A usable plasma desktop

[Steven]

Shoot! The title's supposed to be "Committing to a usable plasma desktop"! I
am very sorry.

On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 11:42 PM, Steven <steven099 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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 Its things like this where Plasma is holding on to an old outdated metaphor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 breaking standards that, while outdated, are still being followed by the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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Plasma-devel mailing list
>>> Plasma-devel at kde.org
>>> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/plasma-devel
>>>
>>>
>>
>
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