Comments on: Sacrificing Abilities for Simplicity http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/ a developer blog Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:23:59 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Daniel http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-289 Daniel Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:22:13 +0000 http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-289 Microsoft had to redesign Office (ribbon) and abandon 20 year old common user interface guidelines because they were unable to effectively manage und communicate the excessive complexity of their apps. I think you also confuse intuitive usability with less (needed) choice. As long as you can do pretty much anything you want, why should they give you options to change this? I really dont get your post - you want software to be more difficult to use, so that you can be proud of even just mediocre results? Btw, Photoshop is for pros, which means they outperform software; in contrast to iPhoto users. I'm sure you'll find a photo management / calendar creation software which is more customizable and difficult to use, but why on earth should Apple move towards non-usability? That 2% of its users (the same 2% that WILL buy another software to accomplish their tasks and not use the bundled one!) can waste hours of their time tweaking stuff? Microsoft had to redesign Office (ribbon) and abandon 20 year old common user interface guidelines because they were unable to effectively manage und communicate the excessive complexity of their apps.

I think you also confuse intuitive usability with less (needed) choice. As long as you can do pretty much anything you want, why should they give you options to change this?

I really dont get your post – you want software to be more difficult to use, so that you can be proud of even just mediocre results? Btw, Photoshop is for pros, which means they outperform software; in contrast to iPhoto users. I’m sure you’ll find a photo management / calendar creation software which is more customizable and difficult to use, but why on earth should Apple move towards non-usability? That 2% of its users (the same 2% that WILL buy another software to accomplish their tasks and not use the bundled one!) can waste hours of their time tweaking stuff?

]]> By: luxuryluke http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-288 luxuryluke Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:33:23 +0000 http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-288 There's an interesting video from Google about choice, and that wider selections are not always the best for regular users, but check it out and determine for yourself what's best in your particular situation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luxuryluke/314708101/ There’s an interesting video from Google about choice, and that wider selections are not always the best for regular users, but check it out and determine for yourself what’s best in your particular situation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luxuryluke/314708101/

]]> By: Anonymous http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-287 Anonymous Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:08:10 +0000 http://dbachrach.com/blog/2006/12/sacrificing-abilities-for-simplicity/#comment-287 It's not as easy as one system-wide setting. I may want advanced configuration in some apps and simple-as-a-noob in other apps... It’s not as easy as one system-wide setting. I may want advanced configuration in some apps and simple-as-a-noob in other apps…

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