Re: question about RMB

[Jeff Waugh <jdub aphid net>]

<quote who="Pat Costello">

> Maybe I still haven't understood the suggested convention properly, in which 
> case I apologise for using up your time with my inane remarks. 


Certainly not inane remarks, but I might add my two cents worth in what I
hope would be a good explanation:

123 - Almost explicitly defines location, and doesn't describe function
      adequately at all. You've seen already that the order 123 is usually
      incorrect too, leading to confusion.

LMR - No description of function, and a very misleading description of
      location. The main trouble with this one is that the definition can be
      completely irrelevant, and thus confusing; for lefties, the buttons
      are in the wrong positions; for people with oddly shaped mice, the
      buttons might be as exotic as circular panels around a trackball;
      two-button mouse users reliant on chording will be confused by middle
      clicking, etc.


So, I'm very much for Arlo's newly introduced option C (yes, I always go for
the unlisted options). By giving each button a name that adequately
describes its function, and disregards its location, the documentation and
text will read better to more people.

Your right mouse button might be the pressure-sensitive pad on the inside of
a disabled user's left molar. If you both know it as the "context" button,
you can't miscommunicate the idea.

If you're worried about changing terms and upsetting the world's natural
order - remember that to a certain point, we're still out in the wild here.
We have many more users to make comfortable and knowledgable than users to
change old habits.

- Jeff


-- jdub aphid net ----------------------------------- http://slug.org.au/ --

        Ye shall be cursed to fall in love so easily, and yet be so
                     cold of heart as never to express it.