I disagree completely with the analysis and with the conclusion. As I posted there: " Sorry, you are completely wrong to object, since it actually is faster.

I disagree completely with the analysis and with the conclusion. As I posted there: " Sorry, you are completely wrong to object, since it actually is faster. You said it yourself: you notice the trick when an app is exceptionally slow, you can't interact when you're ready to. That means in every other case you get to 'begin using' immediately. Interaction isn't only pressing something. It's also processing and deciding what to do. If Adobe Photoshop spit out a fake blank screenshot instead of the splash screen, you could start to think of what tools to use and what to do with them. This is part of using the app. I mean, by your argument the screen might as well be blank except when you're moving the mouse, clicking, or typing. Since seeing the interface when you're not using it actively isn't part of using the app. But that's obviously wrong, and obviously a non-blank screen is part of 'using it.' Recap. Current photoshop 1) For x seconds: Loads... I get to read some credits instead of being able to look at the app's interface. 2) For another y seconds: I stare at the interface deciding what to do. 3) For another z seconds: I am taking my first action 4) after a small processing time (p) the action I first took is completed. In the splash screen scenario, the time until my first action is completed is defined by x + y + z + p . But by putting up a fake image you can reduce the time to y + z + p, eliminating the extra time from x entirely! (or at least eliminating as much of it as is covered by y. Y is almost never exactly zero.) It's that simple. Faking the first screenshot is ALWAYS faster, unless you're not a human but a computer script that takes an action 0 milliseconds after the interface is put up. Every app should put up a screenshot while it loads! Or even a bit more than a screenshot! Clicking the "Firefox" icon should instantly (notepad.exe speed) bring up a fake window. Then you can slowly mosy your mouse over to the URL tab or the Google search tab, and slowly start typing where you want to go first. By the time you hit enter, hopefully firefox has really loaded. It's just two little input tabs. Why not fake them for awhile? The App screenshot trick is similar. I approve completely*.