Re: [Evolution] UI choices

[Andrew Cowie <andrew operationaldynamics com au>]

Hey Jeff,

On Tue, 2003-02-11 at 11:02, Jeffrey Stedfast wrote: 
> there is a huge discussion about this on the GNOME Usability list.

I *agree* with the GNOME usability guidelines. I know they've been
controversial. 

>  I
> think Havoc Pennington wrote up a document on it, I would refer you to
> it but don't recall the url.

[I haven't read Havoc's document; Jeff Waugh mentioned it a couple weeks
ago. I've been looking for it. I have read the Human Inteface
guidelines, but that's not the one you're talking about, is it?]

There is, IMHO, a fundamental difference between presenting a
bewildering array of features for the average user, and making the power
accessible to someone who wants it.

I believe in what Ximian (and RedHat and now Sun and...) specifically
and GNOME generally are after. I just wanted to encourage everyone to
keep in mind that there *are* reasons not to just nuke features out of
hand. 

Make the defaults the simplest, most usable things you can think of.
Hide the advanced features if you will. Hell, make it so they can only
be controlled by editing text files, rather than UI <shudder>.

But the point I made about "the power under the hood" and why it is we
all dislike Windows stands. I don't <gasp, omigod he's actually saying
it on an OpenSource mailing list!> actually dislike Windows. It works
most of the time! I hate Outlook, Word and friends because, so often,
they decide what I want for me, instead of letting me choose. I prefer
Un*x, Free and Open software because I can almost always make it do what
I want *the way I want it*.

--

Enter the world of complex Graphical User Interfaces intended for a
world-wide audience.

There is, of course, a balance to be struck. The default action SHOULD
be to make an intelligent, reasoned, highly-usable choice and just Make
It Work. Applause for that. 

Evolution is one of the best Open programs I have ever used. It is
loaded with features, and does many things very intelligently. And
despite the fact there are plenty of things it doesn't do that I "need"
I'm sticking with it most of all because I *do* feel that the
development team listens. Sure, you're grouchy most of the time, but
once in a while you do listen. :)

--

It would just be nice if the itch can be scratched. That is, after all,
what moves us forward.

Well, that and a healthy dose of Venture Capital.

Andrew