Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!rutgers!soleil!mlb.semi.harris.com!trantor.harris-atd.com!trantor!chuck
From: chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com (Chuck Musciano)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: OL != Motif
Message-ID: <5664@trantor.harris-atd.com>
Date: 4 Mar 91 17:49:47 GMT
References: <9103011331.AA00547@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.EDU>
Sender: news@trantor.harris-atd.com
Reply-To: chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com (Chuck Musciano)
Organization: Advanced Technology Dept, Harris Corp, Melbourne, FL
Lines: 34

In article <9103011331.AA00547@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.EDU>, mouse@lightning.mcrcim.mcgill.EDU writes:
> Fine, so provide all the pseudo-3-D chrome; make it the default, even.
> But *let us shut it off*!  I have no quarrel with chrome per se; what I
> will not tolerate is not allowing me to disable it.  If I encounter an
> application that won't let me turn off things like pseudo-3-D, I simply
> don't use it.  (I have never yet seen one that's useful enough to make
> me use it in spite of the chrome, nor do I expect to.)

     I agree wholeheartedly here.  I have a monochrome system, and Motif
is just horrible looking.  I tried all sorts of things, changing shadow
dimensions, shading patterns, whatever, but they all caused some other
bizarre interface behavior.  (This was in Frame Maker 2.1X).

     I like the fact that OPEN LOOK admitted up front that 3D doesn't work in
monochrome, and provided two distinct looks for the widgets.  Another
consideration: OL always looks good in print when you write your manuals,
because you can snap the mono version to get a clean picture.  Motif always
looks muddy.

     I also think Motif uses too much 3D.  It's like every widget is at a
different altitude.  Even when confronting visual 3D cues, your brain knows
the screen is flat, and will only accomodate a few different heights.  A good
use of 3D Motif widgets is in the apE interface.  This is one of the few 
Motif tools that made me feel like it had a useful 3D look.

-- 

Chuck Musciano				ARPA  : chuck@trantor.harris-atd.com
Harris Corporation 			Usenet: ...!uunet!x102a!trantor!chuck
PO Box 37, MS 3A/1912			AT&T  : (407) 727-6131
Melbourne, FL 32902			FAX   : (407) 729-3363

A good newspaper is never good enough,
	but a lousy newspaper is a joy forever.		-- Garrison Keillor