Re: [desktop] why kde and gnome's menu situation sucks
Hi,
On Thu, Oct 24, 2002 at 06:39:58PM -0400, Luke Seubert wrote:
> Rather, I was just pointing out that there are going to be some types of
> computer users who literally don't know that Internet Explorer is a type of
> browser. (My stepmother comes to mind ;-)
>
> So even if we try to make the Debian Desktop menu layout as simple as
> possible for newbies, by using labeled apps in the menu such as "Web Browser
> (Galeon)", some of these totally ignorant types of users will STILL be
> confused.
>
> Frankly, for the total ignoramus like that, I don't think it is possible to
> design a simple and usable UI.
<LUSER'S ADVOCATE>
Well, a task description like "Surf the web" for $BROWSER should be
understandable for even the most clueless user, you could even dumb it down
further by using a common but wrong terminology: "Surf the Internet". That
one *is* going too far IMHO, but "Surf the web", "Check e-Mail", "Write a
letter" and "Write a book" _are_ easier than "Web browser" (what's a browser),
"Mail client" (a client? why should the user know? He may remain ignorant and
still use the computer successfully), "Word processor" (a processor? ugh)
and "WYSIWIM composition" (which would be LyX).
</LUSER'S ADVOCATE>
This level of debrainifying should only occur after the user has titled
herself as "absolute computer newbie". I don't even know why an expert
wouldn't want "easy" names except for two things: you can't search google for
"search the web" and find instructions on how to use mozilla; you can if the
app is named "Surf the web (Mozilla)" or "Mozilla Browser". And of course
the coolness factor, and honouring the original app name.
-Malte #8-)
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