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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Thursday, July 01, 2004

How to Deal with the Spatial Paradigm

OS News: "Gnome 2.6's recent switch from navigational to spatial mode within Nautilus was highly controversial. As probably most of you know, 'navigational' means browsing through folders in the same window, just like it works in Windows 2000/XP or in Konqueror. 'Spatial', on the other hand, is a very different concept of managing your files. Not only does each folder open in its own window, but the windows also memorize their exact position and size on the desktop."

This is, of course, utter stupidity, and the feature's only saving grace is that you can turn it off. On the other hand, the behavior of shell windows in Windows XP is a huge step back from previous Windows versions, so there needs to be some middle ground: That is, you should be able to use a single window for shell navigation if you want, but shell locations should remember their window positions if opened directly, and should remember their view settings (i.e. icon style, etc.) at all times. XP doesn't do this at all, and it's stupid.

[ Posted at 11:25 AM | Permalink ]