I agree, spotlight in Leopard runs faster and conducts more thorough searchers than it’s younger Tiger cousin. However, I miss the spotlight window. I agree it was a pain when you were trying to switch between windows. I simply loved the layout. Now, when I use the spotlight menu and search for “lesson plan” I end up with the top couple hits from each category (Word, Pages, Mail.app, ichat, pdf, etc.) but lets say I am looking for something that is not a top hit. I choose “show all.” The finder pops up with 251 items in no specific order. So, I choose to search by “kind”—seems like a great idea. However, I have to scroll through every single email before I arrive to the Pages documents. In the old Spotlight Window you could easily access all kinds of file types and organizational structures. Frankly, I want the Tiger Spotlight window back.
I can understand the layout thing. It was pretty nice, in many ways. I sort of prefer the Leopard layout, because it’s more of a “traditional” way to view files and I’m just used to it — but the Tiger spotlight window was probably more appropriate for search results in many ways.
This is a classic interface design discussion: consistency versus context. Basically, Apple has chosen (in Leopard) to favor consistency. The new Spotlight window basically looks and feels like the Finder we all know and love (yeah, right! haha). Consistency is usually a good thing in interface design — the more we are familiar with something, the more naturally usable it is. But, the flip side is context. In the context of search results, maybe a finder-like window isn’t most appropriate. Maybe the old, Tiger-style look and feel is better, in this particular context.
I can see both sides. I don’t blame you for preferring the Tiger window. It was better, in some ways, for sure. I’ll take the Leopard one, though — I’d rather have the speed and robustness of the new version than the layout of the old one. :)
The biggest new feature for me is the ability to construct really advanced queries. Sometime, check out the “other” selection under the criteria bar (click the little + icon in a Spotlight window). Insane!
001 // Matthew Croft // 11.14.2007 // 12:58 PM
I agree, spotlight in Leopard runs faster and conducts more thorough searchers than it’s younger Tiger cousin. However, I miss the spotlight window. I agree it was a pain when you were trying to switch between windows. I simply loved the layout. Now, when I use the spotlight menu and search for “lesson plan” I end up with the top couple hits from each category (Word, Pages, Mail.app, ichat, pdf, etc.) but lets say I am looking for something that is not a top hit. I choose “show all.” The finder pops up with 251 items in no specific order. So, I choose to search by “kind”—seems like a great idea. However, I have to scroll through every single email before I arrive to the Pages documents. In the old Spotlight Window you could easily access all kinds of file types and organizational structures. Frankly, I want the Tiger Spotlight window back.
Or, am I missing something?
002 // Jeff Croft // 11.14.2007 // 1:19 PM
I can understand the layout thing. It was pretty nice, in many ways. I sort of prefer the Leopard layout, because it’s more of a “traditional” way to view files and I’m just used to it — but the Tiger spotlight window was probably more appropriate for search results in many ways.
This is a classic interface design discussion: consistency versus context. Basically, Apple has chosen (in Leopard) to favor consistency. The new Spotlight window basically looks and feels like the Finder we all know and love (yeah, right! haha). Consistency is usually a good thing in interface design — the more we are familiar with something, the more naturally usable it is. But, the flip side is context. In the context of search results, maybe a finder-like window isn’t most appropriate. Maybe the old, Tiger-style look and feel is better, in this particular context.
I can see both sides. I don’t blame you for preferring the Tiger window. It was better, in some ways, for sure. I’ll take the Leopard one, though — I’d rather have the speed and robustness of the new version than the layout of the old one. :)
The biggest new feature for me is the ability to construct really advanced queries. Sometime, check out the “other” selection under the criteria bar (click the little + icon in a Spotlight window). Insane!