Where things should be in the menus. What's an app, what's system?

[Neil Woolford]

Hi,

Just looking at the Ubuntu default menus on the top panel.

It does seem a little odd to me that the 'system tools' are under 
'Applications' rather than 'Computer', and that on the other hand, 'Recent 
Documents' is under 'Computer'.

My mental model of the two named dropdowns is that the 'Applications' one 
should hold the things that I use when I want the computer to be 
transparent (ie "Just Work") when running my applications and managing 
documents;  'Computer' should be for the things I use when I'm working on 
the machine and the way it behaves.

'Applications' should deal with 'user' needs like "Where's the  spreadsheet 
I was just working on?" or "How do I start the Wordprocessor?".

'Computer' should deal with 'administration' needs like "How do I format a 
floppy?", "Is it mounted?" and "Give me root access now - I want to get 
down and dirty with the spanners!"  (Maybe I'd better go and lie down...)

Neil

PS  I do greatly appreciate the aim of producing a simple desktop for real 
users.  So many distros give you the kitchen sink in the default 
menus;  not helpful to anyone.




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