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OS X disk images (DMGs) can be created with a background image. Most developers take advantage of this fact to make it really, really obvious what you're suppos

by necubi 16y ago

OS X disk images (DMGs) can be created with a background image. Most developers take advantage of this fact to make it really, really obvious what you're supposed to do. For example, here is what DoubleTwist's DMG looks like: http://cl.ly/cd6c0478bef684fffaed http://cl.ly/cd6c0478bef684fffaed. How could any user be confused by that? (Also, Safari is by default configured to open DMGs automatically, so all the average user needs to do is click the download link and follow the arrows). Edit: Adium's (http://cl.ly/5b23589883bbc4467a04 http://cl.ly/5b23589883bbc4467a04) is probably an even better example.

Avshalom 16y ago
"How could any user be confused by that?" Because it looks more like an static image than something you can interact with? Not that I have the problem now but I remember the first app I downloaded in osx was Quicksilver, which, at the time, the DMG opened to a grey background and a giant quicksilver logo. My windows/linux brain assumed the DMG was empty due to a corrupt download or something and I ended up downloading it a second time. Of course turned out the logo WAS the appfolder.
- LiveTheDream 16y ago
  >> Because it looks more like an static image than something you can interact with? There is even a line of text that explains how to interact with the two object presented, if you aren't already familiar with the paradigm.
  - Avshalom 16y ago
    Which doesn't make it look any less like a static diagram. Specifically it doesn't do anything more to imply there are two objects presented, like say "drag the (image|icon|folder) below to (your|the) Applications folder to install."
brown9-2 16y ago
Well that's a great feature and smart of developers to take advantage of. But what I am really curious is the thought process (if it's possible to remember and elaborate on) for someone who was going through this the first time, was not presented with such a user-friendly DMG background image, but was still able to intuitively figure out what to do. It seems to me that while it might be a great way to install something - incredibly simple - years of Windows use would completely program someone to not consider something so simple.
- barrkel 16y ago
  It's not actually simple - that's the key. The alleged simplicity is an abstraction, and most PC power users are more familiar with the underlying mechanisms. Efforts at hiding these mechanisms are all well and good, but if and when something breaks, or you need to do something unorthodox (e.g. automated installation - many setup.exe's take a '/?' flag - or moving installed apps from one drive to another, etc.), lower level knowledge is needed.

by necubi 16y ago

Avshalom 16y ago

"How could any user be confused by that?" Because it looks more like an static image than something you can interact with? Not that I have the problem now but I remember the first app I downloaded in osx was Quicksilver, which, at the time, the DMG opened to a grey background and a giant quicksilver logo. My windows/linux brain assumed the DMG was empty due to a corrupt download or something and I ended up downloading it a second time. Of course turned out the logo WAS the appfolder.

LiveTheDream 16y ago
>> Because it looks more like an static image than something you can interact with? There is even a line of text that explains how to interact with the two object presented, if you aren't already familiar with the paradigm.
- Avshalom 16y ago
  Which doesn't make it look any less like a static diagram. Specifically it doesn't do anything more to imply there are two objects presented, like say "drag the (image|icon|folder) below to (your|the) Applications folder to install."

brown9-2 16y ago

Well that's a great feature and smart of developers to take advantage of. But what I am really curious is the thought process (if it's possible to remember and elaborate on) for someone who was going through this the first time, was not presented with such a user-friendly DMG background image, but was still able to intuitively figure out what to do. It seems to me that while it might be a great way to install something - incredibly simple - years of Windows use would completely program someone to not consider something so simple.

barrkel 16y ago
It's not actually simple - that's the key. The alleged simplicity is an abstraction, and most PC power users are more familiar with the underlying mechanisms. Efforts at hiding these mechanisms are all well and good, but if and when something breaks, or you need to do something unorthodox (e.g. automated installation - many setup.exe's take a '/?' flag - or moving installed apps from one drive to another, etc.), lower level knowledge is needed.