Comments on: Auto-Workspaces http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126 Even a stopped clock gives a right time twice a day. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:58:31 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Adoa http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-69866 Adoa Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:55:18 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-69866 Just like Fred Warren, I also have a mental map of where my applications are. I use a 3x3 field of nine desktops, but the basic principle is the same. Is it such a big issue to add an option to manually manage the virtual desktops? Does it contradict the design principles? (No I have not read them.) With manual desktop settings I would honestly consider to use Gnome Shell. Automatic desktop management confuses me, as I am used to switch desktops by keyboard. Opening the Dash just to see the desktops and the applications on them before switching desktops is one step too much in my opinion. Just like Fred Warren, I also have a mental map of where my applications are. I use a 3×3 field of nine desktops, but the basic principle is the same.

Is it such a big issue to add an option to manually manage the virtual desktops? Does it contradict the design principles? (No I have not read them.)

With manual desktop settings I would honestly consider to use Gnome Shell. Automatic desktop management confuses me, as I am used to switch desktops by keyboard. Opening the Dash just to see the desktops and the applications on them before switching desktops is one step too much in my opinion.

]]> By: Rok http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-69639 Rok Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:14:23 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-69639 I have to agree with nova, I actually have to do more to go to another workspace application. It is not friendly, especially if you are a developer and have a lot of applications open and organized on different workspaces. I have to agree with nova, I actually have to do more to go to another workspace application. It is not friendly, especially if you are a developer and have a lot of applications open and organized on different workspaces.

]]> By: nova http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-65613 nova Tue, 17 May 2011 19:21:30 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-65613 I have to add before anymore comments arrive. Gnome 3 looks great. Yes there are some annoying things, although there are many changes that make the annoyances worth putting up with. I'm adapting and my workflow is starting to flow nicely. A lot of time and effort has gone into Gnome 3. I have to add before anymore comments arrive. Gnome 3 looks great. Yes there are some annoying things, although there are many changes that make the annoyances worth putting up with. I’m adapting and my workflow is starting to flow nicely. A lot of time and effort has gone into Gnome 3.

]]> By: nova http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-65598 nova Tue, 17 May 2011 17:02:20 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-65598 In conjunction with Fred Warren on Virtual Desktops I am wondering why there are now more movements to access another virtual desktop. For example there are now four movements. 1. Move mouse to top left corner. 2. Move mouse to the right of screen to virtual desktop/Activity of choice. 3. Click on that virtual desktop/Activity. 4. Click on the running program to be able to use it. In the previous Gnome setup it was three not four movements. More is less? In conjunction with Fred Warren on Virtual Desktops I am wondering why there are now more movements to access another virtual desktop. For example there are now four movements. 1. Move mouse to top left corner. 2. Move mouse to the right of screen to virtual desktop/Activity of choice. 3. Click on that virtual desktop/Activity. 4. Click on the running program to be able to use it. In the previous Gnome setup it was three not four movements. More is less?

]]> By: Fred Warren http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-62387 Fred Warren Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:21:53 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-62387 I have been a virtual desktop user for a long time so I fell qualified to discuss how I use virtual desktops. One problem I am having with the new Workspace metaphor is how it challenges my spatial view of Virtual Desktops. Even though I have used Enlightenment, I still tend to think of my virtual desktops running horizontally from left to right, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. I also have a workflow where my web browser and email is on desktop 1, VirutalBox/Vmware goes on desktop 2, desktop 3 is where something like the gimp would go, but I tend to leave it open, and desktop 4 is for "sluff". For the most part I live on desktop 1 with an alt-ctrl-left to 4, then back with alt-ctrl-right. Then a quick alt-ctrl-right to check on desktop 2 and alt-ctrl-left back to 1. I can clearly visualize in my mind where my desktops are and what is on each of them. Much in the same way most users are aware of the spatial location of the icons they have on their desktop. Move their icons around and they are lost. In their mental map they expect certain icons to be in certain locations. The recent changes in the Gnome 3 shell break that relationship for me. At this point I don't know if this is good, bad, or just different. It will create a different workflow for me that is sure. In that now I have to think of these desktops in a vertical row, not horizontal. Proof I have to think that way is ctrl-alt-left/right no longer work, now it is crtl-alt-up/down. I have also noticed that if I have 3 desktops and I move the only window on desktop 1 to desktop 3, desktop 1 goes away, desktop 2 becomes desktop 1 and desktop 3 becomes desktop 2. Often times I have used devilspie to have applications show up on the desktop of my choice. It looks like that will not work here. I am not sure if these desktops are considered "workspaces" by devils pie or not, and what happens to the numbering as they shift, move and are deleted. With these changes I can no longer think of things "across" my workspaces, but instead must thing of them being "stacked" and I can no longer rely on where things are at. Yes, Gnome Shell is doing all of the heavy lifting for me, much like an automatic transmissions. However, I am used to driving stick and know how to take advantage of driving stick. This change democratizes Virtual Desktops. Users no longer need to learn how to drive stick, they now have an automatic transmission. While empowering those folks, it steals away the power for those that really know how to work a manual transmission. I have been a virtual desktop user for a long time so I fell qualified to discuss how I use virtual desktops. One problem I am having with the new Workspace metaphor is how it challenges my spatial view of Virtual Desktops. Even though I have used Enlightenment, I still tend to think of my virtual desktops running horizontally from left to right, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. I also have a workflow where my web browser and email is on desktop 1, VirutalBox/Vmware goes on desktop 2, desktop 3 is where something like the gimp would go, but I tend to leave it open, and desktop 4 is for “sluff”.

For the most part I live on desktop 1 with an alt-ctrl-left to 4, then back with alt-ctrl-right. Then a quick alt-ctrl-right to check on desktop 2 and alt-ctrl-left back to 1. I can clearly visualize in my mind where my desktops are and what is on each of them. Much in the same way most users are aware of the spatial location of the icons they have on their desktop. Move their icons around and they are lost. In their mental map they expect certain icons to be in certain locations.

The recent changes in the Gnome 3 shell break that relationship for me. At this point I don’t know if this is good, bad, or just different. It will create a different workflow for me that is sure. In that now I have to think of these desktops in a vertical row, not horizontal. Proof I have to think that way is ctrl-alt-left/right no longer work, now it is crtl-alt-up/down.

I have also noticed that if I have 3 desktops and I move the only window on desktop 1 to desktop 3, desktop 1 goes away, desktop 2 becomes desktop 1 and desktop 3 becomes desktop 2. Often times I have used devilspie to have applications show up on the desktop of my choice. It looks like that will not work here. I am not sure if these desktops are considered “workspaces” by devils pie or not, and what happens to the numbering as they shift, move and are deleted.

With these changes I can no longer think of things “across” my workspaces, but instead must thing of them being “stacked” and I can no longer rely on where things are at. Yes, Gnome Shell is doing all of the heavy lifting for me, much like an automatic transmissions. However, I am used to driving stick and know how to take advantage of driving stick. This change democratizes Virtual Desktops. Users no longer need to learn how to drive stick, they now have an automatic transmission. While empowering those folks, it steals away the power for those that really know how to work a manual transmission.

]]> By: Alan Knowles http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-61473 Alan Knowles Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:16:07 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-61473 hate to add a 'me too' tag to @Adam Williamson comment. The new design looks really nice, but shell has always design issues with dual heads, I'm not sure you could do a single design that work work for single and dual heads. I suspect the only solution is a rather different look for that scenario. Anyway great work. hate to add a ‘me too’ tag to @Adam Williamson comment.

The new design looks really nice, but shell has always design issues with dual heads, I’m not sure you could do a single design that work work for single and dual heads. I suspect the only solution is a rather different look for that scenario.

Anyway great work.

]]> By: Ayhan Binici http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-60953 Ayhan Binici Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:01:52 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-60953 @jimmac Like a couple of others have mentioned, I too like the tiled overview of the workspaces. This was really a big advancement from expo-view in Compiz. In my opinion the latest design introduces two issues for the daily work in Gnome Shell: 1. Long distance, when having to drag from left edge to the right edge of the screen. 2. No immediate workspace overview when switching to the activities overview. The former design did not have these drawbacks. I really hope that you will give the users the option to switch between the tile overview and the new workspace panel at the right. Other than that, I really like the progress of Gnome Shell :) @jimmac

Like a couple of others have mentioned, I too like the tiled overview of the workspaces. This was really a big advancement from expo-view in Compiz.

In my opinion the latest design introduces two issues for the daily work in Gnome Shell:

1. Long distance, when having to drag from left edge to the right edge of the screen.
2. No immediate workspace overview when switching to the activities overview.

The former design did not have these drawbacks.

I really hope that you will give the users the option to switch between the tile overview and the new workspace panel at the right.

Other than that, I really like the progress of Gnome Shell :)

]]> By: Mike http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-60716 Mike Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:39:37 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-60716 I'll also point out that this might make it fairly easy to launch applications to different workspaces via keyboard. I’ll also point out that this might make it fairly easy to launch applications to different workspaces via keyboard.

]]> By: Mike http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-60715 Mike Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:37:14 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-60715 Wouldn't it make more sense to just have a workspace indicator 'slide out' from the application dock when hovering over it? The workspaces could be aligned horizontally so that an empty workspace is closest to the application icon (less movement), and the used workspaces are ordered sequentially to the right. Keeps the mouse gestures down and is somewhat elegant. Example: (A=application, Wb=black workspace, Wn=Workspace 'n') __ A| A| A> Wb - W1 - W2 - W3| A| -- Wouldn’t it make more sense to just have a workspace indicator ‘slide out’ from the application dock when hovering over it? The workspaces could be aligned horizontally so that an empty workspace is closest to the application icon (less movement), and the used workspaces are ordered sequentially to the right. Keeps the mouse gestures down and is somewhat elegant.
Example: (A=application, Wb=black workspace, Wn=Workspace ‘n’)
__
A|
A|
A> Wb – W1 – W2 – W3|
A|
–

]]> By: Emrah ??nal http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126&cpage=1#comment-59547 Emrah ??nal Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:53:12 +0000 http://jimmac.musichall.cz/log/?p=1126#comment-59547 Wouldn't this approach be a little troublesome with d&d between applications? Let's say, from file manager to inkscape or from web browser to word processor etc. Wouldn’t this approach be a little troublesome with d&d between applications? Let’s say, from file manager to inkscape or from web browser to word processor etc.

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