On Sunday 04 June 2006 15:53, Orn E. Hansen wrote:
Sunnudaginn 4 júní 2006 07:51 skrifaði Rajko M:
The same dash board etc, in many cars is not without reason. One needs some data like speed and mileage to see anytime easy. If that would make you looking far from the road it would be dangerous, and that makes all dashboards looking similar. With the gear shifting manufacturers have little more freedom, but no many like to learn totally different system with every new car, so they are pretty much the same too.
The same is with computer software. It doesn't look similar for some irrational reason, but because once layout is determined with how easy is to reach certain function, the other time it will be similar to comply with the way people are used to accomplish the job.
The analogy doesn't really apply. There are new designs in cars that redefine the dashboard all the time. And indeed, cars stay the same because people buy the cars that look alike ... not because it's a standard, but because they know how to find their way around it.
But on computers, about 80% of all computer users have a hard time finding their way around it. Ask any customer support, how it is to get a customer to follow straight directions. To a computer guru, who designed his own interface, it may be logical ... but to other users, even young users. They can't find their way around, or have a hard time to ... the biggest problem being, they don't know what they want or need. The only things that can be standard is "a window", with "border". A button, a drop down menu, etc. Their look isn't a standard, and even though it's an eye candy, it is this eye candy that appeals to the taste of users. The feel is also important, as driving a lamborghini and an austin mini, that have similar dashboards, has a totally different feel.
You can never be a leader, by following someones lead. You ain't gonna be first, by being second. And you're never going to beat someone, at their own game. And although the dashboards of an Austin Mini, and a Lamborghini may be quite similar, the feel and economy of the vehicle is what makes it appeal to different social groups. And to be quite direct, if you can't see these facts, I'd argue wether you're in the right buisness field.
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Actually, Microsoft and a few others have invested millions of dollars to investigate what GUI is the most effective one. Intuitive, usefullness etc. So no matter WHAT your opinion is on the Microsoft software and ethics, they DO make sure they have SOMETHING on their feet when they start writing their thing... Sure there are cars that refoprm the dashboard. But they dont last cause people find them to cumbersome to use. Remember the digital speedometer? Why didnt it last, or become more popular? Because the human mind is graphical. It sees pictures more easily then digits and letters. Its always faster to show somebody a picture of something than to have him/her reading about it. Thats how humans work. Vista may be bloated. Vista may be unstable, Vista may be the worst piece of crap ever to come out or Redmount.. But as we allready know.. People WILL buy it! Because if they DONT, they will look oldfashioned, out of date and lost.. Ppl will automaticly think " Why arent this company using the latest software? Something must be wrong with it. Ill go to their competitor..." Windows GUI, KDE, OSX, Gnome and a few others all are the same layout. Partially because its what we are used to via windows, and partially due to the fact its easier to handle. Me personally dont care too much for eyecandy. Its a waste of resources in my mind. Why need a $500 card to get transparent windows that fade in or out, if i can do the same job (show the data) with a card for $50?? Its a utter waste of money. I rather use a 3 GHz box running TVM on a Matrox G400 and get the job done fast, than sit and look at the shiny icons on a DualCore with latest ATI megacard running some flashy transparent thingy that does the job twice as flashy, but half as fast... The computer isnt made to display shiny windows and buttons. Its a tool to compute stuff! Use it as such! -- /Rikard ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- email : rikard.j@rikjoh.com web : http://www.rikjoh.com mob: : +46 (0)763 19 76 25 ------------------------ Public PGP fingerprint ---------------------------- < 15 28 DF 78 67 98 B2 16 1F D3 FD C5 59 D4 B6 78 46 1C EE 56 >