[ubuntu-art] Quick user switching panel applet. OT?

[Kenneth Wimer]

I think that this thread would feel more love on ubuntu-desktop than it will 
get on ubuntu-art ;-)

--
Ken

On Tuesday 05 February 2008 15:52:38 Webmaster, Jhnet.co.uk wrote:
> "I also think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also
> silly
> for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per
> session." No, it is something very valuable, though only really on mobile
> or public systems: when I am using my laptop it allows me to quickly throw
> it in to suspend or lock the screen when I walk away. It is something that
> I have found many users come to love once they get used to it being there
> (for the most part the ability to lock, suspend or switch user is handy
> (especially in a school-like or family environment). While the user
> switcher is probably necessary I do feel the power button is a worth while
> addition, especially given that we are taking up a solid 24 odd pixels of
> the users screen that, lets face it, do very little more than provide a
> launcher, clock and status items. (I am not debating the need for the top
> panel, things definitely become crowded all squashed into the bottom, but
> this area should be utilized better.)
>
> "As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left
> hand side a list of your most commonly used applications.  I've set it
> to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently.  As a
> result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never
> more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it."
> I agree this is definitely a useful function that would be nice to see
> however given how well organized a typical gnome Applications menu is
> compared to a windows all programs menu (without any user intervention) it
> becomes less important. While teaching basic computing skills to elderly
> people (I run classes for a charity called Age Concern) I find that many
> are confused as to why their programs sometimes appear in the frequently
> used list, why they move and why all the programs they need are not there.
> In this scenario, well named and *subject categorized* (not manufacturer or
> application suite organized) programs lists are a generally good idea. What
> would be nice is a way of making it more obvious that they can add their
> own applications to the top bar to allow single click access to them and to
> make use of the space there rather than ending up like windows' quick
> launch that many people do not realize can actually be added to.
>
> Just some thoughts
>
> On 04/02/2008, Andrew Laignel <a.laignel at ukdotcafe.com> wrote:
> > I totally agree with this.
> >
> > Only functions that are used on an extremely regular basis should have
> > an icon on the desktop.  I do like the way Ubuntu has a 'places' menu
> > along with 'applications' as if your going to do something then it's
> > either going to involve a) opening a file or b) running a program
> > though, but too many icons just leads to clutter and creates confusion.
> >
> > I'd go as far as to say that I seriously doubt more than 80% of the
> > general population, if exposed to Ubuntu, would ever use the button.  It
> > really shouldn't be there as it doesn't deserve the prominence.  I also
> > think the addition of the power off button on the main bar is also silly
> > for the same reasons - your only ever going to use it max once per
> > session.
> >
> > I think the power button position is a response to the anti-MS trolling
> > of 'You have to click Start to shut down, lol' which is a ridiculous
> > complaint.  From a usability point of view calling the button 'Start'
> > and making it an entirely different colour draws the attention of the
> > users to it.  Metaphorically it means 'Start doing things here'.
> >
> > Real attention I think should be paid to the Gnome UI layout.  As far as
> > I know it is exactly the same as upstream Gnome and I have seen no
> > significant changes or improvements since Warty.  There are many ways it
> > can be improved upon to streamline workflow, save space and improve
> > usability.  Since Ubuntu is 'Linux for human beings' I believe this
> > should be given a top priority as user experience is key to retaining
> > your userbase.
> >
> > As an example from Windows XP, the 'new style' Start box has on the left
> > hand side a list of your most commonly used applications.  I've set it
> > to display 12 at once and you can pin items to it permanently.  As a
> > result if you use an app more than a couple of times in future is never
> > more than two clicks away with no need to scan a list for it.
> >
> > Gnome at the moment still has functionality akin to Windows 98 and I
> > feel virtually all the effort is on either dealing with bugs or adding
> > new software with seemingly virtually no focus from the Ubuntu camp at
> > improving Gnome significantly.
> >
> > I am working on a few potential UI improvement mockups but I am rather
> > busy these days.  I believe that the system GUI is one of the most
> > important aspects of an OS, and if given sufficient love it would help
> > pull Linux into the mainstream.  Users care about looks and usability
> > far more than stability and freedom.
> >
> > Although this is Ubuntu Artwork, I do think Usability should be given a
> > top priority, or even it's own list (it deserves it!).
> >
> > Sumit Chandra Agarwal wrote:
> > > I'm not sure if this is quite on-topic for the art list, but it has to
> > > do with visual presentation so I thought I'd try here first:
> > >
> > > As it is the top panel in Ubuntu is as cluttered or more cluttered than
> > > Windows or Mac desktops, with the addition of another panel at the
> > > bottom. One item that is significant taking up a lot of space on the
> > > upper panel is the fast user switching applet, which manifests itself
> > > as text showing the current user name.
> > >
> > > This is a great feature. However, I would *guess* that for greater than
> > > 50% of Ubuntu users this is unnecessary as they are using the machine
> > > as a *personal* computer and as such they are the only user registered
> > > on the system. This makes the applet pointless and it only adds to
> > > clutter and eating away at space.
> > >
> > > Could Ubuntu be configured to intelligently only add the applet if
> > > there is more than one user registered to the system?
> > >
> > > Sorry if this is off-topic,
> > > -Sumit
> >
> > --
> > Andrew Laignel
> > Dot Cafe Limited
> >
> > Web Development & Graphic Design
> > http://www.dotcafedesigns.com/
> >
> >
> > --
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> > ubuntu-art at lists.ubuntu.com
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