5 ms·

What? No, we don't need operating systems that come with manuals. The last manual I got with a software package ended up a doorstop pretty quickly. What we need

by kijin 15y ago

What? No, we don't need operating systems that come with manuals. The last manual I got with a software package ended up a doorstop pretty quickly. What we need is an operating system that doesn't need a manual because it's so intuitive and well-designed.

TazeTSchnitzel 15y ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyuuqsGoXys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyuuqsGoXys
DavidAbrams 15y ago
Which is what the Mac once claimed to be, but Apple relies on unmarked, multi-fingered "gestures" and two-handed hotkeys. Yeah, it's a clinic of hypocrisy from the company that claimed two-button mice were "too complicated." Then it comes out with one inept, piece-of-shit mouse after another, culminating in a "multi-touch" mouse that you're somehow supposed to hold in place while swiping horizontally with multiple fingers.
- thatjoshguy 15y ago
  Gestures are keyboard shortcuts for the mouse/trackpad. The thing about Mac is that none of these gestures are actually needed for the OS. Pretty much every gesture has a corresponding Dock item to launch it as well. Gestures are an extra. An added bonus. Think the multitasking gestures for iOS 5 on iPad
- dubya 15y ago
  I don't care for the multi-touch mouse, but the trackpad is really nice. The gestures probably should be more transparent or off by default though, since I suspect many users find them accidentally and aren't sure how. There are several short videos about the gestures in System Preferences -> Trackpad.
- Bud 15y ago
  what the Mac once claimed to be You mean what the Mac still is. Apple relies on unmarked, multi-fingered "gestures" Actually, they are marked quite clearly, and only some of them are multi-fingered, and they are remarkably easy to use. and two-handed hotkeys Actually, Mac OS hotkeys are quite consistent and intuitive, and have survived the test of time. command-c, command-v, command-x, command-z, command-s, command-p all do what they did in 1984. It's simply not true that Mac hotkeys are less intuitive than the alternatives; indeed, Windows copied the most-common Mac hotkeys verbatim. Yeah, it's a clinic of hypocrisy This is where you really start to run off the rails. Then it comes out with one inept, piece-of-shit mouse after another You can argue with their ergonomics, but they certainly weren't pieces of shit. I found at least some of those mice quite usable. culminating in a "multi-touch" mouse The real culmination of Apple's input-device path is the Magic Trackpad, which is the best trackpad I've ever used, and it's not even a close comparison. I prefer it to any mouse, and I've used 28 years' worth of mice.
keeperofdakeys 15y ago
I don't think you mean intuitive, I think you mean discoverable and consistent. One good example is using only symbols to convey meaning, like the new gmail interface. I've not met one person who found it 'intuitive', or even able to easily figure out the functions without hovering to reveal the text. This is because symbols are good for visual searches and being a unique 'landmark', but not for conveying meaning.

by kijin 15y ago

TazeTSchnitzel 15y ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyuuqsGoXys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyuuqsGoXys

DavidAbrams 15y ago

Which is what the Mac once claimed to be, but Apple relies on unmarked, multi-fingered "gestures" and two-handed hotkeys. Yeah, it's a clinic of hypocrisy from the company that claimed two-button mice were "too complicated." Then it comes out with one inept, piece-of-shit mouse after another, culminating in a "multi-touch" mouse that you're somehow supposed to hold in place while swiping horizontally with multiple fingers.

thatjoshguy 15y ago
Gestures are keyboard shortcuts for the mouse/trackpad. The thing about Mac is that none of these gestures are actually needed for the OS. Pretty much every gesture has a corresponding Dock item to launch it as well. Gestures are an extra. An added bonus. Think the multitasking gestures for iOS 5 on iPad
dubya 15y ago
I don't care for the multi-touch mouse, but the trackpad is really nice. The gestures probably should be more transparent or off by default though, since I suspect many users find them accidentally and aren't sure how. There are several short videos about the gestures in System Preferences -> Trackpad.
Bud 15y ago
what the Mac once claimed to be You mean what the Mac still is. Apple relies on unmarked, multi-fingered "gestures" Actually, they are marked quite clearly, and only some of them are multi-fingered, and they are remarkably easy to use. and two-handed hotkeys Actually, Mac OS hotkeys are quite consistent and intuitive, and have survived the test of time. command-c, command-v, command-x, command-z, command-s, command-p all do what they did in 1984. It's simply not true that Mac hotkeys are less intuitive than the alternatives; indeed, Windows copied the most-common Mac hotkeys verbatim. Yeah, it's a clinic of hypocrisy This is where you really start to run off the rails. Then it comes out with one inept, piece-of-shit mouse after another You can argue with their ergonomics, but they certainly weren't pieces of shit. I found at least some of those mice quite usable. culminating in a "multi-touch" mouse The real culmination of Apple's input-device path is the Magic Trackpad, which is the best trackpad I've ever used, and it's not even a close comparison. I prefer it to any mouse, and I've used 28 years' worth of mice.

keeperofdakeys 15y ago

I don't think you mean intuitive, I think you mean discoverable and consistent. One good example is using only symbols to convey meaning, like the new gmail interface. I've not met one person who found it 'intuitive', or even able to easily figure out the functions without hovering to reveal the text. This is because symbols are good for visual searches and being a unique 'landmark', but not for conveying meaning.