Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    OK, I'll go first.
    
    I think we need a generic icon to represent various strange little
    non-executable type files, like sound data.  We also need a 'lasso'
    type command to grab a bunch of files from one directory and move
    them to another.  GEM and the Mac desktop have this feature.
    
    I'd also like an 'auto snapshot' capability.  If I move an icon
    somewhere within a directory window, I see no reason why it shouldn't
    stay where I put it.
    
    This may be far fetched, but I'd like access to all my C commands
    from a Workbench menu.  If I added or removed commands, the menu
    should reflect this.  This way, I could select a group of files,
    especially the little generic ones, and ARC them from the Workbench.
    I know that Diskman and several other utilities do this, but it
    should be part of the built-in environment.
    
    My last gripe is the lack of a standard file requestor.  How much
    code can it take?  10k?  CBM should pick the nicest one and make
    it be a standard ROM routine.  I nominate PixMate as the best, and
    MaxiPlan as a close second.  Electronic Arts' is OK, but the scroll
    bar doesn't smooth scroll directory entries.  Aegis's does smooth
    scrolling, but there's no filter for .info files and the like.
    
    That's it for now...
    
    Ed.
    

I agree. Amiga workbench leaves MUCH to be desired. The Mac interface
is far superior in this respect. It seems even just the fonts and 
window borders used by Mac make it "easier" to use (read: more pleasant to look
at).

One thing that bugs me about workbench is the way in wich it makes windows
default to screen width. Assuming it due to the font size used versus the
typical expected number of columns (60 or 80), I think if apple can use smaller
fonts and fit several windows scattered around the screen on a 9 inch monitor,
Amiga can do it on thier 12 (or whatever it is) and be even more readable...

I suspect this limitation is due to the per scanline basis in which the video
can change resolutions - But that should only keep you from having screens
side by side, not windows with smaller fonts with lots of columns.

I know Amiga has some other fonts, I haven't tried them yet so this may be
totally unwarranted...



John

    I would like to see tool icons be separable from the tool itself, or
    (equivalently) project icons without an actual project file.  If this
    isn't clear, what I mean is that I would like to put icons for tools
    freely in directories without having to duplicate the actual tool there
    as well.  I would prefer to keep all the tools in C:.  This is possible
    if the tools are to be referenced via project icons, but not otherwise. 

	Paul

    re.: .0
    	As far as the Mac desktop goes, I believe it was Xerox's PARC
    group that put all of the thought into it, ad Aplle "lifted" it.
    
    re.: .1
    	There is a "lasso" mechanism: hold the shift key down while
    selecting multiple icons with the left mouse button.  You can also
    select multiple menu items by clicking the left button withou releasing
    the right button.
    
    re.: .0 
    	Some advice - don't post anything from Notes anywhere.  Why?
    
    1. company policy
    2. you don' officially represent DEC, therefore you could buy the
    farm by publicly saying "here's how DEC users would improve Commodore's
    product." (CBM is officially listed as a DEC competitor).
    
        Some more advice - collect the suggestions IN YOUR MIND, write
    them in YOUR OWN WORDS, do with them what you please.
    

MAybe Ed could take the best of whats here and put it under HIS name on PLINK
as "suggestions from a large Amiga Community"


The idea here is to relay valid suggestions from users to Commodore. DEC
needn't be mentioned.

(Just because we work at DEC, doesn't mean we have to tell PLINK...)

John

    Re:  Origins of the Mac desktop...
    
    Yeah, everyone knows that Apple 'borrowed' some concepts from PARC.
    But that's not important.  What is important is that the Amiga is
    the most original and innovative machine to come along, yet the
    Mac is much easier to use.  I see no reason why the Amiga can't
    be stroked and refined to become as easy to use as the Mac.
    
    A good example is fonts.  Why can't different fonts easily be installed
    from Workbench?  I hate looking at a 400 line screen with these
    tiny squashed characters.  Yes, there's SETFONT and FASTFONTS, but
    this stuff is all built into the Mac desktop.  New users haven't
    a clue as to how to do it on the Amiga.
    
    Re:  Posting stuff from notes...
    
    Thanks for the sound advice.  I actually didn't intend to do a straight
    upload of the contents of these notes, but to compile the wishlist
    and send it along.
    
    Ed.
    

			-< sharing ideas >-

re: be careful

	I had considered uploading some of the notes presented here
to local BBS's (without DEC's name or anyone elses). It seems a 
shame not to pass such pearls on to the Amiga community at large.
		

    
    Here's some suggestions:
    
    
    1.
    
    How about 50K of data set aside in , let's say, track 1, 2 and 3,
    for icon files only. This way instead of seeking the whole disk,
    it only looks at three tracks. CBM would have to make the OS give
    every file on the disk an icon. This would include directories and
    data files. Also, pointing on an icon would display it's file type,
    size, tool and date of creation in a tiny font in the title bar.
    
    2.
    
    A spiffied up Workbench screen. As somebody mentioned, the XEROX
    (Mac) environment gives the appearence that somebody sat there for
    a few hours rounding out the corners and optimizing the gadgets.
    
    
    3. High quality, 24pin, color printer drivers that dither in 360dpi
    resolution. For my Nec CP6.
    
    4. CLI commands in the WB menu. 
    
    
    -Guess that'll do it.
    
    -ph