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I agree with your examples but I think a piece of software is different because users expect it to change over time. New Mac OS version? Users want <software>

I agree with your examples but I think a piece of software is different because users expect it to change over time. New Mac OS version? Users want <software> to support it. Found a bug in a library <software> uses? Users expect to get a fixed version etc. And while as a software user/buyer myself I like the idea of paying once and be done with it I kinda understand why people need recurring income if they keep on working on a piece of software even if it's just "minor" things.

phkahler 7y ago
>> New Mac OS version? I have been avoiding the available OS update for my Macbook Air because I've heard it kills performance, reduces battery life, may not run one of my favorite applications, and AFAIK brings nothing that I actually want.
- oarsinsync 7y ago
  > brings nothing that I actually want You might not want security updates, but you probably need them, and probably should have them.
- yoz-y 7y ago
  YMMV but to me Mojave works way better than High Sierra on my 2009 MBP
Jedd 7y ago
> I agree with your examples but I think a piece of software is different because users expect it to change over time. A delightful assertion that is the precise opposite of TFA's entire point.
Falkon1313 7y ago
>users expect it to change over time No, they expect to have the opportunity to upgrade to newer versions which may be different if they want those differences. They don't expect the one they bought, learned to use, and have grown proficient with to suddenly be completely different one day for no good reason. Consider buying a truck because you haul stuff around a lot. You don't expect to just come out to your driveway one morning and find a fuel-efficient minicar there instead because someone at the car company decided that people like fuel-efficient vehicles, so they would steal back all the trucks they made and replace them. However, maybe you used to haul a lot of cargo but you don't anymore so you've been thinking of replacing the truck and a fuel-efficient car would interest you, but you want that to be your choice.
- yoz-y 7y ago
  Your example is not addressing the point the parent made. Users definitely expect free updates to new OS versions with all the bells and whistles this version supports. They also definitely expect bugfixes. Nobody mentioned changing design here. I can guarantee you that inboxes of all iOS developers who have not implemented dark mode will fill up the first day iOS 13 is released to public. Heck, people expect your app to work on the first beta and will complain if it does not.
  - russdpale 7y ago
    I think both of you guys are right. I am continually surprised though to see some outright anger though. A good example is Microsoft Office. People who were used to pre ribbon get downright angry when talking about the ribbon. Its this weird delicate balance of improving the UI but not changing it too much. I tell people all the time UI is the hardest job in the world, an entire team of PhD's cannot get it right most of the time. Its simple an impossible task to consider the 'work flow' of every user- it is just beyond the scope of human intelligence I think. All you can do is create a good UI that works for a majority of people, and try to manage it from there.

phkahler 7y ago

>> New Mac OS version? I have been avoiding the available OS update for my Macbook Air because I've heard it kills performance, reduces battery life, may not run one of my favorite applications, and AFAIK brings nothing that I actually want.

oarsinsync 7y ago
> brings nothing that I actually want You might not want security updates, but you probably need them, and probably should have them.
yoz-y 7y ago
YMMV but to me Mojave works way better than High Sierra on my 2009 MBP

Jedd 7y ago

> I agree with your examples but I think a piece of software is different because users expect it to change over time. A delightful assertion that is the precise opposite of TFA's entire point.

Falkon1313 7y ago

>users expect it to change over time No, they expect to have the opportunity to upgrade to newer versions which may be different if they want those differences. They don't expect the one they bought, learned to use, and have grown proficient with to suddenly be completely different one day for no good reason. Consider buying a truck because you haul stuff around a lot. You don't expect to just come out to your driveway one morning and find a fuel-efficient minicar there instead because someone at the car company decided that people like fuel-efficient vehicles, so they would steal back all the trucks they made and replace them. However, maybe you used to haul a lot of cargo but you don't anymore so you've been thinking of replacing the truck and a fuel-efficient car would interest you, but you want that to be your choice.

yoz-y 7y ago
Your example is not addressing the point the parent made. Users definitely expect free updates to new OS versions with all the bells and whistles this version supports. They also definitely expect bugfixes. Nobody mentioned changing design here. I can guarantee you that inboxes of all iOS developers who have not implemented dark mode will fill up the first day iOS 13 is released to public. Heck, people expect your app to work on the first beta and will complain if it does not.
- russdpale 7y ago
  I think both of you guys are right. I am continually surprised though to see some outright anger though. A good example is Microsoft Office. People who were used to pre ribbon get downright angry when talking about the ribbon. Its this weird delicate balance of improving the UI but not changing it too much. I tell people all the time UI is the hardest job in the world, an entire team of PhD's cannot get it right most of the time. Its simple an impossible task to consider the 'work flow' of every user- it is just beyond the scope of human intelligence I think. All you can do is create a good UI that works for a majority of people, and try to manage it from there.