Hey, don't be so quick to discard that line of thinking. That is -exactly- what led to innovations like this one.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying your example could be refined.

Eh... good question. I think I spend less time putzing about with an interface if I feel comfortable with it. I've learned to use Gnome in a manner that lets me focus on the work I'm doing instead of the actual interface itself.

Now, how to measure any differences in productivity in a quantitative way? No idea. Perhaps I just regurgitated that term with no real evidence to present other than how I feel about it while I am working.

That doesn't work so well for locating apps by description or name. On my system: windows key + 'ca' + tab (Libre Calc is the second result at this point), + enter. Done. Or, launch the term, type 'loff', then tab, then '--calc'. The command line offers auto-completion, and no mistake, this is useful - in fact there are situations where I use this quite often, but for launching some piece of software when I don't need a shell, why should I bother?

That aside, I'm well aware other desktop environments offer some sort of search functionality. I was merely pointing out that since Gnome has no immediate plans to reverse course, Gnome 3.x is probably not the DE you're looking for. Like I said, lots of other options.

Perhaps my previous post was viewed as inflammatory by a lot of sensitive people who feel betrayed - but I'm not the one who is complaining, and I'm certainly not the one who is betraying. I just happen to like the new Gnome interface, and I suspect, in spite of the hostile nature of this thread, that I'm not the only one.

Man, there are a lot of bitter people on /. If you don't like Gnome, you'll be using XFCE or KDE or Mate or Cinnamon or something - we already know. Quit complaining about something you don't even use anymore. Every time 'Gnome' is in a post topic, we get all the same people rambling on about the same stuff, and Gnome users like myself barely bother reading anymore.

Linux has a lot of choice for a reason. Just grab the desktop you like and roll with it. If you don't like it anymore, grab a different one.

I actually like the 3.x interface and I've never used it on a touch device. Yes, it is a bold departure, but I find it makes me more productive all in all. I dislike nested menus - always have. I can't think of a bigger waste of time than browsing a nested menu system looking for an app, and if you're using the 'Applications' view in Gnome 3.x, you're definitely doing things the hard way. Hitting the 'Windows' key, typing the first few characters of my target software, and then the 'Enter' key to launch apps makes a lot of sense. The quick gesture of ramming my mouse into the corner to arrange work-spaces works great.

If the entire planet was made of solid gold, it would make it an economic disaster to go there.

Or... it was approved by someone who knew exactly what a tape is, and the frenzy of yelling and yapping the topic would produce.

If English isn't your native language, it suggests that unlike much of the English speaking populace, you may have actually studied it at some point.

Maybe the accelerometer could "auto-inflate" the screen like an airbag when the phone sensed that it was being dropped. Hard disks in laptops already park drive heads using the same technique.

Yeah, go on... attack. You may take out our two rowboat destroyers and our battle canoe.

But we have a tank...
...and we're not telling you where it is.

I think the neat thing here is this - usually adults tend to spout the argument that we're making the world a crappy place for our children. Maybe it's because they don't have our agendas or vices, but it just -feels- completely different when our children step onto adult sized soapboxes and raise their voices.

Well, since unboxing your Mac is typically the last time most people will ever be that much in lust with the thing, occasionally spritzing the air with that "new Mac" smell might just prolong that loving feeling...

If the entire company is smoking while on duty, you'd be surprised how persuasive angry shareholders can be...

From the patent - Filing date: Mar 19, 2004. Black Mirror originally aired in December 2011. Clearly Microsoft didn't steal this idea from Black Mirror, however, that makes it all the more chilling, does it not?

In my youth, I moved back to a company I had left for a couple years. For me, it was simply a comfort thing - I was familiar with the policies, people, and surroundings. I'm not saying those aspects of the company were any good, and it turned out to be a terrible move; I was much happier elsewhere in the end. I'm also not saying that is why Mr. Whittaker returned, but humans tend to find some solace in familiarity - especially if the pay is good.

We probably won't agree here, because you don't see any value in the concept. I do, so I'll just let stand my opinion in my first reply and call it a night. I think it's an interesting approach with room for improvement, in much the same way any new technique or idea is introduced and explored. It will develop and turn into something better, either by inspiring someone else, or perhaps by Microsoft making something more of it... or it will be replaced by a better entirely different technique, (I'm guessing you're in support of the latter).

I will admit that looking back I was being a little quixotic in one respect...

...Patents being the way they are these days, I guess I kind of do care who does it.