From Mandriva Community Wiki

Add here the usability issues we are facing with Mandriva Linux 2006 to prepare Mandriva Linux 2007.

Contents 1 All desktops 2 KDE 2.1 Desktop 2.2 Menus 3 OOo 4 Mozilla Firefox 5 Tools 5.1 Software finder 5.2 Drakroam 5.3 Rpmdrake 6 Installation

All desktops

• Enhance "video", "pictures", "download", ... concept by having every application go to the right folder by default

KDE

Desktop

• automatic icon placement is non predictive so users have a hard time finding where they will appear.
• no feedback when a new removable storage is plugged.
• we need a better way of showing removable media either when they are multi partitioned, because only the first one is shown in most cases, or when there are more than one removable disks, in this last it's very hard to understand which icon is related to disk (e.g it's hard to select the disk wanted).
• feedback when an application starts doesn't work for non KDE applications.

Menus

• in simplified mode, simplified entries are duplicated in the Other applications sub-menus.

OOo

• session management doesn't work.
• launching OOo is very slow (by default : oooqs should be installed)

Mozilla Firefox

• session management doesn't work ( Bug #20235)
• file type association requires user to select application in the binary folders (/bin, /sbin, etc..)
• launching firefox is very slow

Tools

Software finder

• we need better way for users that aren't Linux expert to find which applications can fill their need without knowing their names
  • some solutions:
    • use task oriented menu in every products
    • use Kat to allow user to ask for the application is looking for by typing keyword or a real question
• see also Bug #15691

Drakroam

• no feedback when you use the Connect button so you don't know if the action succeeded or not.

Rpmdrake

• Improve usability of software installation by adding desktop icons and allowing to launch apps ( Bug #23233)

Installation

• provide sensible defaults
  • e.g. in a world where users are used to blindly click button "Next", it is not sensible to make option for "deleting Windows installation" default.
  • e.g. it is not sensible to firewall interface that is not used to connect to Internet.
• make it simpler
  • e.g. it takes ten steps to configure ADSL internet connection during installation (for comparison: Windows XP does it in two steps during installation).
• use language that users (even Windows users) can understand
  • e.g. instead of making option names exact and explanations descriptive, make names descriptive, and explanations exact.
• Installer should configure X, when monitor in not identified ( Bug #19311)