1. Current desktop state
The Desktop for me is very important. I like to use it but I get increasingly annoyed by a few difficulties during the use of it. That is the reason to write my views about the desktop. Here goes: Currently in the linux desktop world (Gnome and KDE) what is happening is really the replication of the mac and ms windows style of displaying programs with a lot of creativity in the implementation. Lack of creativity in the interface is a missed opportunity. By emulating mac or ms you just don't do the linux system justice. Look at it this way. A Mac is simple and beautiful in appearance and polished to the last detail but expensive, the OS has the same feel. Ms is generic crap just like the computers plain and dull, but usefull but not particularly exhilarating(jawn). And then there is linux, it is stable comfortable customizable and a little rough around the edges. Of course this fits the commandline, it just doesn't show in the desktop. I think we need to find different ways to show what a linux system can do. A linux desktop should just look more cool, effective and different. Linux needs a desktop that is worthy of it. And I think it is possible. You just can not sell you desktop by making it the same as all others. Then what are the advantages of the desktop. To sell it it needs to be better and look better and work better. Consitency is important: So every desktop should be set up the same way(less is more). I do not agree. I say less is a bore, people are not that stupid, a generic but stupid concept is still stupid, nobody wants the same stuff it just sucks, OK :). It's the concepts behind the GUI that have to be consistent and people will catch on quickly.
2. The inconsistencies
There is a lot wrong with the current way in which the expensive pixels on my screen are used. Efficient use of screen space is important. There is degradation of workable area. More and more space is reserved for toolbars. Toolbars are usefull but the workable area has gotten less priority. The right information is not present at the right time. The GUI needs to inform me about system state and present information that I need or want to see. Multitasking is the largest advantage of the desktop delivers on. But it is difficult to position more than one program at a time. It is possible to position two programs on one screen but it takes to much time and effort then why have the ability to have smaller screens at all. It is just not logical. Why resize a program to smaller than the available screen size. What is more usefull about that. Except you can see your beautiful desktop background :) (hmmm Pamela). A lot of a users time is lost in resizing of windows pop up screens and making the desired screen active. Simplification in this area in needed.
3. Suggestion for a new linux desktop model:
4. Basic design ideas of the GUI:
Picture of the Gui interface (copy paste with the gimp) It is not perfect but just an example of how it could look.
Tabs
Tabs are used more and more in programs and also the buttons in the taskbar could be seen as tabs (in a twisted kind of way). Simplification and standardization in the way tabs are used in the GUI and it's programs can have a lot of benefit. At the top you can see the program tabs, they ar separated from the tabs at the bottom which contain the active programs opened files. Actually no windowmanager is needed. There are no windows that obscure others. By moving frame borders appropriate space can be given to a program. There has to be the ability to place two windows next to eachother but this is not present in the picture
The toolbox
Toolbox that has the ability to show all sorts of system information in an unobtrusive way. All system processes, tools, info and tasks are placed in one logical place in the GUI. The rest of the screen space is reserved for the program interface.
The toolbox has two parts an info part on the bottom and a tabbed part at the top. The info part displays all starting or current system activities as well as incomming information such as messages, mail..... etc. The tabbedpart contains systemstate and statealtering programs. It has the following tabs:
Shortcuts
Sober use of toolbars that also display the keyboard shortcuts that can be used to perform the desired function. The key combination is displayed in small letters under the button. C-b equals Ctrl-b
5. End note
I like the result. But in Gui land there are no Utopian solutions. I hope it has given you some new inspiration at how a gui can be different and maybe even better :)