tgrogan said:
Simple to implement seems to be the key issue with a GUI re-write, so let's examine the 'presentation only' interface you have created:
1. Which of the now exposed controls would be enabled when? When the VM is paused, some changes can be made and some cannot. First this now has to be individually addressed, instead of simply by the menu as is currently done. Then there is the issue of support when someone of little experience fails to notice the small difference between and enabled control and a disabled control among that large array of controls. Could remove them from the display - just more programming.
That's the point. Put everything on one page. Obviously, it isn't a working program... so... while the VM was running, only the appropriate options would be selectable. Why do things in 3 different places when you can do them in one?
tgrogen said:
2. I'm guessing the the stop-light array in the upper left corner means something in mac world, but anyone else always thinks twice about ever clicking on something red. Red is normally associated with error messages that are of a very critical nature. I can't think of anything that the green could stand for. Is it just a reminder that the window that is open in front of you is running?
Please, please, please don't say something if you have no clue what you are talking about. The Red Yellow and Green are mouse-over controls that are on EVERY SINGLE MAC OS X PROGRAM EVER MADE. It is part of the Operating System.
I'm glad you are showing just how limited your knowledge is... and yet you blast us Mac users all the time without even enough basic knowledge of the OS to be able to MAKE a valid point!
What was that country and western song... "Here's Your Sign!"????
tgrogen said:
3. One of the benefits of not having rigid standards is the freedom to configure one's interface to one's own pleasing. If I were using that, I'ld sure get rid of the monotonic, sheet metal look in an instant. I find it to be boring and uncreative - like staring at the wall of a warehouse.
Fair enough. Personal Opinion being what it is... many Mac users love the Sheet Metal look... and many Program (ONYX, etc.) are made completely in the Sheet Metal look. However, as one of the other folks commented above... perhaps just the frame should be Sheet Metal, and the rest "normal" i.e., iPhoto, iTunes, Safari, etc. etc. etc.
tgrogen said:
4. The Choose New button conflicts with the left panel concept. Which one chooses a VM? If at a minimum the left panel chooses a VM, what happens? Does the right portion of the display simply get overlayed with the new choice? Hmm, more programming.... When/where does the user choose to open a new window, and how is that differentiated in your GUI? Where is the configuation panel for that list when there are VMs located in different partitions/folders? a bit more programming?? You have omitted huge amounts of functionality that are in the current product.
This is why Windows users have it bad... something is soooo simple they have to make it more complicated than it is. How easy is this... if you look at the jpeg... a *choose new* button is always immediately to the right of a file. The OBVIOUS conclusion One should probably make is that you want to choose a new HDD Image, or FDD Image, etc. etc.
Just common sense, really. But I don't blame you... you think the frustrating world of Registry Editing is normal
tgrogen said:
5. Icons - the trivial pursuit of personal computers. Enlarging the text of the items will be more recognizable to most users than a non-standard icon. Reading is a common skill among computer users of all brands, and it is the fall back when presented with a lot of icons in an order that cannot possibly represent a sequence of functional operations. Oh yes, there are no icon standards - we choose those for dramatic effect. After all, OSs leave that insignificant choice to the consumer so that they feel they have some control over their computer.
Um... what is your argument here, exactly? That icons, when used, should NOT be photographic, but arcane, mundane, and confusing? A Photographic Icon is only served to COMPLIMENT the text, so that an even quicker understanding of what you are searching for is used. Even WINDOWS uses this... been to the CONTROL PANEL in Windows, Mac, or Linux?
Nice Big Icons with clear labels next to or beneath them. Same concept here...
tgrogen said:
6. The ubiquitous Search button, where I can find help, maybe lost disorganized VM files, maybe a common task list and description, maybe a second and third level of screens to sort out all of that, maybe it will search all of my VMs for a file. Certainly is a good safe generic button to add. All it takes is programming to implement the possible uses.
My though on this one was just exactly as you pegged it. I am not sure if it is needed, most likely overkill... however... my thought was that you could search for files WITHIN EACH HOST OS without them being actually started up! MAC OS X has the ability to do this natively... through an OS feature called Spotlight (coming to a ripped-off version in a Windows Vista near You)... would be useful for folks running multiple instances doing coding or other work.
You really should spend some time on the Mac before you start talking about it... that's akin to professing how other countries should run their government... when you don't have a basic enough understanding about any govornment but your own.
I was a Network Engineer for 10 years for 2 Telecom companies... so I am VERY familiar with Windows. If you can UNLEARN what you are force-fed by MicroCrap... things work so much better in OS X.
If you mouse over the Red, Yellow and Green Icons, btw... they change to an X (for close window), Yellow for Minimize (shrink into the dock), and Green (NOT Maximize... rather fit the window correctly onto the screen... although this last button IS a source of consternation as it doesn't work very well... see... Apple isn't perfect ... lol)
Anyway... I'm glad you took some time to look at it. I am by NO means a programmer... just thought I'd see how long it would take to come up with an idea...
Lastly... my thought process on Virtual Machine selections was that the left hand pane act like a Playlist in iTunes...
You click the + or - to add or delete a VM... and then when you click on the Playlist Number, the configuration for THAT VM shows up on the right.
Should be quick, painless, and give you access to everything you'd ever need right in front of you!
But then again, I'm not programming it...
