Re: UI Review

[Andreas Nilsson <nisses mail home se>]

Evandro Fernandes Giovanini wrote:

> Em Sex, 2006-02-10 às 21:45 +0000, Thomas Wood escreveu:
>  
>
> > Davyd Madeley wrote:
> >    
> >
> > > On Wed, Feb 08, 2006 at 05:00:14PM +0000, Thomas Wood wrote:
> > >
> > >      
> > >
> > > > There has been a general objection to the new 'glossy' look, and it 
> > > > would be possible to revert it. However, I haven't done so since I 
> > > > thought we were in the UI freeze, and changes to the default theme would 
> > > > probably not be welcome unless they where major usability issues or such 
> > > > like. I would really welcome more input from people on this subject - 
> > > > but please, on the correct list! If you'd like to discuss theme issues, 
> > > > please do so on gnome-themes-list. I would be glad if we had a few 
> > > > usability people on the list too.
> > > >        
> > > I think a case can be made here to use the same look and feel as we
> > > did for the last release. One of the reasons for UI freeze is
> > > because we have to do a lot of screenshots for documentation. This
> > > would stop a lot of the work being required.
> > >
> > > In addition, since there was the possible requirement of having to
> > > revert to a pre-Cairo version of gtk-engines for speed reasons: I
> > > don't know how many screenshots have been done using the new theme.
> > >
> > > Perhaps a theme file for the more subdued Clearlooks we're used to
> > > (but with the lovely smoothed corners and gradients) can be prepared
> > > and then the release team can make a decision?
> > >      
> > The cairo version of clearlooks could definitely be made to look more 
> > like the original version, but I doubt there would be much improvement 
> > in speed if that is what you are looking for.
> >
> > We could definitely ship a different gtkrc for the default theme, but we 
> > might have to rename the theme, as it would clash with the default 
> > clearlooks theme. Having said that, perhaps the new look could be given 
> > a new name instead. Adding Richard to CC for his input (not sure if 
> > you're on gnome-themes-list already?).
> >
> >    
>
> To be honest I love the new theme and would be sad to see it go at this
> point in the release cycle. Maybe Clearlooks-classic could be created in
> gnome-themes?
"I like..." is perhaps not the best way to develop a interface like this.
Most people that care about tiny details in their interfaces also know 
how to change them (like going to art.gnome.org or gnome-look and 
downloading a new one). Everyone else will probably be happy with 
whatever we give them (as long as they can get their work done), 
although we don't want to look ugly next to our competitors Windows and OSX.
Looking good next to competitors was probably the developers intent on 
the changes made between the version in 2.12 and the current one. There 
is always the issue of color and glossyness attracting attention away 
from what you need to focus on (the human eye have a tendency to focus 
on colored objects), but I trust Daniel and Richard has taken that into 
account.

Anyway, if the documentation screenshots and the interface don't match, 
it should probably be fixed in the theme for now, and then the glossier 
interface can go into 2.16 instead (if that direction is the right one 
for our users).
- Andreas