Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wasatch!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ssbell!kent
From: kent@ssbell.UUCP (Kent Landfield)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: What is that MOTIF thang on expo?!?
Message-ID: <540@ssbell.UUCP>
Date: 21 Aug 89 03:33:57 GMT
References: <538@ssbell.UUCP> <8908171153.AA02417@fnord.umiacs.UMD.EDU> <1444@riscy.dec.com> <1445@riscy.dec.com> <1446@riscy.dec.com>
Reply-To: kent@ssbell.UUCP (ssbell Admin)
Organization: Sterling Software, FSG-IMD, Bellevue, NE.
Lines: 52

In article <1445@riscy.dec.com> graham@fuel.dec.com (kris graham) writes:
# Some scientific surveys have been done ...regarding the OPEN LOOK vs Motif 
# controversy....  So far, Motif has a wide margin lead.  A good example of 
# such survey, is the one conducted by UNIX Today! in July ' 89.

In article <538@ssbel.UUCP> I wrote:
> Scientific surveys ? BULL. The article that you direct the readers to states 
> it is an informal survey. 
>          ^^^^^^^^

kris then writes:
# Making something 'free' does not necessarily make it more popular.  
# There are other reasons why users may pick one UI over the other.

I wrote:
> Technical merit, ease of use, flexibility and extensibility come
> to mind as well as reliability.  Before you go sounding like the 
> marketing department, maybe you should get some real info on OPEN
> LOOK from the people it was designed for, the masses. 

In article <1446@riscy.dec.com> graham@fuel.dec.com (kris graham) writes:
# Thanx for reminding me of the 'proper' ways to sound in here ;-)
# Can you educate me on some of the features that makes OPEN LOOK more 
# flexible and easier to use....such that "the masses" and "computer 
# illiterates" may want it?

Sorry for the misunderstanding but I was agreeing with you and was just 
giving examples that I think should be discussed instead of just the 
pricing. :-)  I use Motif here and do not have access to OPEN LOOK just
yet.  :-)

I wrote:
>                                                       All the articles 
> that I have seen to date have been surveying people with a great deal
> of computer literacy. The real test of a GUI is to see just how easy it 
> is for computer illiterates to learn and use the machine.

If anyone knows of any *real* scientific studies comparing Motif versus 
OPEN LOOK please e-mail me a reference to it.  I will gladly post a summary
to the net if there is sufficient interest.

# Christopher Graham          
# Digital Equipment Corp

				-Kent+
----
Kent Landfield               UUCP:     kent@ssbell
Sterling Software FSG/IMD    INTERNET: kent@ssbell.uu.net
1404 Ft. Crook Rd. South     Phone:    (402) 291-8300 
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My opinions are mine alone.  My mailbox awaits...