Add to panel dialog : icons size

[Matthew Paul Thomas]

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On May 6, 2006, at 3:56 AM, Manu Cornet wrote:
> ...
> The size of icons in the "Add to panel" dialog have changed during
> Dapper development, shrinking from 44 pixels wide (not a "standard"
> size) to 32 pixels wide (not a standard size either).
> ...
> * The problem with 32px icons is that they're scaled down from 48px 
> ones (AFAIK).
>
> * Bigger icons look very nice and don't occupy more space 
> horizontally, but they do force the user to do more vertical 
> scrolling.
>
> * 24px and 48px look nice and sharp (the theme actually ships those
> icons), but I find that 24px is really too small and others might 
> think 48px is too large.
>
> What do you guys think is the best compromise ?
> ...

In the short term, I suggest using 24px. The icons aren't useful enough 
for finding things to be worth a larger size, especially since several 
of the icons bear no resemblance to their respective panel items (e.g. 
Clock, Stock Ticker, Volume Control, Menu Bar).

In the medium term, I suggest using a normal list -- like Nautilus's 
list view -- instead of the current two-dimensional one. This would 
make the whole window more compact, and would markedly reduce the 
effect of each character-by-character set of search results looking 
like a completely different collection from the previous one.

In the long term, I suggest replacing the "Add to Panel" dialog with 
"Show {x} status in the panel" checkboxes in the relevant preferences 
windows. "I want to put stuff in the panel" is not a realistic goal. 
"I'm having to open *this* window frequently, it would be nice if I 
could use a menu to make these changes instead" is a realistic goal.

Cheers
- -- 
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/
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