Re: OSX vs XP

In article <1h0as1b.o7pvoeq8mf3lN%peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Peter Hayes) wrote:

> ZnU <znu@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > In article <noone-24A43B.16520925072005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> > Steve Carroll <noone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <1h0a3f0.1zgi8l1c8fzygN%peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> > > peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Peter Hayes) wrote:
>
> > > > An Apple mouse is a superb example of sleek modern styling. It looks
> > > > great, feels great and promises so much. Unfortunately this sleek modern
> > > > styling is also a splendid example of style over substance in its
> > > > failure to address 21st century computing. So disappointing.
> > >
> > > Even Raskin agrees that, if he were to design today, he would not use a
> > > one button. Every poll I've ever seen on the subject in the last few
> > > years shows even Mac users favor 2 or 3 buttons over a 1 button.
> >
> > That's a pretty silly argument. Do you really think the kind of people
> > who vote in polls about mouse buttons are a representative sample of
> > computer users?
> >
> > As I point out every time this subject comes up, I know quite a few
> > non-techie users who have been using computers for many years, often for
> > upwards of 40 hours a week, who are still confused about which mouse
> > button does what and will never right-click at all unless specifically
> > instructed to. This is very common.
>
> Your confused user who doesn't know when to right click on a PC won't
> know when to Ctrl-click on a 1-button Mac either.

Of course not. But the UI doesn't require it, and in most cases this
sort of user won't know that ctrl-click exists. Contrast with Wintel,
where right-clicking occasionally *is* required (try getting properties
for an item on the desktop without it, for instance), and there's an
extra button on the mouse that the user knows is there but doesn't
understand.

> I know quite a few non-techie users who have never mastered the art of
> double-clicking to open an app or whatever. It needs a certain amount of
> manual dexterity to double click fast enough. Do we slow the d/c down so
> they can cope? If so, the next user will open apps they don't want as a
> result. Or do we make the d/c a 'preferences' setting because some folk
> can't cope?

It's a preference in OS X. Isn't it in Windows as well? The default is
pretty slow on the Mac. And the cursor can wander a couple of pixels
between the clicks too. (I think even Windows implemented this with '95,
only 11 years after Apple.)

> You can't legislate for every eventuality, for every user who just
> doesn't 'get it'.

Sure, but there are two broad categories of understanding; there are
basic concepts you have to understand to use the computer and all, and
then there's everything else. You'd go crazy trying to design a UI that
didn't require users to understand those basic concepts. But two button
mice don't fall into that category; it's quite possible to design a UI
that doesn't require an understanding of two button mice. Even Microsoft
comes close enough that a lot of users have never managed to develop
such an understanding -- they can get by without one, they just run into
problems every now and then.

> > > Being this is the case and that Apple is trying to convert Wintel
> > > users, they should let those who want a 1 button do the paying of
> > > extra $$.
> >
> > That model doesn't work, because the kind of user who's better off with
> > one button is the same kind of user who doesn't really have the
> > background to make informed choices about computer-related purchases. In
> > other words, if the computer comes with a two button mouse, they'll keep
> > it and spend years being confused by it, as I've seen repeatedly on the
> > Wintel side of the fence.
> >
> > So, basically the tradeoff is, make things harder for one set of users,
> > or make things more expensive for another set. Anyone who understands
> > Apple knows which way that gets settled.
>
> There's a hint there of 'Macs for the hard of understanding, Wintel for
> the rest of us'. 'Ease of use' at the beginner level, which some others
> here seem to think is the be all and end all of the Mac 'experience',
> can rapidly lead to 'hard to use' for experienced users. Sure, in this
> case the user can go out and buy an x-button mouse, but solutions to
> other problems might not be as easy.

What other problems? Apple's solution to the problem of walk-up
usability is to make UI uncluttered and well organized -- both of those
also generally benefit expert users as well. (And help users become
experts faster; it's much easier to remember where everything is and
what it does if it's organized well and behaves logically.)

--
"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply
ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table."
-- George W. Bush in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 22, 2005
.

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