Re: Reconsidering MDI

From: ephemeron (ephemeron@fastmail.fm)
Date: Sat Mar 09 2002 - 01:32:09 GMT

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    On Fri, 8 Mar 2002 13:06:04 +0000 (GMT)
    Alan Horkan <horkana@tcd.ie> wrote:

    > Ask yourself what it exactly it is about tabs that you find so much
    > better and more convenient?

    Because they let you compensate for "crappy window management." Let's
    say you have ten documents open. That would mean ten tasks in the
    taskbar of the default KDE, Gnome Sawfish and Windows 9x (still the most
    popular MS OS) desktop. I know you can enable task grouping (KDE, Gnome
    panels), but that doesn't have the instant gratification of a single tab
    click. Come to think of it: aren't panel tasks just tabs by another
    name? The most popular WM's (including Bill's) are "tabbed"!

    > There may an SDI way to improve usuability without the need to drastically
    > change paradigm. I would be very interseted if you could explain to me
    > what it is that is so good about tabs/MDI (as it would apply to abiword).
    > I agree tabs are a useful inteface, but only in limited circumstances,
    > take a look at the inteface hall of shame and you will see tabs abused
    > horribly.

    I'll throw that back to you. Cite to me one instance of tab abuse.



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