GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 171164
Better "Main Menu" applet
Last modified: 2020-11-07 12:26:40 UTC
The "Main Menu" applet, as it is, is visibly similar to the Win9x/2000 classic start menu. Not identical, but similar. I use the top-left applications/places/system menus, so this doesn't really affect me much; but I think the "Main Menu" could go with a redesign to match with the WinXP style a bit. I don't think we should chase MS; but you have to admit, the design of the WinXP start menu is pretty damn good. WinXP looks as follows: ----------------------------------------------- (I) User ----------------------------------------------- Pinned apps | My Documents | My Pictures -----------------------| My Music Recent apps | My Computer |----------------------- | Control Panel |----------------------- | Help and Support | Search -----------------------| Run... Programs > | ----------------------------------------------- (I) Log Off (I) Turn off computer I believe that Gnome should not clone this, as it could be more functional for Gnome, perhaps as below. ----------------------------------------------- (I) User ----------------------------------------------- Pinned apps | Home | Network | Favorite places > -----------------------| Computer Recent apps |----------------------- | Preferences > | Administration > |----------------------- | Help | Search for files... -----------------------| Run application... Applications > | ----------------------------------------------- (I) Lock screen (I) Log Out (I) Shutdown And of course, let apps be pinned in the Applications menu on the main menu. I think this would be great for Gnome as an optional setting of main menu; in all honesty, the interface is well designed. This interface offers a great productivity enhancement: Your most recent apps are cached in the interface so you can quickly get to them; and your most important apps can be pinned intentionally. I know I'd pin synaptic, and I prefer the regular menu bar :) Obviously separating "preferences" and "administration" allows users to quickly get to "Alter my settings" and "configure the system." In general, personal settings can be felt out in an exploratory manner, while administrative settings are things that you do when you know what you're doing. This separation is good, and is currently in the layout of the System menu. Home, Network, and Computer are obvious hot targets; while Favorite Places would be a good pop-out menu. Computer is at the bottom and Home is at the top above because neither of these should be burried, and Home is the most common to hit (i.e. My Documents). So, kudos, have fun with that. I think it'd be a great option. I hated the way the start menu was overclutterized in WinXP until I learned how to use it; so online training would be a great user aid. For example, Help on the main menu should take you directly to help explaining the main menu, leaving the user to use the search options etc from there. Call it "Automatic context help" or something, and allow the user to set that context to "random helpful help page" so it grabs other useful instructions, or something; but that'd be for another bug entry.
*** Bug 171167 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
My votes for this suggestion. It would greatly improve the Main Menu, especially the list of recently used applications and the ability to pin popular apps.
No other Windoze like feature. The worst is that this one is sure to be accepted while the Mac like global menubar one is by sure going to be rejected. Well I guess everyone here is a Windoze-head and a Mac-hater.
I vote for this too. Also a renaming of the administration to "System Settings" and Preferences to "Personal Preferences". Even though I've used Gnome for years I get confused over the rather generic terms.
(In reply to comment #3) > No other Windoze like feature. The worst is that this one is sure to be > accepted while the Mac like global menubar one is by sure going to be rejected. > Well I guess everyone here is a Windoze-head and a Mac-hater. > Listing the most recently (or most often) used applications has nothing to do with "Windoze" or any other operating system. It is about usability. So instead of adding irrelevant noise to a bug report, consider opposing the feature request for valid reasons next time.
I think that a list of recently used applications could be nice, this property is currently available in kicker, but I am a gnome user and I prefer use gnome-panel ;-) Thanks a lot :-)
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