"DonnaB shallotpeel" <shallotpeel@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:2bpvn3leq4dh94asqt3cf4fncglooalao5@4ax.com...
> In alt.support.diabetes on Fri, 4 Jan 2008 01:46:15 -0800 in Msg.#
> <Ffnfj.164$lr6.108@newsfe06.lga>, "DarkSentinel"
> <darkmungesentinel@munge.charter.munge.net> wrote:
>
>> Until he morphs it again. Also, not all of use Agent. I personally hate
>> it,
>> and use either OE, WLM, or Thunderbird until I find one that combines
>> some
>> of the functionality of Agent with a better UI, layout, and doesn't have
>> the
>> other things that I dislike.
>
> Just curious but what is it about the UI etc. of Agent do you dislike?
> And,
> what version of Agent's UI & layout, etc. do you dislike?
I've hated the Agent UI since it first came out. Just for kicks though, I
just pulled down 4.2, and installed it, so the major observations gripes are
based on that.
Where should I start? As I said in another post, the GUI itself it not
important, even though Agent still looks like a Win 3.1 app. Um, where is
the ability to view text with the icons in to the tool bar, and/or the
ability to resize them? Not all of the icons are intuitive. A lot of use
don't see all that well, and everything is overly small to me. I run at
1280x1024 resolution because I have a LOT of stuff going at the same time.
Don't want to have to squint of use a magnifying glass to see everything.
**Let's start with the desk pane**
By default, the different servers should be separated. OE does it,
Thunderbird does it, WLM does it better. You don't even get the chance set
up a new desk when you set the server up. As a result, newsgroups from all
servers are in the "All Folders" list/desk. To do what should have been done
by default, you have to right click, and create a new desk, then right click
on the group, and tell it to assign it to the desk. And even then, it leaves
that folder in the "All Folders" desk, AND you can't remove it from there. A
very ugly way of doing things. If I use a GUI, I want it to be at least
intuitive. You have all these steps to jump through, just to set it up semi
intuitively. I post on different servers, and use different sigs for each,
so the set up I described is critical. If you post to one, I guess that
wouldn't be that important then. But it adds too much crap in that pane that
doesn't need to be there.
**The header pane and messages**
Again, counter intuitive. Can't choose what columns you wish display. No
ability to flag a message. I'll generally read through the messages, flag
the ones I respond to, then go back and respond to them after I read all the
messages. Sometimes I will answer as I read as I am doing now, but usually
if that ng has a lot a traffic, I will do it the manner I described. You can
watch the thread, but can't flag it. Can flag in the 3 I mentioned here. No
option to mark the thread as read. Again, can do it in the 3 I mentioned.
Now the part I LOATHE the most about it. When I click on the header, I want
the body pulled right then. Don't want to hit enter, don't want to right
click and mark for later retrieval. THAT is counter productive as hell. Why
add more steps?
**The message pane**
The header view is kind of ok, and kind of stupid at the same time. I like
how it collapses when you DO hit enter, but you can't reopen the header
unless you hit H, or click it in the "View" menu. Again, counter intuitive.
T-Bird is the best here. Can collapse it to one line like Agent does, but
you can re-open right there in the header. WLM's really sucks here. Big blue
non resizable, but can close and open it from the "Layout" menu. No spell
check as you go. All 3 others do. WLM even auto-corrects some words on the
fly for you.
Bottom line is the whole thing seems like it's over engineered. Some of the
stuff is ok, but why do I need a zoom for the pane? Don't particularly see
where that's real helpful. Maybe in the header pane if there are a lot of
messages. Why do I need a separate "Task Manager" window? I guess maybe if
you do binary ng's it would be semi-useful. Here, just pop the error message
inline like the others do. If I need to, I can and check the logs later. One
thing I love about WLM is that it interfaces with Windows Live Writer which
I use to write my blogs on.
Now where Agent DOES stand out is it's filter and view set up. However there
is a caveat. Once again, counter intuitive. Shouldn't need to have to sit
there and write a script. OE and WLM are best on being intuitive, but lack
in ability. T-Bird sucks here as you can't do the filter/rule from right
clicking on the header like Agent and the MS products do. For the views,
Agent is great. OE and WLM are more intuitive, but again, lack in scope.
Also again, T-Bird bites here.
This kinda cover things? ;D
--
T2 - Oct. '96 -
Lantus, oral meds, diet
http://www.lockergnome.com/darksentinel
Undo the munge to reply by email
M'I-5,Per secution , th eir meth ods a nd tacti cs 
Linear Mode
