[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

["Michael Phipps" <mphipps1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>>> This is neat. It should go to GlassElevator for discussion, though.
>>>> That mailing list is dredged (manually) for neat ideas and 
>catagorized.
>>>> This is just general chat.
>>>
>>>How is this Glass Elevator material?  It's intended for R1.
>>
>>R1 retains the original look and the original functionality.
>>Simply put, we don't have time to discuss and debate a new look, new 
>features, and get R1 done in a reasonable time. So R1 == R5.
>
>I disagree. R1 != R5. That was never in our mandate. R1 should be 
>source and binary compatible with R5. That is our mandate.

It is certainly true that there was never anything in our original decision to 
make
R1 look like R5. However. The way it looks to me, judging by what I have seen 
on 
GE and here, so far, is that NO ONE design is an outstanding favorite.
There are 20 (at least) different features that are debatable. 
Some people like "drag on any edge". Others like "drag on bottom left only".
Some people like tabs, some don't. 
Some people like scroll bars, some don't. 
Some people like Deskbars stretched along edges. Others like them stand alone.

The fact is, unlike some of the other (small) changes that we have made (adding 
mmap, for example)
there is 
a) no good reason to change the look and feel. It works just fine as is
b) no consensus. No one disagrees with adding mmap or (say) Ogg Vorbis or (say) 
support for TI99/4A hardware. Changing the UI will upset everyone's apple cart.
c) no reason to do this 1/2 way. It seems silly to me to design a transitional 
interface, especially without knowing where we want to be at the end. 

Since we don't know where R2 will take us, trying to build something that is 
better than R5 and calling it R1 could well be a step backwards. We don't 
really have time to do usability studies (a critical part of UI design) or to 
test with a variety of applications. I think, for those reasons, we should 
stick with R5 look and feel until (at least) R2.

Of course the icons have to change. I have asked CDT to make icon "sets" that 
we (the team) can vote on and come up with an "official" look. Not that other 
icons can't be shipped. But I think that one default official look is best. 
And, to be honest, the one that gets my vote will be the one that looks 
integrated, stylish, and in the "spirit" of Be's icons.

Comments? Mail me offlist (mphipps1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

Other related posts:

[openbeos] R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5

[openbeos] Re: R1 != R5