Re: [Usability] Re: [Desktop_architects] Printing dialog and GNOME

[Matthew Paul Thomas <mpt myrealbox com>]

On 13 Dec, 2005, at 2:38 PM, michael bernstein wrote:
> ...
> That in my opinion is why we see so many opensource enthusiasts 
> programming for os x (the interfaces and code for some os x apps such 
> as adium are far ahead of more mature projects such as gaim) - at 
> least in my opinion.
>
> Why is it that a younger application with fewer developers feels and 
> looks more clean while offering the same apparent functionality as a, 
> in general, quality application?

1.  It's younger. (And therefore less warty.)
2.  It has fewer developers. (And therefore fewer conflicting visions.)
3.  OS X has a global menu bar. This makes windows less cluttered and
    lets them be narrower, while letting the menu structure be more
    expansive and consistent.
4.  OS X doesn't make a habit of having two close buttons in each
    window (though Adium gets this wrong in a couple of dialogs). This
    reduces ambiguity, and often saves space.
5.  The platform comes with several well-designed applications to copy
    from.
6.  The platform has a tradition of good, if not excellent, design --
    and strident criticism of bad design -- going back two decades.

> ...
> The best way to solve the issues presented is to have non-linux 
> developers develop the UI.  You may say, that sounds ludicrous and 
> this reply is getting extremely long and pointless about things that 
> have most likely been repeatedly touched upon.  However, for linux to 
> be successful on the desktop for normal users, normal users have to 
> feel comfortable with it.  Who better to have design it, point out the 
> flaws, etc. then normal users?
> ...

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Brother%2C_Where_Art_Thou%3F>

Non-designers can be great at pointing out problems, but unsurprisingly 
terrible at designing solutions.

--
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/