unity-design team mailing list archive

[Ian Santopietro <isantop@xxxxxxxxx>]

Directory based navigation is a bad concept for modern computing. Not even
Windows is holding on to that in Windows 8. Users don't care about folders
or files. They only want to interact with data.

The number of clicks in this case is completely irrelevant. If the user is
in a hurry, they will know what they want and use search or a launcher
shortcut. If they want to browse through the applications installed, then
the number of clicks doesn't matter. They aren't in a hurry to get work
done, and individual clicks aren't hard or time consuming in this scenario.
On Feb 25, 2012 10:37 AM, "Adrian Maier" <syraxes@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 17:52, Jo-Erlend Schinstad
> <joerlend.schinstad@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > On 25. feb. 2012 16:38, Adrian Maier wrote:
> >>
> >> There is a possibility to browse by categories. I know that you know
> this.
> >> Perhaps you should explain why Windows' way of doing it is better?
> >> Because they've found a way to add an improvement (search applications
> >> by name)  without removing the traditional folder-based navigation of
> >> "All Programs" .
> >
> > Yes, but you're still not explaining why that would be better.
>
> I don't think it's possible to convince you about that.
>
> >> It isn't missing. It works a little bit different than what you're used
> >> to,
> >> but it does exist.
> >> Michael Hall was saying that the Dash is designed for searching , not
> >> for browsing the applications.   This explains why it's not the
> >> feature that i was looking for.
> >>
> >> But you are the one who told me that in order to get a classic-looking
> >> apps menu  it's possible to load the gnome panel   !
> >>
> >> Therefore  :   in Unity itself there is no component designed/intended
> >> to act as a category-based browser .
> >
> > We have that. Just used filters. The preferred way of launching stuff is
> not
> > to browse for them, but to quickly launch them using either the list of
> > frequent applications or to search. But browsing by category is certainly
> > possible.
>
> It's possible , but not comfortable .  Using the filters requires too
> much clicking  (see below) .
>
>
> >>>> The first step would be to see that the need for such a feature is at
> >>>> least acknowledged.
> >>>
> >>> Then you have to be more convincing. So far, you've claimed that it is
> >>> required, but I don't think you've explained why.  To me, it sounds as
> if
> >>> you
> >>> want to change the behavior because you're not used to it.
> >>
> >> Please enlighten me :  from your point of view the feature is already
> >> there ,  or you want me to demonstrate why should it be introduced ?
> >
> > You open the applications lens and then choose the category you want. I
> > don't really understand the problem, which is why I keep asking you for
> an
> > explanation. But you don't provide any.
>
>
> The problem is the high number of clicks needed to have the job done :
> -  click on dash ,
> -  click on "search applications" ,
> -  click on "Filters"  ,
> -  click on "Local Apps" ,
> -  click on "Games" ,
> -  click on "see more results"
> After doing all those clicks I am finally getting the complete list of
> Games.  Clicking 6 times for seeing all the installed Games is way too
> much.
>
> If I want to move to another category it's necessary to click 2 times :
> - click on  "Games"  to unselect it
> - click on  "Internet"
>
> Therefore I tend to agree with the people who mentioned that the Dash
> is designed for search , not for apps navigation in directory-style .
> Navigation inside the Dash could be improved a bit if the changes
> mentioned by Omar were implemented.
>
>
>
> By the way :    i have also tried it "the Unity way " .
> - press Super  , to open the dash
> - type "games"
> - it shows me only "Aisleriot Solitaire "
>
> - if i type "game"
> - it shows me 2 games :  "Aisleriot Solitaire " and "Freecell Solitaire"
>
> Actually there are 2 more games installed : Mahjongg and Minesweeper.
> Not impressed at all about these search results.  Hopefully this is
> just a bug in the 12.04 beta .
>
>
> >> The feature needs to exist before discussing whether it should be the
> >> default  or not .
> >>
> >> But anyway I am not asking any changes of the defaults.
> >>
> > It isn't obvious what "the feature" means. This is the Unity Design list,
> > though. It's perfectly possible to make all kinds of different
> third-party
> > programs, but that doesn't really belong on this list, I think.
>
> "the feature" =  navigate applications in a directory-style  in an
> easy, comfortable  way .
>
> By easy I mean :  no unnecessary clicks,    and possibility to go from
> one category to another   with at most 1 click  (preferably 0 clicks :
> mouse hover) .
>
> It can be a classic apps menu ,    or can be an improved Dash ,   or
> can be some new fancy-looking categories browser that allows easy
> navigation .
>
>
> This discussion belongs here,  because in principle a designer might
> be curious to hear about specific aspects that makes some user(s)
> unhappy .
>
>
> >> Especially now after trying the
> >> https://launchpad.net/classicmenu-indicator .  It provides me what I
> >> was missing , and it's not even necessary to use the gnome panel.
> >> Hopefully this package will be available in the real repositories
> >> someday    (now it's in ppa).
> >
> > I personally think that's not the right place for it, since it doesn't
> > indicate anything.
>
> It indicates that I no longer intend to spend too much energy with
> discussing on this topic .
>
> >From my point of view the issue is solved :   now I am aware about
> several possibilities that will allow me to happily use Unity without
> cursing every 5 minutes .
>
>
>
> --
> Adrian M
>
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