A usable plasma desktop

[Steven]

I think you may have taken offense to the title. This was not intended as an
insult. Let  me explain why I chose it, and I'm sorry if any offense was
taken.

I am all for the concepts behind Plasma. I like the idea of organizing
files, programs, and tools needed for a task in an activity for easy and
logical access. (this is an oversimplification of one of the concepts, but
if it is wrong, please correct me) However, I find that plasma is holding
itself back by not committing to this.

For example, its hard to organize the files on the desktop. You have to make
the appropriate folders, make the appropriate folder views, then move the
files into these folders (or onto the folder views) and then, if you want to
also leave the file in the its original location so you can find it if you
forget its on your desktop, one or the other has to be a link, meaning that
you don't have full access to the file management tasks in one place or the
other. If folder views could reduce their reliance on the file system, then
setting this up could become a lot easier.

Its things like this where Plasma is holding on to an old outdated metaphor
that I think hold plasma back. Since my suggestion is to rethink how the
plasma desktop metaphor is managed in order to remove its reliance on
folders altogether, thus committing to the new metaphor, I thought this was
the right name for the topic. Again, I apologize if I offended you.


On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:42 PM, Steven <steven099 at gmail.com> wrote:

> You misunderstood me and insulted me when I was simply making a suggestion
> and looking for feedback. This is why many users feel alienated. My point
> was that the reliance of the folder view on the traditional file system is a
> hindrance, and that a second system, based on activities and logical
> groupings might be better. My suggestion that this structure reside in  the
> Desktop directory, and that it be browsable with a file manager is simply
> for interoperability with other desktop environments. Any method of
> smoothing migration to (and from) KDE4 would be good idea, as well as not
> breaking standards that, while outdated, are still being followed by the
> majority of other DE's.
>
> I also would like you feedback on the other parts of my suggestion, which
> would allow better interaction with the more liberal and logical structure
> I'm suggesting.
>
> If I'm way off, that I ask that you suggest something else, as, at the
> moment, there are unresolved useability bugs that need attention, as
> evidenced by the number of people looking forward to the folder view desktop
> as an alternative to the plasma desktop.
>
> My reply was originally going to be dripping with sarcasm as a retort to
> your rudeness. However, as that would have done little to futher
> constructive discussion, I chose not to. Please try to do the same yourself,
> and not alienate your users.
>
>
> 2008/12/14 Aaron J. Seigo <aseigo at kde.org>
>
>> On Sunday 14 December 2008, Steven wrote:
>> > A few usability bugs (okay, maybe only one, but I like exaggeration as
>> much
>>
>> oh, and let me just state that in deeply considering a shift in focus for
>> 4.2,
>> i was concerned that such drivel as this would be inspired by our work to
>> provide compatibility with people preconceived notions of a desktop.
>>
>> do not take our work to humbly submit to those broken ideas as a
>> ratification
>> of the long-outdated concepts that inspired them some 25 years ago.
>>
>> that is simply to keep people OFF our backs and to allow people to move
>> forward in a slow progression (as per my original statements some 2-3
>> years
>> ago on this matter), it isn't to trick us into falling back into the
>> stupid
>> mistakes of the last 15 years of client side computing.
>>
>> --
>> Aaron J. Seigo
>> humru othro a kohnu se
>> GPG Fingerprint: 8B8B 2209 0C6F 7C47 B1EA  EE75 D6B7 2EB1 A7F1 DB43
>>
>> KDE core developer sponsored by Qt Software
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
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