unity-design team mailing list archive

[Thorsten Wilms <t_w_@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On 02/25/2012 10:03 PM, Jo-Erlend Schinstad wrote:
> > Each added step reduces the likelihood that a user becomes aware and
> > sure of the functionality and completes the task. Setting a "Filter"
> > does not fit well into a browsing approach.
> Can you explain what? Is it the name "filter" you react to, or selecting
> categories? Because you do that in Gnome menubar as well, when you
> select Applications > Internet for instance.
Yes, there's similarity in that you select Categories, be it as filter 
or menu. You already mentioned one of the differences, but let me try to 
make a complete list.
What is different with using Filters in the Dash from using a menu with 
sub-menus per category?
- Initially, there is no category selected
- Initially, categories are invisible
- Category selection is not exclusive, but additive (though not in 11.10)
- Category selection happens in a dedicated area, there is no similarity 
in the representation of categories and items
All of this works against perceiving and using categories as part of a 
browsing strategy. Conceptually, the filters are an addition to the 
Search approach.

> If you don't know what you're looking for, then you should use the Ubuntu
> Software Center.
For finding and starting an application, the Software Center is not well 
suited. It's startup time makes it seem ridiculous, when compared to the 
application menu we had.

--
Thorsten Wilms

thorwil's design for free software:
http://thorwil.wordpress.com/