The Menu bar

Hello!

I have used Macs for a few hours in total, but there's something that felt weird to me and I'd like your opinion on it... the menu bar. I know that it depends a lot on what a user has gotten used to, but there are a few things to consider, too.

First of all, the menu bar is not new in OSX. It has been present in Apple OSes for many years. Back then when resolutions were smaller, the desktop was not crowded with many windows, and a single menu bar saved a little screen space, too.

Now that computers are more powerful (more apps running) and resolutions are bigger (more windows visible at the same time), there are two drawbacks for the use of a single menu bar: working with an application demands longer mouse routes between the app window and the menu bar, and it may sometimes be hard to tell from the first glance whether ir's the right menu you're accessing or not.

There are cases when it's better to send the menu far away from the window. In iTunes, for example, daily functions are accessible within the application window. The window looks cleaner without "File Edit Tools Help etc", being fully functional for everyday use, and for those extra commands (view duplicate songs or change CD burning mode etc) there is still the menu bar on top of the page.

Certain apps can afford to leave the menu a little further, but that's not always the case. There are apps that need frequent access to menu items (PaintShopPro for example), and for them it would be a better idea to keep the menu inside the application window.

Microsoft does exactly the opposite with its application menus. They are treated like toolbars and can be dragged around the application window as the user wishes, or even remain detached from the window altogether. Too much option instead of Apple's no option.

True, visually it's more pleasing to see a desktop with as clean windows as possible, instead of windows with a "File Edit ....." on each and every one. Others would say that it doesn't make any difference at all. I wonder what you think or what you have experienced using a Mac.

Have a nice day!

Ken

#328316

the menu bar has always kind of made me wonder as well. I've used windows forever and I got a powerbook recently. I still get confused as to what app is frontmost and a quick glance at the menu bar doesn't help much. it seems to me that having something like an applications icon, like os9 had in the application switcher menu, on the right side would make it simpler to see what app is frontmost. also, the menu bar does get cluttered what with icons and crapola on the right side. currently I have adium, iscrobbler, konfabulator, battery, menumeters: cpu+ram+network usage, airport, wclock, and that dang spotlight icon all ont he right side of the menu bar. and when itunes opens, I've got bytecontroller there. I don't know exactly what about the menu bar that makes me not particularly like it. maybe it is because I come from windows, where you could change the shell and thus completely customize the way you interacted with apps.

#328318

The major reason that the menu bar is kept at the top of the screen is to satisfy the requirement that no matter how far you move the mouse *up* you will never overshoot the mark. I was told that the Apple HIGs make a point of adhering to this rule (I know that there is a name for this but I'm not sure what it is).

*edit I found out the name- it is Fitt's Law. The important thing is to note the pinning nature of edges and corners mentioned below.

This is also why corner hotspots (eg for expose) are quite successful, you are always assured that you will hit the mark when you move the cursor to the corner of the screen- and also why edge hotspots that reside in the middle of one side of the screen are harder to use.

While it might take extra movement to make it to the menu bar not attached to the window, it is less mentally taxing to get there IMHO. One really only has to worry about the accuracy of your movements on one plane, horizontal, rather than both horizontal and vertical.

The major complaint about the original taskbar in Windows was that if you did move the cursor to the very edge of the screen, then you would not actually encounter an active section. (This has now been fixed I think)

There has been much discussion over the fact that the dashboard and associated widgets do not conform to this guideline, yet it still has been successful so maybe it is not such an important requirement after all.

I do find that when I am using the Macs at uni it takes a little time to get used to the menu bar again.

Just my 2c worth.

#328335

I dont even really use it... Because just about every option and menu item that I ever need, I got hotkeys for, and btw, dont forget that you can also raise the speed of the mouse, just so it doesnt take so long to move around the screen, I have my mouse set to the max speed, and honestly couldnt be happier

#344753

In many applications, menus are rarely used as most functionality can be accessed either through a toolbar, or by hotkeys etc.

What would happen if ideas from two worlds were merged:

each application window "carries" its own menu (as in every Windows app)

each window sports a menu toggle key (as the toggle toolbar key, in OSX Finder windows etc)

I think this would provide an interface that keeps everyone happy:

every window would have all its controls together (no need to move elsewhere to access that menu function)

applications that don't really need the menu that much can have it hidden (but still accessible via that toggle button)

applications that can't leave without menus can keep it on, and still intact.

What do you think?

#345508

i used to drink at the menu bar...HA!

#345511