Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!csri.toronto.edu!drz
From: drz@csri.toronto.edu (Jerry Zarycky)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Gadgets and 1.4..
Message-ID: <1989Oct22.210850.6138@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>
Date: 23 Oct 89 01:08:50 GMT
References: <2260@nigel.udel.EDU>
Organization: University of Toronto, CSRI
Lines: 52

In article <2260@nigel.udel.EDU> CSD29_R3%UNO.BITNET@vm.tcs.tulane.edu writes:
>
>  I keep seeing all of these posts about a revamped sizing gadget for WB1.4.
>Something to the effect that most of you don't like the fact that the sizing
>gadgets will be next to each other in a window.  Well here's what I suggest.
>  A WINDOW EDITOR.  Yes folks, a WINDOW EDITOR.  Within this editor, we would
>be able to do stuff like edit the placement of gadgets, determine the look of
>the said gadgets, etc., etc.   This would kill the need to run seperate programs
>, such as Newlook or 3D gadgets, to get a WorkBench that looks good.  So, how
>about it people?  Can we do it?  Wouldn't that be a better alternative to
>making everyone use a standard window configuration.  The WINDOW EDITOR would
>be part of Preferences, of course.
>
>  -Dave @ University of New Orleans.
>  CSD29_R3@UNO.BITNET


With all due respect, I think that this would be a terrible idea.
As a computer programmer, I think it is quite doable and neat and fun and
......; well, you get the idea.

However, we, in the Amiga community have been torn between two opposing ends:
	1) To have the neatest, most powerful and configurable computer out
	   there
	2) To make sure that everyone else in the world knew about part 1),
	   by buying an Amiga and using all the neat software available for it

    Notice that the developers have been exploring part 1) and have rewarded
us with all kinds of neat file requesters, which we eventually learn how to
use (after a while).  But one of the biggest complaints heard from novice
users regards the non-intuitive (and different!) user interfaces which each
different Amiga program presents.  The new CEO of Commodore, Harry Copperman,
has mandated that there be a standard file requester (and other parts of the
user interface) available for all developers to use, in order to present
a consistent user interface, as the Macintosh has managed.
    Now, I am not try to force an unfit user interface upon the general
Amiga community, but I am arguing that after all the discussion is over,
we should be able to get 90% agreement on one scheme, and the software
engineers at Commodore will probably be the ones to make the final decision.
After all, if the Mac users can get by in their user interface with only
one button on their mouse, we can't possibly do any worse.
    So, in general, I am advocating getting all your opinions in NOW,
while the design process is still happening.  After Commodore has finalized
the design, we should then proceed to more important things, like writing
GREAT software with the user interface we have.


Jerry Zarycky

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