Re: MJR on Linux/OSS

[Kevin <kkadow () gmail com>]

On Mon, 7 Mar 2005 23:47:06 +0530, Devdas Bhagat
<devdas () dvb homelinux org> wrote:
> http://www.ranum.com/editorials/divide-conquer/
>
> Summary: Diversity in interfaces is bad. Microsoft's consistent interface
> is good.

Summary:  A uniform, predictable, and consistent *user* interface is good.

I might not go so far as to say that Microsoft is the best example of
this concept,
but I think the underlying concept is sound.  Consider MacOS as an alternative
if you find that less disturbing.

This almost reads like one of Schneier's rants;  If I climb into an
unfamiliar car,
the e-brake user interface is all but universal, I don't have to be
concerned that
if I'm in a Saab that big lever in the "stop!" location in every other
make of vehicle
is the "go fast!" control in this one variant.  Same goes with
MS-Windows and the
X in the upper right corner of any window.


> The trouble with a single dominant monoculture is that it does increase
> the damage caused by a single hole. See blaster, and the long thread
> which was spawned by *that* on this list.

IMHO, User interface design is one area where monoculture is not evil.

Marcus isn't talking low-level system calls here, but rather the way in which
information is *presented* to the user (window widget layout) and how input
*accepted* from the user (keyboard shortcuts and mouse click meaning).

How does the concept of a "hole" apply to user interface design?

I suppose a counter-example could be those popup ads that imitate the
look of a Windows error alert box, attempting to trick the user into clicking.
These always look more than a little silly when you see one in Safari.
That said, Palladium will, for all it's evils, address this problem.


> I guess this is one of those things on which I disagree with Marcus.
> Hopefully, this leads to another good discussion on what would work
> best for what requirements (as opposed to the /. threads).

And for perhaps the first time in history, I agree with Marcus
(with over three weeks to go until April 1st.)


Kevin Kadow
--
"If it looks like a button, it damn well better do *something* when
you click it."
         -- Kevin Kadow on that newfangled HTML "IMG" tag, circa 1994
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