Feature request: browsing filesystem in gnome "computer" menu

[Lorenzo E. Danielsson]

On Thu, 2004-11-18 at 23:34 -0500, Diego Andrés Asenjo González wrote:
> Hi again!
> > > > > If it takes two hands just to open a silly folder, someone needs to
> > > > > rethink the term "usability."
> > > I agree.
> > > >
> > > > Use double-middle-click, then ;)
> > 
> > I think you are ignoring the discussion. Left click opens a folder in a
> > new window, which is the default behavior. People who want to open a
> > folder and automatically close the previous one, can use middle-click as
> > a shortcut or left-click to open new window and then left-click on the
> > close button in the upper right corner of the previous window.
> Sorry if I'm ignoring something. I just think that an average user is
> not going to "discover" the action produced by the middle button, and
> can be so disturbed by many windows if has to open a long path in the
> directory structure.

I see that more as a documentation problem. Gnome has chosen to work in
a certain way. They should document it well, so that new users don't are
made aware of how it works. 

> > > Sadly, Windows and the file explorer in "browse mode" are another
> > > defacto standard. Im not a Windows user, I don't like Windows. I just
> > > want to have a "usable"  Linux desktop. Just make it deafult browser,
> > > and leave the spatial configuration at four clicks of distance.
> > 
> > The desktop is usable. Browsing in windows IS NOT A DEFAULT ACTION!!! If
> > you left click on My Computer icon in win2k or XP, you get a window with
> > icons, similar to spatial nautilus. Now, that window is reuasble unless
> > you change the preferences, but it doesn't have a tree pain, unless you
> > right click and choose "Explore" from context menu. Ubuntu desktop is
> > "usable". Although it has usability bugs, this is NOT one of them.
> I cant remember, I didn't have use winXP, but the default file
> explorer action is browsing. I think that Ubuntu desktop is possibly
> the most usable in the free world, but the spatial mode broke the
> paradigms of exploring the file system.
> > > The 95% of the people are used to the browser mode. If the 5% like the
> > > spatial mode .. make it easy configurable for them.
> > 
> > 1. Where did you get the numbers? I would like a reference.
> I heard about the 95-98% of the PC's have Windows. Sorry, I didn't
> find a reference.

Even if that is the case, is that *really* an argument for changing a
behavior? I'm not convinced.

> > 2. Who says most people are used to browser mode?
> Is the "default" mode in Windows.
> > > The 95% of the people are used to the browser mode. If the 5% like the
> > > spatial mode .. make it easy configurable for them.
> > 
> > We have a choice. Either we can produce a piece of software that acts as
> > much like Windows as possible, or we can produce a piece of software
> > that we believe is better. The argument for the first of these is that
> > it lowers the transition cost. But lowering the transition cost is
> > worthless unless we also provide something that is compellingly
> > technically better. And being better is inconsistent with being as
> > similar to Windows as possible.
> I agree with the general idea. I think we must try to be technically
> better than Windows or any other Desktop OS. But I don't think that
> are strong arguments to decide which mode is technically better.
> Simply, browse mode is most used.

So we should simply be "a better Windows than Windows"? Sorry, but IBM
did that years ago with OS/2.

> > We should not try to be good enough. We should not try to be a bit
> > better. We should try to be as good as possible. This will reduce
> > short-term uptake, but increase long-term uptake. And, fundamentally,
> > the long-term argument is more important.
> I agree.
> > > It could be.
> > > I just don't want that good programmers like you spend time discusing
> > > about a little feature of Nautilus for a week.
> >
> > On this point, I heartily agree with you, I think that this thread is
> > about 4-5 times longer than it ever should have gotten.
> I'm a newbie. I just want to contribute. Let finish the thread. There
> is enough illustration about the theme.

What, without giving anybody the chance to reply?? ;-)

++Lorenzo;

> Long life to Free Software!!!
>