Re: [Usability] SM UI plan

[Kevin Vandersloot <kfv101 psu edu>]

On Sat, 2001-10-13 at 16:09, Sergio A. Kessler wrote:
> > > +----------------------------------------------+
> > > |                                              |
> > > |            What do you want Gnome to do?     |
> > > |  GNOME                                       |
> > > |  LOGOUT         +--------------------+       |
> > > |  LOGO OR        | CURRENT OPTION  \/ |       |
> > > |  IMAGES         +--------------------+       |
> > > |  OR WHAT                                     |
> > > |  EVER       In nice, clear wording put a     |
> > > |  OVER       pleasant little description      |
> > > |  HERE!      about each login option as       |
> > > |             it is selected above.            |
> > > |                                              |
> > > |                       <OK> <CANCEL> <HELP> |
> > > |                                              |
> > > +----------------------------------------------+
> 
> this is /exactly/ what MS is doing nowdays with the logout box...
> (Paul should have mentioned this)
> 
> but intead of the confusing "What do you want Gnome to do?",
> they put "Confirm what you want"
> (remember they come here from clicking on "turn off..." )
> 
> > Using a pull-down menu with deferred application to perform an action is
> > a blatant mis-application of controls. Controls that may reasonably be
> > used to perform actions are toolbars, menus (in menubars!), and command
> > buttons. That is probably the most serious problem with the interface.
> 
> hmmm, whatever...
> seth, no offense to you, but I think the guys at redmond /at this times/ 
> know a little more about interfaces than you...
> 

Let me chime in here with a usability report on the Win2K logout dialog.
I teach laboratory where we now use win2K for undergradudate students.
With the old WinNT (similar to the GNOME one right now) logout dialog I
would see a fair amount of people shuttting down the computer when they
meant to only logout etc. With the win2K dialog I see far more accidents
like this. 

The combo box just hides the options and many users will just ignore it
completley and press OK not checking the see which option was set.
Couple that with the fact that win2k will by default select the last
option chosen, I see more computers being shut down than I would like.
Not to mention that the combo box is much harder to use for non-dextrous
mouse users.

Kevin