Hi <div>2007/11/6, jmak <<a href="mailto:jozmak@gmail.com">jozmak@gmail.com</a>>:<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Hello all, It is time again to get some brainstorming about the next xubuntu release, as it relates to graphic issues. Probably, some of you already know that the ubuntu people are planning RAAAAADICAL changes in ubuntu's look and feel, which involves as they said "radically change the artwork and the theming behind the entire desktop from boot all the way through to logout." The art mailing list has become very busy and interesting ideas are flying around once again; it seems, the changes will affect theming and the current color scheme; they want to implement new theming engine (contemplating using murrina, hey, we are ahead of them), a brand new set of icons, and a completely redesigned boot splash. In this spirit of radicalness let me propose a few ideas relating to xubuntu next release. The most radical among these would be the suggestion of changing the current gnome layout back to the original xfce layout. This is why. The two panels layout is a usability disaster for older machines with small monitor size. It doesn't optimize but rather restricts the availability of valuable screen-space. The two oversized panels simply takes up too much precious screen estate that users of older computers would like to utilize to the fullest. Furthermore, copying the gnome layout prevents xubuntu to develop a healthy personality, which is a fundamental requirement for a brand. It is like in real life, you are original when you are yourself, as soon as you try to imitate someone else you become a fake. In addition, the traditional layout is much more pleasing, but this is a matter of preference. It is my experience that new users, when they have choices, always prefer the traditional layout to the gnome mimic.</blockquote><div> Cool, this has always been the first thing I did after a new installation of Xubuntu. I really like the idea to have a layout that looks different from GNOME and KDE. Although the themes seen on the two flickr links you posted would be really cool for Xubuntu, too! </div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Here is a mockup; it shows the way, I envision the visual appearance of our next release . <a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu/Artwork/Gutsy/Incoming">https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu/Artwork/Gutsy/Incoming</a></blockquote><div> This is probably a personal thing, but I always prefer less application launchers in the panel, but I need a Task List (with small buttons that form 2 rows. You can see what I mean here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27884138@N00/1899925082/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/27884138@N00/1899925082/</a> ). </div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Notice the themed panel. It is medium gray, from the usability point of view make more sense than using the contrasty white. It provides a more appropriate background for the application launchers. As the ubuntu people said, Hardy would be all about polish and usability. In the spirit of the above, I am proposing the following items to be considered for xubuntu Hardy. Some of the proposals require subtle fine-tunings but they are necessary to develop a consistent and polished look and feel. The list. 1) Let's go back to the original xfce panel layout. 2) Let's theme the panel 3) Add new icon theme-NuoveXT, the one we already agreed upon during feisty phase. 4) Take out the icon label backgrounds. They are distracting and are usability anomalies. And ugly too. 5) New gdm. 6) New usplash--let see how is the new usplash re-write program will affect the artworks' parameters. 7) New wallpaper 8) Keep the current murrina theme for the time being; however, if the ubuntu people come up with better ones we might consider switching. Look at some of the ubuntu proposals below, they are really great.</blockquote><div> Yes they are great! </div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> 9) Customize the Gimp splash screen like ubuntu developers are planning. I already suggested this a couple of releases ago but then it was ignored. I still have the artwork, which can be implemented now. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29906893@N00/382776017/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/29906893@N00/382776017/</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29906893@N00/382776020/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/29906893@N00/382776020/in/photostream/</a> Any thoughts? </blockquote><div> Thanks for this great distribution! </div> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">jmak -- <a href="http://jozmak.blogspot.com/"> http://jozmak.blogspot.com/</a> -- xubuntu-devel mailing list <a href="mailto:xubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com">xubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com</a> <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel"> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel</a> </blockquote></div>