[ubuntu-art] next meeting

[Andrew Laignel]

Here's an idea, and something I have been wanting for a long time...

Get rid of the 'Desktop' as a file store - remove it from the directory 
hierarchy!

The only reason to store something on the desktop is if you can't be 
bothered to put it where it's meant to go.  Ideally everything should be 
in the home folder, rather than split across a locations.  Everything 
else - shortcuts, pseudo-icons could remain but only if handled by the 
system in an organised fashion ala Mac OS (drives and folders down RHS).

The mixing of shortcuts, files, and system icons is generally a bad idea 
as you don't know whats what largely.  Generally most desktops are just 
an ugly mess.

If you remove the desktop-as-a-junkstore paradigm that everyone always 
does because everyone's always done it it opens up many new 
opportunities for using the desktop as an actual interface rather than 
the reliance on toolbars.  It would also make a more intuitive system as 
you have more space to work with (as it will hide behind windows) so you 
are not constrained to 32px height restrictions.

You could have multiple icons for various things that would expand out 
when hovered or clicked such as home folder, drives, places, software 
etc.  You could shade all the controls or slide them out of the way when 
the desktop has no focus to prevent accidental clicks, and maybe slide 
the home folder out if someone does try to drag something to the desktop 
to make it obvious that's not where it goes.

I've done a quick mockup of what I think would improve on the GUI.  
Obviously it's not perfect but there may be some good ideas there.  With 
all the effort being spent on all the other areas of Ubuntu, more should 
be spent on the interface.


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