3 ms·

I look at my Windows 10 desktop and you know what? Everything is alien. Even Microsoft's own stuff doesn't feel native any longer. Every program I care about

I look at my Windows 10 desktop and you know what? Everything is alien. Even Microsoft's own stuff doesn't feel native any longer. Every program I care about is based on some widget tookit/framework that isn't now and probably never will be whatever Microsoft is pushing this year, and Microsoft's own software spans some unknown number of GUI evolution phases as well. I used to think there was value in being well aligned with the native Desktop UI. Now I don't really know what that is any more and I no longer really care. I care that a given application serves it purpose and the degree of an application's alignment with the latest native UI trend is well down on my list of concerns. Coping with the delta between applications is a small problem I try not to get hung up on.

pavlov 6y ago
The same thing is happening to macOS. Big Sur is sealing the deal with a mishmash of iOS styles inconsistently applied across the desktop. I was always a huge believer in native UI, following the platform HIG, never reinventing controls just to satisfy graphic design caprices; but Apple has essentially given up on these things. The Mac UI is now just Windows 10 with rounded corners instead of sharp.
- topspin 6y ago
  Well that's 0 for 3 then. Linux has always exhibited this 'problem.' Windows is effectively at parity with Linux now, and you point out the increasing divergence of even macOS. What shall we conclude from all of this? I propose that simultaneously expecting a) an operating system to host a limitless diversity of graphical applications with origins that transcend platforms, programming paradigms and decades and b) that they all precisely align with your chosen operating systems ever changing GUI conventions and c) all of this be delivered at at least affordable if not no cost -- is simply unreasonable.
- tonyedgecombe 6y ago
  I suppose you could argue having a common style between macOS and iOS is more consistent. I'm still undecided about the new style in Big Sur. On the other hand I spend a lot of time in Windows and find the whole UI grating.
tracker1 6y ago
s/alien/fugly/g

pavlov 6y ago

The same thing is happening to macOS. Big Sur is sealing the deal with a mishmash of iOS styles inconsistently applied across the desktop. I was always a huge believer in native UI, following the platform HIG, never reinventing controls just to satisfy graphic design caprices; but Apple has essentially given up on these things. The Mac UI is now just Windows 10 with rounded corners instead of sharp.

topspin 6y ago
Well that's 0 for 3 then. Linux has always exhibited this 'problem.' Windows is effectively at parity with Linux now, and you point out the increasing divergence of even macOS. What shall we conclude from all of this? I propose that simultaneously expecting a) an operating system to host a limitless diversity of graphical applications with origins that transcend platforms, programming paradigms and decades and b) that they all precisely align with your chosen operating systems ever changing GUI conventions and c) all of this be delivered at at least affordable if not no cost -- is simply unreasonable.
tonyedgecombe 6y ago
I suppose you could argue having a common style between macOS and iOS is more consistent. I'm still undecided about the new style in Big Sur. On the other hand I spend a lot of time in Windows and find the whole UI grating.

tracker1 6y ago

s/alien/fugly/g