Suggestions.

[Jason Sauders <roastedtiresx gmail com>]

After using Gnome Shell for quite a long time now waiting for updates 
that might answer my request, I decided to email the mailing list again 
with my idea.

The more I use Gnome Shell, the more I like it. I find the interface 
very nicely laid out and I think this really has some potential. But 
regardless, I cannot see how the masses will adopt this with having to 
use the overview (or alt tab) to switch applications. I just can't see 
it taking off... I never really understood the point behind that area in 
the top panel on the left side that displays what our current primary 
window is. Why do we need it there? Let's put that area to better use 
and remove that functionality and add a dock-like application there. 
That way for users who simply want to switch from 1 application to 
another that didn't get hit with a notification, they can without having 
to go through the zoom in-out thing. What if I'm in Firefox but, oh 
wait, I want to write an email. Well, the notification system isn't 
going to display my idea, since it only displays notifications. Ahh, 
wait... I gotta zoom in-out. No big deal. But throw this in the hands of 
a power user, and I really see where the bottleneck for mass Gnome Shell 
adoption would be.

Please... let's see something like that... use Ubuntu Netbook Remix as 
an idea starter. That dock-like application is brilliant. That in Gnome 
Shell would simply be awesome. Keep in mind, I'm not requesting this to 
be default. Just an activate-able option already embedded in the Gnome 
Shell system itself for users to activate if they prefer it.


Second Idea: This may have been in existence before, but it just came to 
mind and I wanted to bring it up. The grid layout for the application 
menu is very cumbersome. It was much, much better with the single file 
vertical layout as we had before. Let's revert back to that, as it was 
much easier to use and MUCH quicker to find applications. Secondly, is 
there a way you can open the application menu and hit a single letter, 
and then the application menu displays everything that starts with that 
letter? That would make quick-scanning even easier yet. Coupled with the 
fact you can type the application name in the search box and launch it 
there and you have a very quick and powerful way to get applications 
running.



If those two things get added, I just might have to go back to Gnome 
Shell full time. But till then, you gotta use what works...

Thanks for hearing me out. Good work, and good luck to the GS team!