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From: grunwald@uiuccsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Re: Re: windows... - (nf)
Message-ID: <4546@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Dec-83 04:29:29 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.4546
Posted: Fri Dec 16 04:29:29 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Dec-83 06:02:23 EST
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#R:pyuxa:-42000:uiuccsb:19000005:000:1017
uiuccsb!grunwald    Dec 15 22:23:00 1983

  Certainly no software package should FORCE you to use a mouse, but several
reports do demonstrate that mice are faster for the average user than step
keys (e.g. VI) for positioning. If you're not one of those average uses, fine.
However, I like it and I think that a properly designed editor using a mouse
would be much more useful than a step-key based editor. Before people had cheap
computers, interfaces really sucked because the basic resource was expensive.
At the current time, I think editors are a little less than thrilling because
of the "expensive resource" -- cursor motion and reverse bandwidth.
   I can specify much more information to the machine using a mouse than
step keys.


As for analogies of windows with papers on your desk -- maybe for people in 
offices. A better analogy as far as I am concerned is that windows provide
a way to have 7 terminals on your desk without the clutter.

Dirk Grunwald
University of Illinois
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