Stan Goodman said the following on 05/22/2010 05:45 PM:
But NOBODY is quarreling either with the hardware of computing machinery or with computing algorithms. The entire argument is about non-intuitive and inconvenient interfaces and massive changes with little or no advantage, so that users do not have the opportunity to become accustomed to those changes that are useful.
There no such thing as an "intuitive interface". PERIOD. There is only what you are accustomed to. Those interfaces you call "intuitive" are what you've been conditioned to. Consider your mouse (or trackball or whatever) Traditional old MAC users had one-button mice. To them, the three-button mouse of a SUN workstation made no sense. And vice versa. I'm sure people here can think of other examples. http://vodpod.com/watch/52172-medieval-helpdesk-with-english-subtitles
I have never seen such a great change between successive versions of anything, let alone a system as complex as kde.
:-) I'm surprise anyone over the age of 20 can say that with a straight face. If you've moved between countries, banking systems, or dealt with ANY technology for more than 20 years you'll have seen greater changes. When I learnt to drive I was told to hold the heel at "10-to-2", the upper quadrants, so as to be able to pull down to turn in each direction. Now they teach NOT to do that, since if the airbag goes off it will crush your arms into your chest and face. Similarly "universal" ABS means that you now CAN press hard on the brake to stop in an emergency. And Syncromesh gears mean you DON'T have to double-de-clutch. But changes like this we just absorb without rant and forget about. Again, I'm sure people here can come up with examples of dramatic changes. Anyone around for the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Fall of Communism? Or don't they count as changes?
If you tried to inflict such a transition for a profit-making organization, i.e. one that relied on its customer base, you would have been thrown out on your ear.
So you haven't been a government minister in charge of Taxation? :-) No, Stan, you're making a ridiculous assertion. Companies have to put up with changes all the time. Think of the introduction of Windows/95 which was a dramatic change, as was Vista, and as have been every release of Microsoft Office for Windows. Conversely, those of us old enough to remember saw how GM/Ford/Chrysler were affected when they refused to change and the Japanese imports of smaller, more fuel efficient cars blind-sided them. -- Last night I played a blank tape at full blast. The mime next door went nuts! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org