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#230 800x600 usability is poor
For a machine in 800x600 screen resolution mode, the usability of VStar is poor; too much scrolling required, not all toolbars visible etc.
While this should not matter to the normal laptop or desktop user except for very old machines, it may matter to Netbook users. What is the typical resolution of Netbooks?
I've got a Dell Vostro A90 netbook with 1024 x 600, but this is rather small even as netbooks go. This is an ultracompact model with only a 9" screen.
As I mentioned in another tracker about documenting the minimum recommended screen size, it seems that about 720 pixels high is the minimum VStar window size for avoiding scroll bars. Note that many operating systems have a docking bar that will eat into the app window size. On the above Dell running Ubunto the maximum VStar window height is something like 577 pixels.
I have not found the screen width to be as much of an issue, though I have not tested on anything that is as small as 800 wide.
I think that this is a bit important given the proliferation of mobile devices with a great deal of capability. The iPad/iPhone won't run Java, but I can imagine that some people might want to run VStar on some other kind of tablet hardware in the near future. Something to think about for long term planning.
Taking into account that the netbook I tested on is rather limited, usability of VStar was rather poor. It runs and nothing breaks, but the experience is not so good to the point I would not use VStar on such a platform. Perhaps we should take a survey on CS of what people are using and ask about netbooks to see if this is a desired feature.
Again, thanks for the useful observations Mike. I like the idea of a CS survey. HQ may be able to set up a poll, if you think that's a good idea. Do you want to initiate hat survey? I'll assign this tracker to you if you like. Feel free to flick it back if you prefer.