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Chrome should be all about making an application interface more intuitive to users. A completely reductionist UI would be just having hotkeys, like vim, but tha

Chrome should be all about making an application interface more intuitive to users. A completely reductionist UI would be just having hotkeys, like vim, but that makes it a lot harder for a new user to get started. I think the key is to strike the right balance so that as users gain experience, the Chrome doesn't hold them back.

ugh 16y ago
What about users who like to use the mouse? I’m not sure whether keyboard centric UIs are inherently superior to mouse-centric UIs.
- jokermatt999 16y ago
  Unless we're discussing actual metrics, it seems like it's a matter of preference. Keyboard UIs (vim, pentadactyl, etc) should allow the user to do what they want in as few keystrokes as possible. They allow the user to do things fast. For people who want to take the time and effort to master an interface, they're superior to mouse centric UIs. For people who want to be able to sit down and use something right away without having to read a manual, they're horrible. The discovery of such UIs consists of "RTFM". Mouse centric UIs should be easier for people who haven't used the program before. The functions should be fairly obviously labeled and easy to click on. For those unfamiliar with the program, at least its basic functionality should be immediately obvious. However, without some form of keyboard shortcut, they tend to be slower and more frustrating for more experienced or technical users who want to simply get stuff done. All of this is just IMHO of course. I tend to prefer UIs that are essentially not there. My Firefox consists of a pentadactyl command line/status bar, and the TreeStyleTab sidebar. The browser UI is completely out of my way, and I know how to do what I want with just the keyboard, mostly. However, when people sit down and try to use my Firefox, they have no idea how the hell to even begin. (Whether this is a bug or a feature is up to you. :)
beefman 16y ago
It is impossible for chrome to make UIs functionally better. That's the definition of chrome.

ugh 16y ago

What about users who like to use the mouse? I’m not sure whether keyboard centric UIs are inherently superior to mouse-centric UIs.

jokermatt999 16y ago
Unless we're discussing actual metrics, it seems like it's a matter of preference. Keyboard UIs (vim, pentadactyl, etc) should allow the user to do what they want in as few keystrokes as possible. They allow the user to do things fast. For people who want to take the time and effort to master an interface, they're superior to mouse centric UIs. For people who want to be able to sit down and use something right away without having to read a manual, they're horrible. The discovery of such UIs consists of "RTFM". Mouse centric UIs should be easier for people who haven't used the program before. The functions should be fairly obviously labeled and easy to click on. For those unfamiliar with the program, at least its basic functionality should be immediately obvious. However, without some form of keyboard shortcut, they tend to be slower and more frustrating for more experienced or technical users who want to simply get stuff done. All of this is just IMHO of course. I tend to prefer UIs that are essentially not there. My Firefox consists of a pentadactyl command line/status bar, and the TreeStyleTab sidebar. The browser UI is completely out of my way, and I know how to do what I want with just the keyboard, mostly. However, when people sit down and try to use my Firefox, they have no idea how the hell to even begin. (Whether this is a bug or a feature is up to you. :)

beefman 16y ago

It is impossible for chrome to make UIs functionally better. That's the definition of chrome.