Re: Novell Start menu [was Re: [Usability] Thoughts on GNOME and DTP]

[Joachim Noreiko <jnoreiko yahoo com>]

--- Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie> wrote:

> > Firstly though, a negative.  I wish to lobby
> strongly against the Windows
> > XP-style start menu proposed by Novell:
> >
> >
>
http://www.osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=13589&comment_id=93581
> >
> > This appears to be a definite step backwards for
> us.  The current system is
> > much better.  Do other people share this
> sentiment?
> 
> Yes and no.  I have my reservations and since I find
> Windows XP rather
> annoying I wouldn't choose that menu layout for
> myself (I use the
> "Classic" style of start menu when I use windows, I
> always change it back
> if at all possible).  However it will benefit some
> users to be able to
> configure Gnome in a way that more closely resembles
> what they are used
> to, it is good to give users what they want.  This
> menu applet is just
> another applet to choose from and is highly unlikely
> to become the Gnome
> default.  There is really very little to talk about
> on this topic, and if
> I recall correctly the topic was beaten out on the
> desktop-devel list when
> Novell released their work.

The problem with the XP-style start menu is that it's
enourmous and bloated.
The problem with the current GNOME menubar (apart from
its lack of a name... see other threads!) is that it
doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the desktop
and applications. Making it a panel item gives the
user and the distros flexibility, but there's a
certain something about it I can't put my finger on.
(I nearly wrote 'finder' there, talk about a Freudian
slip!)

Desktop environments need a central point of access to
launch apps and configure the system. The only ones
that really work from the aesthetic point of view are
the old X desktop menu (but too geeky and
non-discoverable) and the Apple menu, because it
simply flows into the rest of the menu bar.
The current GNOME menubar feels a bit like a sore
thumb... or toe ;)


		
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