Deskbar and Beos start button suggestion

1

I suggest you to not put reduced windows at bottom of the start button like in Haiku’s demo, but putting them on the top left corner on screen and other new reduced windows will be added at right side. Example of that screen :

|first_reduced_window||2nd_window||3rd_____| |BeOs_start|
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icon1 |
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icon2 |
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icon3 |
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And of course a deskbar will not be needed in this case yet, because reduced windows, are the deskbar !

I know, the project has no graphical screen on this moment, but i think its a good idea for make Haiku’s desktop different.

2

I’m afraid that not only is it not unique, there aren’t really any functionality gains to be had with such a layout. Hopefully the developers would focus on solving the Deskbar’s limitations with R2 and I believe this can do just that.

Prog.

3

That sounds like you dragged the Deskbar to the top of the screen, but want the button to be on the right, rather than left. I don’t see how this would be a huge improvement and if it required a great deal of modification I would vote against spending the time to do it.
I love the Deskbar box and don’t want it to resemble Windowsâ„¢. I do wish, though, that when it is in its default, upper-right position that the arrows on the menus pointed in the direction which the sub-menu would open. Pointing to the right and then opening to the left is just weird.

4
h_ank wrote:
I love the Deskbar box and don't want it to resemble Windowsâ„¢.

It does have a couple shortcomings though:

  1. Two clicks are required to open a window. There is an alternative mode that gets away with one click (forgot the name), but it’s awkward to use.
  2. The upper position of the Deskbar commonly hides windows, or is hidden by them - depending on Always-on-top setting.

Something better is needed, and it doesn’t have to be a complete Taskbar clone. See the other thread for more.

Prog.

5

Perhaps then it should be updated with something similar to:
a) Jump to top when cursor hits the screen edge by the Deskbar.
b) Switch to app on first click when one application window is open.
c) Artificially Intelligent dæmon providing Do-What-I-Want-Not-What-I-Say technology to correct for poorly aimed clicks.

I really need number C myself.

6
h_ank wrote:
a) Jump to top when cursor hits the screen edge by the Deskbar.

I don’t mind hiding, but I hate mouse-activated auto-hiding (like in Windows). Why swing the mouse all the way to the edge of the screen just to get the Deskbar to pop? I much prefer keyboard shortcuts (almost like in OS X, except the “hidden” position of the Dock can also be de-activated using the mouse. Apple should have kept it keyboard-only).

Quote:
b) Switch to app on first click when one application window is open.

This can be a nice improvement to the existing Deskbar, but I prefer a more extensive change, one that really makes it easy to switch between many applications and windows.

Quote:
c) Artificially Intelligent dæmon providing Do-What-I-Want-Not-What-I-Say technology to correct for poorly aimed clicks.

That’s interesting. What kind of logic do you suggest this daemon to have? What problems do you think it will solve?

Prog.

7
Prognathous wrote:
h_ank wrote:
a) Jump to top when cursor hits the screen edge by the Deskbar.

I don’t mind hiding, but I hate mouse-activated auto-hiding (like in Windows). Why swing the mouse all the way to the edge of the screen just to get the Deskbar to pop? I much prefer keyboard shortcuts (almost like in OS X, except the “hidden” position of the Dock can also be de-activated using the mouse. Apple should have kept it keyboard-only).

Well the mouse would have to be over there to select which app you want anyway. I guess the keyboard shortcut shows the dock and moves the mouse over there. But if your hand happens to be on the mouse, it’s easy to hit a screen edge (that’s someone’s law…) and quite a small movement if your mouse speed is set reasonably high.

Edit - I agree it’s annoying when it pops up when you don’t want it to, just because your mouse is in the right area. Either a click on the edge or a keyboard shortcut should be used to get it to pop.

Quote:
Quote:
c) Artificially Intelligent dæmon providing Do-What-I-Want-Not-What-I-Say technology to correct for poorly aimed clicks.

That’s interesting. What kind of logic do you suggest this daemon to have? What problems do you think it will solve?

I asume h_ank was joking on that one!

Simon