Comments on: windows on the web? https://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/ User Experience Design, Research & Good Old Fashioned Usability Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:45:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: 90 Percent of Everything » Blog Archive » why splitpane views suck… (but they suck less than other stuff) https://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-112 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 13:05:32 +0000 http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-112 […] But on the desktop splitpane views are the wave of the future! And as I’ve said before they suck a whole lot less than floating palettes and overlapping windows. […]

]]> By: Jonas https://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-95 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:46:06 +0000 http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-95 This is maybe OT but isn´t the Office suites new menu system just a version of Adobe/Macromedias content sensitive panels? If i choose the air brush tool the panels shows me the options?

]]> By: Andy Baker https://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-74 Sun, 03 Dec 2006 12:18:39 +0000 http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-74 “Overlapping windows were originally developed as a response to lack of screen estate” – I don’t think people *ever* have enough screen space so this will always be a problem needing a solution – I’m not convinced that overlapping windows were ever that good a solution!

Notice that none of the small form factor devices currently taking over the world: phone’s, PDA’s, hand-held consoles and MP3 players have adopted overlapping windows.

In many cases overlapping windows waste more screen space than they gain. If you’re short on screen space you tend to maximize the window so you no longer are working with overlapping windows. If you do as in the case of floating pallettes then the less screen space you have – the more time you waste on juggling the damn windows…

That gap around a maximised window on the Mac drives me mad not just because of wasted space but because when I maximize a window it’s because I want to hide the clutter and focus on the current task. I don’t think I’m going to like Vista’s side panels

]]> By: Harry https://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-73 Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:22:13 +0000 http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2006/12/02/windows-on-the-web/#comment-73 Can I just add a few bits of information here:

Overlapping Windows
Overlapping windows were originally developed as a response to lack of screen estate. Adobe (/Macromedia) is now able to offer docked panels because developers nowadays usually have such a lot of real estate. Another interesting fact is that On Windows PCs, if you hit the maximise button, it fills the screen. On Macs, The window does not maximise – it always leaves a gutter. This used to bug the crap out of me but there are times when it’s quite useful.

About MDIs.
This is a quote from Wikipedia: “Graphical computer applications with a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) are those whose windows reside under a single parent window […], as opposed to all windows being separate from each other single document interface. […] In the usability community, there has been much debate over which interface type is preferable. […] The disadvantage of MDI usually cited is the lack of information about the currently opened windows: In order to view a list of windows open in MDI applications, the user typically has to select a specific menu (“window list” or something similar), if this option is available at all. With an SDI application, the window manager’s task bar or task manager displays the currently opened windows.”

Alt-tab
One of the reasons people like us like to have keyboard control of our UIs is because we are massive nerds. Normal people aren’t very comfortable with keyboard shortcuts. That’s why Apple’s ‘Exposé’ is neat – it’s a visual, easy alternative to alt-tabbing.

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