Unity

Bug #667245
Comment #8

Comment 8 for bug 667245

Revision history for this message

Robert Y (rob2687-gmail) wrote on 2010年10月29日: #8

Some users on the forums have pointed out that not everyone uses multiple workspaces which I agree with. I think this workspace manager or "purple space" should be an activated by clicking on an icon. i.e. It would extend/modify the functionality of the current workspace switcher icon in Unity.
Here is what I suggested from the forums which was not added above:

Activating the workspace switcher will expand from the icon to show the workspace manager (a.k.a. purple spaces, the mock ups above). The workspace manager has two activation modes:

Double click icon: Expose all workspaces. (i.e. Existing behaviour of Unity by clicking workspace switcher icon)
Single click icon: Expand workspace manager. With primary focus being your current workspace.
- Default mode - Expose on current workspace.
- Expose all the windows of a specific app on the workspace by clicking it's icon in the workspace manager. (Compiz can already do this)
- Single click another workspace (purple space) to switch focus of workspace manager to that one.
- Double click a workspace to switch to it and close workspace manager.

Now here are some reasoning behind the above proposals.

I find that more often than not I tend to need to manage workspaces individually. Less often do I need cross workspace management. (i.e. expose all workspaces and windows). Also to me it is too much to going on to expose all windows and workspaces just to switch to another workspace. Funcionally, visually and performance wise it is not necessary to do a general expose the majority of the time.

This still makes available the general expose (a.k.a. current behaviour of expose on all workspaces and windows). It leaves general expose still easily available to those who need it but makes it less of a primary function. It adds functionality of managing a single workspace which I think many people would not only prefer but tend to use more often. In general it has more functionality for single and cross workspace management. If done right it is simple and intuitive. It doesn't impose any unecessary clutter to the user. The added functionality is easily accessible when needed and only when needed.

The downside as I mentioned in thread on the forums is that having a lot of workspaces and applications will result in the workspaces taking up the majority of the side bar. Now my suggestion to that was to minimise the workspaces which I see you've incorporated into the mockups. The minimised mode involves stacking application icons prevent unfocused workspaces from using space unnecessarily. This would leave the workspaces except the one in focus in a minimised mode. Hovering over the workspace with your mouse expands the workspace icon stack.
Some users on the forums have pointed out that not everyone uses multiple workspaces which I agree with. I think this workspace manager or "purple space" should be an activated by clicking on an icon. i.e. It would extend/modify the functionality of the current workspace switcher icon in Unity.
Here is what I suggested from the forums which was not added above:
Activating the workspace switcher will expand from the icon to show the workspace manager (a.k.a. purple spaces, the mock ups above). The workspace manager has two activation modes:
Double click icon: Expose all workspaces. (i.e. Existing behaviour of Unity by clicking workspace switcher icon)
Single click icon: Expand workspace manager. With primary focus being your current workspace.
- Default mode - Expose on current workspace.
- Expose all the windows of a specific app on the workspace by clicking it's icon in the workspace manager. (Compiz can already do this)
- Single click another workspace (purple space) to switch focus of workspace manager to that one.
- Double click a workspace to switch to it and close workspace manager.
Now here are some reasoning behind the above proposals.
I find that more often than not I tend to need to manage workspaces individually. Less often do I need cross workspace management. (i.e. expose all workspaces and windows). Also to me it is too much to going on to expose all windows and workspaces just to switch to another workspace. Funcionally, visually and performance wise it is not necessary to do a general expose the majority of the time.
This still makes available the general expose (a.k.a. current behaviour of expose on all workspaces and windows). It leaves general expose still easily available to those who need it but makes it less of a primary function. It adds functionality of managing a single workspace which I think many people would not only prefer but tend to use more often. In general it has more functionality for single and cross workspace management. If done right it is simple and intuitive. It doesn't impose any unecessary clutter to the user. The added functionality is easily accessible when needed and only when needed.