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From: tay@ssc-vax.UUCP (Thomas A Yap)
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Re: Re: windows... - (nf)
Message-ID: <695@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Dec-83 22:57:26 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.695
Posted: Sat Dec 17 22:57:26 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Dec-83 04:29:33 EST
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 21


  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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