[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 #46 from Telesto <telesto at surfxs.nl> ---
(In reply to Caolán McNamara from comment #37)
> I'd hate to see a dialog presented to the user on first start to pick their
> user-interface, that just seems horrible, like that terrible "pick your
> default browser as a feeble workaround for an anti-competitive ruling"
> windows has/had.

You’ve a point here. It's bit nagging. And not to decisive either. If you
follow the masses, maybe they tabbed one by default. It might be people are
used to re-configuring as the tabbed interface is forced on them quite often
anyhow (go with the flow)

However their is still they issue of all the environments where LibreOffice is
running. Will this be a change across the board? Or Windows/MacOS only?
Splitting it up can be itself seen as indecisive. It also will cause multiple
screenshots flying around with different default interfaces.

> I think there are too many "user interface" options. Leaving aside the
> experimental options, we have in the user interface menu in the muffin
> section "tabbed, tabbed compact, groupedbar compact, "contextual single" and
> I have no real feeling for what the difference is between them all. It feels
> indecisive, as if it's uncertain which one is the right design. IMO, pick
> one, drop the others and then its a clearer decision as what the option
> between current and proposed ui would entail.

I agree. And most users tend to stick with the default (I assume). It are all
variants of the same thing, IMHO. From QA perspective I  prefer not to many
options; probably the same is valid for  documentation for example a11 

Ideally the alternatives should be delivered as extension. Or if not possible
buried in the theming dialog or even Expert configuration. This would allow
backward comp-ability and there would be a test if people are actually missing
those (if there are complains about where did they.. interface go)

(In reply to Maxim Monastirsky from comment #41)
> What I really missing from this discussion are *facts*. A major change like
> this shouldn't be done without a serious study. We should collect feedback
> from users who really tried to use the other UI variants on a daily basis,
> and take a decision based on that. So arguments like "ribbon is the default
> on windows, therefore we should use it too" don't count. When we set
> something as default, we should be confident that at least it will allow
> users to get their job done.

Such a study is time consuming and expensive. And results will be hard to
asses. I assume Microsoft did spend some money on research on the acceptance of
the ribbon or the start menu of "Windows 8'. They transition did have some
bumps and there were some tweaks.. but the didn't go back to before.

There are people who love the Ribbon others hate it. I assume the competitors
did make the decision to use the ‘ribbon’ on purpose.  All of them made the
‘Ribbon’ default, with an option of a toolbar. Not that follow the herd
necessary is the wise thing to do. OTOH, they toolbar aren’t gone either. It’s
a few clicks away. 

The existing user base you can reach (in theory). I still love some kind of
info bar which makes users aware of poll using the same system as the automatic
update check. So they can participate once in a while. [But that’s only a
thought of mine]. However such poll only reaches the existing user base. Still
not the potential user base. Maybe the potentials ignore LibreOffice because it
lacks a ‘ribbon’ interface (or because the experience isn't the ‘same’ thing).  

I personally find the current ‘tabbed’ edition aesthetically not that nice to
look. And it doesn’t get better with theme. 
They issues already known should be fix upfront. Instead of pushing something
which isn’t finished. Especially something so noticeable :-). Not that ever
will be finished, can still be tweaked, need feedback (users) for that. 

Maybe enable it by default in Master and until 7.1 RC1 and decide at RC2/3 what
to do based feedback/comments etc. 

----
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #44
But actually we can collect (Tender'd 2015) disabled by default:

Tools -> Options -> General 'Collect usage data and send it to The Document
Foundation'; and I'm not asking folks to turn it on.

I'm not really against telemetry (as such) if it helps improve LibreOffice.
However
1) Telemetry shouldn’t start registering without explicit consent. As separated
question. Not checked by default etc or buried along with other questions
2) I want a full disclosure which kind of data is collected (openness)
3) I want to be able to see what’s will be send in advance (openness)
4) I want a to be informed every time telemetry data will be exchanged
(control). Being aware it happens
5) I want to see some kind of statistics derived for that data (results). 
6) Some idea how it is can be used to improve things. And actually being used.
Else it’s pointless exercise

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