UX/Printer

From openSUSE

Goal

Printing is more difficult and different from what many users perceive.
Especially because "there is not printer in a printing system".
But that should only encourage us to make it understandable to the user.

Research

Benchmarking

openSUSE 10.2

Pros

• short help texts
• window contents clearly arranged
• printer selection by splitting manufacturer and model

Cons

• unclear wording (next, filter settings, other...)
• convoluted workflow
• inconsistend wording (ok/next)
• hidden CUPS settings (other)
• low self-descriptiveness

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Pros

• clearness because of tabs
• comprehensible wording
• few levels
• simple usable wizards
• basic server settings are task orientated (checkboxes)

Cons

• long scroll list in printer selection field
• what are classes?
• server settings in printer selection field

CUPS 1.2.7

Pros

• clearness because of tabs
• comprehensible wording
• few levels
• ability to search in printers
• basic server settings are task orientated (checkboxes)
• good help and documentation, understandable for novices
• good overview of all perinters with informations, status and lots of options

Cons

• redundant linking (home, classes, jobs...)
• location of buttons on the printers option page is not fixed

Workflows and Screenshots

• openSUSE 10.2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
• CUPS 1.2.7

Ideas

• YaST/Development/Printer_Enhancement

Resources

• CUPS in a nutshell
• Using your own filters to print with CUPS