Re: [Evolution] UI choices

[Jeffrey Stedfast <fejj ximian com>]

found it:

http://www106.pair.com/rhp/free-software-ui.html

On Mon, 2003-02-10 at 20:31, Andrew Cowie wrote:
> 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
>
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-- 
Jeffrey Stedfast
Evolution Hacker - Ximian, Inc.
fejj ximian com  - www.ximian.com