Re: [Usability] Re: Button ordering

[Julian Missig <julian jabber org>]

Alan Cox wrote:

> > http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56331
> >
> > To make the GTK+ standard dialogs button ordering conform to the gnome
> > usability project's dialog proposal.
>
> Given that the current style and new style offer no reason for changing
> I think the change is bad. I dread to think how people will feel running
> mixed 1.4 and 2.0 environments on one screen, or switching between versions
> at work/home.
>
> Probably frustrated, annoyed with the software not aware of why
>
> Alan

I do agree that the transition will suck, but I would much rather have 
it be fixed and stick with it. The longer we use the current 
mostly-undefined-sort-of-agreeing-on-windows style (not all apps do), 
the harder it will be to define a layout in the future. Either GNOME2 is 
a time of transition and we do it now, or we don't do it ever.

I disagree with the "offer no reason" part:

http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/proposals/dialog.html
"rationale: The eyes of people who read left-to-right tend towards the 
upper-left and lower-right corners of boxes. Therefore the action the 
user is most likely to perform should be located in the lower-right 
corner. With this button order, the action the user is most likely to 
perform is always in the same place and is always the most noticeable."

I guess that should be extended to state that therefore, a user can 
quickly know exactly where to position their mouse most of the time - 
since it should be their most likely action.

Now, whether the difference between having the affirmative button in the 
same place vs. having it in random places actually makes a difference, 
tests would probably have to be done on users comfortable with the 
Windows method vs. users comfortable with the Mac method. Afaik, the 
only rationale for the windows method was that it was different from the 
Mac method... and the only rationale for using it is that more people 
use windows. The question is really, is the initial learning curve too 
much for the benefits of always being able to click in the same place? 
As a matter of personal opinion, I think so. Of course, that means nothing.

Julian
--
email: julian jabber org
jabber:julian jabber org