Re: [Usability] Future of the menu top bar?

[Alexandre Silva <hav0x sapo pt>]

You make a good point. Having the top menu makes more sense to me too.
Perhaps we should have more information regarding these tests, questions
like what kind of users where targeted (i'm not talking demographics
here, but it would be good to know where they come from), the size of
the sample and tests duration, pop in my mind.

  
Sex, 2006-05-12 �15:14 +0200, Roberto Rosselli Del Turco escreveu:
> Il giorno gio, 11/05/2006 alle 18.04 +0100, Alexandre Silva ha scritto:
> > The layout change to me will really be just a minor annoyance as long
> > they don't force me to use the panel on the bottom.
> > As far as usability goes i discovered i am much more confortable using
> > the top panel for the menu (heck i just use one top panel for
> > everything). Even now whenever i get to use a windows box the first
> > thing i do is pull the bar to the top. Can't really talk about usability
> > tests but i feel more confortable that way.
> 
> I believe that's because usually menus are drop down, not push up: it's
> way easier (at least for me) to push up the mouse cursor to a Fitts' Law
> complying target on an upper menu and then slide down to the desired
> item than doing the reverse and be forced to move the mouse up (at that
> point, besides, you'll probably have to lift it from the mousepad to
> leave room for the upward movement: again can't tell if this is a
> generally acknowledged law, but this is what I noticed observing my and
> other people's mouse usage).
> 
> Whatever the other OSes "compatibility" desired, menu layout should be
> considered carefully because IMHO the present layout presents several
> good points. I wonder if it would be possible to retain it while
> improving its usability. Of course, as a first step we should know what
> was considered problematic during its testing.
> 
> Ciao
>