Widget Explorer usability problems

[Björn Ruberg]

> 1. Having to click 10 times via the end arrows  just to get to the end of
> the widgets is bad(Yes I know you can use the mouse wheel).
> 
> 2. Having to click 9 times just to get to the end of the category's filter
> end is bad.

I think the main problem is, that it is bad to having perhaps 40 widgets and 
perhaps just five displayed on the screen. I think adding an additional row (or 
column, depending on the orientation) would solve that. This may be omitted on 
low resolutions.

>> 6. An option is needed to remove running widgets.
>
>why? (and just to warn you, we've already been through this one; i have yet 
> to see any compelling reason to add this to the UI)
>
>> Do you expect users to edit their plasma
>> config just to remove widgets that cannot be removed via the normal
>> way?(yes it happens)
>
>can you give me the steps to reproduce, please? because it shouldn't happen. 
>that would be a bug. papering over one bug by diminishing other UI elements 
>isn't the best of solutions.

My steps to reproduce: Add an external monitor to your laptop and extend your 
desktop. Put widgets on the extended desktop. Then remove the external screen 
and move to somewhere, where you don't have one. Notice, that the widgets on 
the extended screen area are still running and eating CPU time. And now find a 
way to remove them. I don't know whether there is an other way than to remove 
them with the red minus in the widget explorer. I didn't find one.

> Here is a link to my old mockup design of which I didn't add categories or
>  a close button because it was in it's early stages.
> http://www.opendesktop.org/content/show.php/Plasma+-+Add+Widgets+Mockup?con
> tent=101423

Although your points are very valid, I don't like everything in your mockups. 
Adding those "+ Desktop" and "+ Panel" options would clutter the (at the 
moment) very clean UI. But I'm in favour for adding small icon that marks 
already running plasmoids.
 
> I understand it maybe too late to change such issues but the usability just
> let's the widget explorer down a lot. We already have bug reports about
> usability.

There is room for improvement, of course. But I see the new widget explorer as 
an step forward for having a consistend user experience. Just want to express 
my kudos to the developer.