
> > before gnome-shell is released.
>
> thanks....
>
> > Giovanni
>
> _______________________________________________
> gnome-shell-list mailing list
> gnome-shell-list gnome org
> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-shell-list