On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:41:34 +0100 Dave Briggs briggs.dave@gmail.com wrote:
Hi all, I am new-ish.
I still haven't found a GUI which I find intuitive. One of the problems with the current Windows system, and which is copied by KDE and Gnome, is the 'Start' menu system for loading programs. I hate it. It's better in KDE, where onmy set up all the applications are organised by type making it much easier to find stuff. But it is still a pain.
There is also, for me, an illogicality between using a 'Start' type menu, and the desktop - i.e. one being for apps and one for files (roughly). I just don't think this makes sense. Windows compounds this further of course by having a third environment - the Explorer.
I'm not sure what my ideal GUI would have. Probably Desktop-only, with a folder with applications on it, and one for files. Perhaps a floating toolbar with regularly used apps and the time and stuff on it, but even that might be making things too complicated!
Anyone else care to describe (as much as they can) their ideal GUI?
That description sounds very much like IBM's OS/2 to me. I used to find it much more intuitive than Windows back in the 3.x days, and 95 didn't really do anything to improve the situation. As you say, KDE and Gnome seem to be trying very hard to 'out Windows Windows', which may be great for migrating users, but one of the reasons I don't like Windows is the interface! I've always been out of sync though. When I first looked at Windows back when I was upgrading from an old 8 bit Amstrad CPC6128 and compared it with the Amiga I decided that Windows was a toy and not fit for serious work, whereas the Amiga with multitasking and a sensible desktop setup was a far more professional computer - hence I bought one and used it for WP, database, and DTP :-)
My personal setup is based on XFCE4, which comes pretty close to your description, although I've not looked into the desktop folders side of things having pretty much left the GUI for web browsing, DTP and office apps, leaving file manipulation, mail, etc. to the CLI. I suspect if I found a nice file manager that worked like the old OS/2 one I may start working with the GUI for some things again, but I've not found one that suits yet. Nautilus looks/looked promising, but like Konqueror it is committing the (Windows) sin (well, for me anyway) of trying to integrate the file manager with the web browser. It also depends very heavily on a whole batch of Gnome libraries - which is why I'm not installing Evolution either (although saying that, perhaps if there are more apps like that I ought to take a look!!!).
Personally I spend most time in either a web browser or the CLI, so a GUI is for launching apps (mainly lots of terminals!). I used to use Enlightenment and I still haven't got my desktop menus setup properly on XFCE (I used to have my main apps available for a click on the desktop bringing up a menu). A file manager would be nice, if I can find a decent one that works like OS/2. Multiple desktops is a must, as is mouse over focus (because I am forever wanting to type into the window in the background for various reasons).
Now I probably ought to go back and read the beginning of this thread instead of diving into the middle. :-)