Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 13th Aug 2008 23:50 UTC
An interesting article has been making its way around the internet the past few days, titled "Top 10 Usability Highs Of Mac OS". Mac OS X indeed does some things very, very right, just like many other operating systems and graphical environments do some things very, very right. The issue with the list of the article in question is that many of the items on the list are not exactly examples of "Usability Highs" at all.
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RE[8]: Difficult to know where to begin...
by tupp on Sat 16th Aug 2008 01:26
in reply to "RE[7]: Difficult to know where to begin..."
Member since:2006-11-12
lots of UI choices does not mean greater usability.
Yes. They do. Especially in this case.
Linux natively provides the same UIs offered by Windows and OSX (windows with widgets, icons, docks/taskbars, app menubar at the screen top, etc). So, Linux already has the same usability as Windows and OSX.
However, Linux goes beyond these typical UIs and additionally offers several unique UIs, that don't run natively on Windows nor OSX. Hence, Linux is offering greater usability.
Let me put it another way. Most Apple fans believe that there can only be one OS/UI that has the greatest/ultimate usability. Actually, usability depends greatly on the conditioning and preferences of each individual. So, while some might feel that OSX provides the the greatest UI of all time, a power user employing a lighting-fast, tiling window manager would be held back by the OSX UI. The same situation applies to someone who primarily uses an advanced shell. Also, many feel that the Mezzo desktop is the best GUI, because it is primarily designed to take maximum advantage of the screen edge (unlike OSX).
The only person who can say for sure that one of these choices is the ultimate UI is the individual who makes the choice. All of these extra choices (and more) are offered in Linux natively, but none of these alternatives are offered natively for OSX nor Windows.
Since the individual chooses the ultimate UI suited for him/her, the OS with the greater number of native UI choices is the one with the greatest usability.
Just a lot of half baked UI's.
Please explain. Who has the half-baked UIs? Please give examples (as I did in a previous post in this thread with the long list of half-baked, Apple UI blunders).
Linux apps, such as gimp, VLC and blender, just don't seem to care about usability.
Please explain this claim. In what ways do the Gimp, VLC and Blender seem not to care about usability.
By the way, I am not sure if the Gimp, VLC and Blender are considered to be solely Linux apps.
There aren't that many commercial apps on linux and that may explain the lack of polish.
What "lack of polish?" Please explain with specific examples. I wonder if anyone can provide as many examples as were provided in the list of Apple UI mistakes.
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Member since:
2007-01-22
lots of UI choices does not mean greater usability. Just a lot of half baked UI's. And it's not just about the OS. Linux apps, such as gimp, VLC and blender, just don't seem to care about usability. There aren't that many commercial apps on linux and that may explain the lack of polish.