[Libreoffice-ux-advise] [Bug 135501] Change the default UI

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=135501

--- Comment #7 from Pedro <vermelhusco1904 at gmail.com> ---
IMO, the main problem that became quite clear in several comments in that
Reddit thread and other online discussions is that many people didn't even know
about the alternative UIs.

Thus, something must be done for users to be made aware of them. 
There are two ways to address this:

1 - Change the default UI.

2 - Provide a dialog picker at first start after an installation and give the
user freedom of choice to select one of the multiple available UIs.

3 - Keep it as is.

Option 1 presents some advantages: 

a) not necessary to make a new dialog to select the UI.
b) Tailor the selected UI to OS where LibO is installed.

Option 1 also presents some disadvantages:
a) Novice users, or users with such an ingrained routine that they don't
venture to look at different menus still won't know where to change the UI in
case they don't like it,
b) A choice is imposed by the devs to the users. There might be Windows users
that prefer the standard toolbar and won't like to have their UI changed from
one version to the other.
c) The devs need to choose the default UI to ship to users. This opens a can of
worms of discussion, where personal preferences of devs might not match the
preference of end users (ex. more devs work on Linux environment and prefer
standard toolbar thus they pick that for Windows users that prefer Tabbed UI)

Option 2 to me has more advantages:

a) Highlight the flexibility in UIs from LibO, one of the strong points of LibO
together with file compatibility,
b) Highlight ALL the UIs done by the Design community of LibO. The standard
toolbar is legacy, the Notebookbar UIs were actually developed by work of LibO
contributors.
c)Provide freedom of choice to the user. The user will be made aware of the
different UIs. Novice users may be able to pick a UI more familiar to them (ex.
Tabbed UI), conservative users may pick their preferred UI (Standard),
adventurous users may try out the unique UIs (Groupedbar). 
d) No need to update documentation tailored for the standard toolbar (or at
least documentation can be gradually updated for other UIs). Simply include a
disclaimer that LibO documentation is tailored only to the standard toolbar.

Option 2 disadvantages:
a) Creating yet another dialog at first start.

As for the alternative UIs being "lightweight Glade assembled UIs" I do not see
that as a disadvantage. They provide the same functionality, and if more users
are made aware of these UIs, more bug reports will be filled to further improve
them, and Glade, which is a win-win situation.

Therefore, my vote goes (in order of preference) is the following:
Vote: Option 2 - provide a dialog at first start for users to select UI.
IF NOT: Option 1 - Changed the default UI in Windows and MacOS installs to the
Tabbed UI.

DEFINITELY AGAINST: current situation. Change is needed.

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