Maybe if they had to struggle, they'd learn? If we old people could do it, the next generation is smart enough to do it. Hell, they've got Google to help them.

Maybe if they had to struggle, they'd learn? If we old people could do it, the next generation is smart enough to do it. Hell, they've got Google to help them. It's not like I'm expecting a return of dip switches and multi-binder manuals. Just, maybe, stop designing for the lowest common denominator? People aren't going to learn unless you give them a reason to. People aren't going to learn if they don't have to. Would you rather smarter users, or simplistic software that underperforms and offers only one output option? I favor choice. I do admit that it makes good financial choice to cater to the lowest common denominator, but even many of my beloved Linux apps are getting dumbed down. I haven't even had a kernel panic in years. Hell, I haven't even had to compile my own kernel in this whole decade. (I have, I just didn't need to.) It's not about keeping it out of the hands of the less technical, it's about still keeping it educational for those of us who are. What kind of dystopia is it, when the preferences menu has but three options? Instead of a stylus, maybe you should just give me a crayon! Really, I think VLC has it right. Handbrake is pretty good. Gimp goes a bit overboard, but I can respect that. My VNC server? It's got like eight options, total. Torrent client? Maybe twice that many, spread over four panes. That's like putting four pieces of lettuce on four plates and telling me it's a salad! Mobile apps? Some of them don't even have options! If there are no options, why use an app? Just use the web! Hell, they don't even have a close option, some of them. What if I want to close it and restart it at the default screen? Task manager or reboot, that's what. 'Snot like it has a discernable back button. No options to configure it, either. I think people with mental handicaps should be allowed to use computers, just like everyone else. It doesn't mean you should design with them as your primary target audience. I'm pretty sure it took more work to take the buttons out than it took to leave them in there. I can't even begin to count the number of updates that have removed options. What the hell was that? You worked harder to make the application do less. I don't even understand that mentality. Sorry for the rant but this is a pet peeve. Imma start a Bring Back The Buttons campaign. It extends to other things, too. I noticed a friend's new television. Their remote had 3 buttons on it. It wasn't even broken, it came like that from the factory.