Re: [Usability] Instant Apply Windows

[Calum Benson <calum benson sun com>]

Gregory Merchan wrote:

> Two examples of where the decision to include close buttons takes us:
> (Both were made using Glade 0.6.2)
> 
>   http://www.phys.lsu.edu/students/merchan/shots/glade-properties-dialog.png
> 
>   http://www.phys.lsu.edu/students/merchan/shots/gedit-toolbar.png

All the more reason to distinguish between instant-apply "dialogs" and
"utility windows", then :o)  

Here are another couple of pro-Close button arguments I picked up from a
discussion about this with some other HCI guys in Sun, BTW:

- The visual cue the user has that this is an instant-apply window is
that there is a Close button rather than an OK and Cancel button. 
Simply having no buttons is a horrible indication since you need to
notice the lack of something rather than noticing a strong visual cue.

- I don't buy the argument that this is a palette or utility window. 
Those windows are up for extended periods.  This window would only be up
by geeks who spend more time configuring their system than doing real
work.  :-)  (Note: don't worry, that *was* her smiley, not mine!)

Cheeri,
Calum.

-- 
CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
mailto:calum benson ireland sun com    Desktop Engineering Group
http://www.sun.ie                      +353 1 819 9771

Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems