13 Feb 2011

Mouse vs Keyboard - What is happening with the modern desktop environment

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I love and use Gnome but have been thinking a lot about how we use computers recently; with Unity coming to the desktop and other similar desktops already in use like iOS on ipad and Windows 7, this has raised thoughts about what desktops environments are.

Reducing it down to a very abstract idea, Gnome for me is a series of text boxes I write in. I'll be writing here in my web browser to Posterous, then I'll hit <Alt><Tab> and write to my friend in Empathy then I'll hit F12 to open a terminal with Guake and manage code with Git then hit F12 to go back to my friend on Empathy then <Alt><Tab> twice and I'll be editing code in gedit, then I'll hit <Alt><Tab> twice again and I'll return to writing to Posterous. I am more than aware that there is plenty to click about with in Gnome but ultimately, most the time I use it I am writing and Alt-Tabbing.

These newer ideas about what a desktop should be require a lot of clicking. Whilst I am very anxious to see Unity at it's completion and running perfectly on the desktop, this new way of getting stuff done is making me feel old an scared. I know that Unity will still have such keyboard shortcuts but will people like me be able to make the most of these new desktops?

I know that it is going to be great for my girlfriend, but what about us folk who hate reaching for the mouse?