Package:  panel
Severity: critical
Version:  1.2.0
Synopsis: Explicit hiding and auto hiding
Class:    change-request

Distribution: Red Hat Linux release 6.2 (Zoot)
System: Linux 2.2.16pre7 i586 unknown
C library: glibc-2.1.3-15
C compiler: egcs-2.91.66
glib: 1.2.8
GTK+: 1.2.8
ORBit: ORBit 0.5.1
gnome-libs: gnome-libs 1.2.1
libxml: 1.8.7
gnome-print: gnome-print-0.20
gnome-core: gnome-core 1.2.0


Description:
Try hiding a panel explicitly and then try making it autohide. Why don't
the two hiding methods hide the panel in the same way?

When autohiding is enabled, it hides in just the same way as the taskbar
in windows. This is a bad idea for several reasons. I'll just quote from
www.asktog.com (more specifically
http://www.asktog.com/columns/022DesignedToGiveFitts.html):

Question 4:

Microsoft offers a Taskbar which can be oriented along the top, side or
bottom of the screen, enabling users to get to hidden windows and
applications. This Taskbar may either be hidden or constantly displayed.
Describe at least two reasons why the method of triggering an
auto-hidden Microsoft Taskbar is grossly inefficient.

A.Screen edges are prime real estate. You don't waste an entire edge
that could be housing a couple of dozen different fast-access icons just
for one object, the Taskbar. 
B.The auto-hidden Taskbar is entirely too easy to display by accident.
Users are constantly triggering it when trying to access something that
is close to, but not at, the edge.
C.The Taskbar would not have any of these problems, yet be even quicker
to get to if it were located at any one of four corners of the display.
Throw the mouse up and to the left, for example, and you'll have a
taskbar displayed. Fast access without the false triggering.

If the above doesn't convince you, then at least do consistency a
favoer, and include it as an option. You could of course just wait until
my exams are over, and then I'll gladly take a look at it. Can anyone
point me in the right direction?




------- Bug moved to this database by debbugs-export@bugzilla.gnome.org 2001-01-27 13:11 -------
This bug was previously known as bug 13155 at http://bugs.gnome.org/
http://bugs.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=13155
Originally filed under the gnome-core product and panel component.

Unknown version 1.2.x in product gnome-core. Setting version to the default, "unspecified".
The original reporter (maxx@daimi.au.dk) of this bug does not have an account here.
Reassigning to the exporter, debbugs-export@bugzilla.gnome.org.
Reassigning to the default owner of the component, panel-maint@bugzilla.gnome.org.