452909 - remove "Thunderbird Start Page" preference from the general tab, to advanced

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Thunderbird :: Preferences, defect)

Description

[Bryan Clark (DevTools PM) [:clarkbw]]

I'm not really sure where this should go, possibly somewhere in the advanced tab section.  I've been thinking about creating a Display sub tab in the Advanced tab but I think there might be a better, more inline method for this.

In general there are many things wrong with this preference.  We're showing a chrome:// url to our users in the first tab of preference they see when they open the Thunderbird preferences.  The only options available to the average user are to turn off the start page or try typing in a URL that will work.

I'm planning on trying something that sits at the bottom of the start up message pane, this way we can help people to change this preference where they see the page and not in the preferences window.

Comment 1

[Mark Banner (:standard8)]

(In reply to comment #0)
> In general there are many things wrong with this preference.  We're showing a
> chrome:// url to our users in the first tab of preference they see when they
> open the Thunderbird preferences.  The only options available to the average
> user are to turn off the start page or try typing in a URL that will work.

Just to note, that bug 430762 is intending on changing this to a http:// url (see bug 430762 comment 16).

Comment 2

[rsx11m]

Maybe leave the on/off switch in the General pane but hide the URL selection
in the Advanced settings? Usually, either people want to see it or not...

Comment 3

[Magnus Melin [:mkmelin]]

I'd be inclined to say they don't care, and the on/off pref UI is ripe for removal. Hm, i wonder what it would look like with a mini-urlbar that shows on hover, and remember your last page...

Comment 4

[Joe Sabash [:JoeS1]]

For my usage, a history for the start page url would be nice. :)
I change it often, and always have to dig around for the URL

Comment 5

[Ronald Killmer]

To expand on Comment #4, the Start Page selector could be a Dropdown that persists prior User Add/Edit/Del and be pre-populated with valid about: choices. Presents an alternative to the Config Edit button in the Advanced > General tab.

Just to be a bit frivolous, an Easter Egg of the Tbird equivalent of about:mozilla

Comment 6

[Richard Marti (:Paenglab)]

This should be closed as WONTFIX with the work in bug 1498332.