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How Configurable Should a Desktop User Interface be?

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the hold-the-pickles-and-the-lettuce dept.

The Original Yama writes "In the world of user interface design there are two main schools of thought. The former maintains that the environment must be flexible and configurable enough to adjust to a user's needs. The latter takes the opposite perspective, arguing that many of today's user interfaces have become bloated and overloaded with features, and consequently have become difficult to maintain and use. KDE developer Mosfet shows how the KDE Project has managed to bridge the gap between the 'highly configurable' and 'less is more' camps."

6 of 541 comments (clear)

  1. not at all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    it should be themeable thats it, stop giving power to little nerds who have nothing better to do then find some screwed up way of reconfiguring their desktop so that it's totally useless then touting that idea online as if it's a UI he or she had done actual research into.

    choice? bah. fuck you even. nobody has time for choice, they only wanna get their work done and get out from in front of the computer

  2. I'M SO FUCKING GAY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    and this, I believe, is FIRST P0ST!

  3. Re:phrase by B747SP · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Did the phrase "OS X" pop into anyone's head when they read that line?

    No, interestingly enough, 'KDE' popped into my mind. I know I'll get modded down to hell by the KDE weenies, but really, what right has a KDE author got to talk about 'simiplicity' and 'efficiency'. It sucks.

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  4. Re:phrase by Jenolen · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Speaking of phrases...

    KDE is for Windows users switching to linux.
    gnome is for KDE users switching to linux.
    TWM is for gnome users switching to linux.
    root@localhost:/# is for real linux users.

    people who like to use a GUI (especially KDE) probably won't give me good mod points. but hey, if i cared about what most people thought i wouldn't be a geek in the first place.

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  5. Re:KDE 3.2 will have a useful spell checker. by mentin · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Consultants who will be able to support both the transition and replace MCSEs long-term

    You mean Linux is doing this "embrace and extend" thing? :)

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  6. Re:KDE 3.2 will have a useful spell checker. by mentin · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    It's win-win for everyone except Microsoft.

    I wonder, when Linux takes 90% of PC OS market, whom will DOJ sue? :)

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    MSDOS: 20+ years without remote hole in the default install