Re: How do... YOU... do... "IT"?

> What about at your site posting your file with that "column off to the
> right" visible as a sample?

Good obersavation. But it would need to be more than that. The value
of Sudden View is in the way it MOVES things. I'm working on an
animation to domonstrate the effect. Thank you for noticing. It IS
valuable feedback.

> They're a reference to a Kipling poem about how there are "nine and sixty ways

I missed that poem but got the point early on. And I agree completely.
Hell, I'm one of the least conforming people you'll meet.

> Everyone who has responded has they own way of doing things

Which really WAS my objective.

I wrote Sudden View way back in 1989 for the Atari ST and it was quite
successful. Well, until the Atari went away. For years I kept an Atari
on my desk just so I could use my editor. Finally I did a Windows
port.

Friends have pushed me to make Sudden View public again so I cleaned it
up and built a simple web page. But before I actually try to sell the
program I want to understand my market. For me, writing is a hobby but
it's needs are also a blueprint for Sudden View. I wanted a sample of
your 9 and 60. Look back over the thread. I got it.

As far as my approach is concerned, you get more attention by stiring
*** than smiling sweetly. Besides, I'm *** stirer by nature. 9 x
60.

> Any change of tool will be disruptive--and if it forces a change in the way they work

EXACTLY! It takes a challenge. And yes, that's where my name came
from. SOMEBODY has to shake things up. New things take an investment
in time. Every now and then you win. Sometimes it's worth it.

> Now I happen to think that you'd've had a lot more luck here if you'd
> come in and asked questions first with no mention of your program at all.

9 x 60...

And just look at the result. I've barely had time to read the whole
thread. For every post, there are between 10 and 100 others reading.
I'm looking for those who spend more than four hours a day writing.
They are here. They've been downloading. I'll get what I need. But
thank YOU for the honest concern.

> A tip: when doing market research, try not to insult your target customers.

Ever heard of the maximum, "There's no such thing as bad press" ? My
problem is that I have a nice side. Every now and then it slips out.

> It sounds as if you're getting frustrated; this is normal, with research.

Nah, it's not you. You guys have been great. I've been swamped with
so much other stuff it's been hard to keep up here.

> I highly recommend you don't ask again here for feedback.

What ? You didn't have a good time? It wasn't good for you?

> I don't mean that you yourself are not welcome

Thank you. I mean that.

> I mean that of those here likely to give feedback, most already will have.

Barely started. Thousands are reading. A few are curious.

> You're also more likely to get more, and better, feedback, by replying
> gracefully to even those comments that aren't useful, or that you don't
> think are feedback.

If you look back, you will see I generally responded in kind. It keeps
a good mix.

> MR: Come here and look at my product dammit!

I don't think I was THAT pushy. At least I hope not.

> No, she doesn't. She's describing how *she* reacts to justification.

Now on this point I was actually looking for anyone who could
meaningfully defend justification. It's honestly one of my pet peeves
when reading newspapers with narrow columns. Instead I got, "It's how
I like it".

> (though probably not your inaccurate caricature of it)

Not inaccurate at all. I'm sure you've seen it. It's driven by a
ratio of column width to average word length. The olny thing that
moderates it is hyphenation which is an even greater abomination of
readability.

> For her, justification is easier on her eyes.

No it isn't. Don't be silly. Constantly changing the aspect ratio of
any word's image does NOT improve the mind's ability to recognize it.
She's just comfortable with that smooth right edge she's come to know
and love. She's been trained. That doesn't make it right.

Sorry. Now where's my nice guy side.

OK. I'll stop.

I really DO want to thank everyone who's honestly thought about this
topic and expressed their views. And I also hope no one took me TOO
seriously. It's not often I get to have this much fun.

"Thanks for all the fish".

Sudden Disruption

Try Sudden View - for the art of editing text
Beta test now in progress at...
http://www.sudden.net/

.