unity-design team mailing list archive

[Nikita Kitaev <nikitakit@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've been lurking on the list, and my interpretation of this thread is
that "dodge windows" was removed because it had bad behavior when
maximizing windows. But I haven't noticed much discussion about
potentially fixing maximization problems while retaining the feature.
Have there been any more thoughts about this?

For one, in Oneiric a small fraction of the time the launcher doesn't
disappear until about a second after a window maximizes. I have enough
time to read a couple words of the document I maximized, and then it
looks like the launcher randomly decides to go away. Could it be that
this bug (at least I believe it's a bug) is partly responsible for
confusing people?

I've tried to think of ways for the UI to let the user know what
caused the launcher to hide, and how to unhide it. These are just
rough ideas, I can't say anything about implementation details or
whether they would work in practice.
1. When a user maximizes an application, hide the launcher before
maximizing the window, not simultaneously. (That way it feels like the
user's click is directly responsible for hiding the launcher, not a
decision by the OS.)
3. When clicking a launcher icon starts an application in maximized
mode, hide the launcher only once the mouse leaves the launcher area.
3. When clicking a link on the desktop starts an application in
maximized mode, hide the launcher before drawing the application
window.

Just my 2 cents.
~Nikita

On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 9:33 AM, Petko <pditchev@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On 02/08/2012 07:01 PM, svelanka@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> "I'm trying to coach you to step back and think about the thing you are
> proposing in the broader context of a complex system that new users have to
> feel excited and liberated by. You're asking to make one piece of that
> harder. I'm asking which OTHER piece you propose to make simpler, to retain
> balance."
>
> I am not quite sure I understand, so at the risk of sounding dumb I'll just
> ask. Ubuntu is a coherent system with a certain amount of system and user
> facing choices. Like a racing car say. Now certain subsystems like the
> engine are more complicated than say the seat cushions. I am assuming by the
> amount of discussion and the amount of testing done on this issue, window
> management is complicated subsystem. If the user is a beginner then there
> isn't a reason that he/she should have access to the complicated subsystems,
> much in the same way my old Toyota Corolla doesn't let me control the
> firmness of my suspension. But if the user is more experienced then not
> having access to subsystems is more than irritating, its surely akin to not
> having an easy traction control on a powerful car. Isn't Ubuntu a powerful
> car? I get that a hard riding supercar with no radio is not appealing to
> most people, but having a  comfortable ride that you can quickly take to
> track day is appealing to a lot of people isn't it? Abandoning the metaphor,
> how does the adding control of something the user has to touch everyday, and
> leaving that easily configurable disrupt the overall harmony or Zen of the
> system? Surely each subsystem should be allowed to fluctuate on the number
> of options the user gets to tweak?
>
> I apologize if that sounds dumb.
>
>  It doesn't sound dumb , but the problem is not if it is useful , it's a bit
> more complex . Each new option gives more space for confusion when a new
> user gets a hands-on . And it's not just about this particular option . The
> fact is there are a lot of similar options , that want to get integrated and
> would be useful , but compromises have to be made in order to make a very
> usable system. That's why the discussion's so long - this option is one of
> those expensive additions to the settings . I think it's worth it , Mark -
> not so much :D .
>
> P.S: I like Evans idea to animate hide and show on clicking the dodge option
> .
>
> Petko
>
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