Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 22nd Jan 2010 17:06 UTC
Taking a break from reporting on the latest netbook or phone rumours, Engadget posted an article yesterday about several elements in desktop operating systems writer Paul Miller finds outdated. While there's some interesting stuff in there, there's also a lot to discuss.
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RE: my 2cents, random - you might like desktops
by jabbotts on Fri 22nd Jan 2010 20:31
in reply to "my 2cents, random unorganized thoughts"
Member since:2007-09-06
Multiple desktops (my standard is 4) becomes very handy to the point that not having them on Windows drives me a little crazy. My first config change is to set my key command to switch desktops. After that, it's internet stuff on one, admin shells on another.. no single desktop with several layers of unrelated programs displayed.
(edit): I'm noticing more mouse drivers coming with a sticky scroll. I hit the middle mouse button and a white circle with up and down arrows appears. The scrollable window under it moves up and down based on how far away from middle my mouse is. You may be able to get the middle button scrolling through the mouse driver rather than a touchscreen or OS function.
Edited 2010-01-22 20:37 UTC
RE[2]: my 2cents, random - you might like desktops
by StephenBeDoper on Sat 23rd Jan 2010 17:55
in reply to "RE: my 2cents, random - you might like desktops"
Member since:2005-07-06
(edit): I'm noticing more mouse drivers coming with a sticky scroll. I hit the middle mouse button and a white circle with up and down arrows appears. The scrollable window under it moves up and down based on how far away from middle my mouse is. You may be able to get the middle button scrolling through the mouse driver rather than a touchscreen or OS function.
Now THAT's cool. I remember an old DOS space shooter that let you steer your ship that way (the further the mouse cursor was from 0 on the either the X or Y axis, the faster you turned in that direction).
Member since:
2009-04-05
I'm not savvy enough to talk about this as I'm fine with taskbar/panel. I don't care too much for graphical gimmicks. In the long run, it seem the graphical gimmicks only serve to lower productivity. I actually disable workspace/virtualdesktop immediately after installing Ubuntu as it annoy me. I don't like iconized taskbar nor grouping of tabs.
To actually be productive, whatever it is, it have to be fast and to the point while providing necessary info on what the actual fullscreen windows contain because I am a human being and I read. The icon itself isn't enough for me.
Some fast and to the point examples are AeroSnap. The Mac people laugh at the first video introducing it, but it turns out to be damn useful. Or the Ubuntu/Gnome panel where you can place your cursor on it and scroll your mouse wheel and it switches between windows.
Apple already have the best combination I think. The dockbar (I neither love nor hate it) and Expose, then add AeroSnap to it and maybe your idea of WebOS would complete the package.
My prediction is whatever these features are, they will benefit greatly from the idea of touchscreen/screen grabbing. Even if you don't have a touch screen monitor, you should be able to scroll through things by holding the mouse button. Such as the Firefox addon "Grab and Drag", now I can't use another browser without that feature.
PS. There is an Expose clone for Windows called Switcher. I think this software works so well I don't know why Microsoft haven't copied and implement it or just buy the software. I don't know if Apple have patent the Expose idea as well preventing others from copying it. Here's a video of Switcher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcd5vzOvMg
Edited 2010-01-22 19:55 UTC