Fwd: Re: Application duplication (was: Re: cdbakeoven)

[Guillaume Laurent]

On Saturday 20 April 2002 13:54, Marc Mutz wrote:
>
> Just because Windows dumbed down users to the point that they can't even
> browse the web without a help wizard doesn't mean we should do the same.

As you say, users want to browse the web. Likewise, they want to burn CDs. 
They don't want to choose between half a dozen of web browsers and CD 
burners. It's all about performing tasks and solving problems, not programs.

> GUIs are not there to make dumbed down programs but to make programs easier
> to learn

No, to render tasks easier to accomplish.

> Free software is also about choice.

And that's its curse. That everyone feels entitled to create yet another irc 
client, window manager, mp3 player, etc... because "free software is about 
choice". In some cases it's justified (like when you want good integration 
with a platform), but in general it's just ego-driven, and all you get is a 
bunch of half-finished programs.

Suppose you could buy a HiFi set with four different CD players, all with 
different buttons and features. Even if it was at the same price as a 
"normal" HiFi set, would you be interested ? Suppose you could replace the 
steering wheel and pedals of your car by something totally different where 
you'd steer with your feet and control the accelerator and brakes with your 
hands. Would you do it ?

What I'm trying to make you understand is that your perception is skewed by 
the fact you're interested in computers and programming. So for you, having 
multiple programs for one thing is cool, you have the interest in trying them 
all out and selecting which one your prefer. But most users don't have this 
interest.

Try to imagine what it would be like to have a similar choice about something 
you don't really care about, and see if it's still cool.

-- 
					Guillaume.
					http://www.telegraph-road.org