Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rutgers!ucla-cs!zen!cory.Berkeley.EDU!schung
From: schung@cory.Berkeley.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: About "About..." (Have I posted this before?)
Message-ID: <3219@zen.berkeley.edu>
Date: Fri, 7-Aug-87 04:23:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: zen.3219
Posted: Fri Aug  7 04:23:44 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Aug-87 18:09:42 EDT
Sender: news@zen.berkeley.edu
Reply-To: schung@cory.Berkeley.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 40
Keywords: FLAMES.

I don't remember if I've posted this flame before.  (You know, on one 
of those late night session; can't remember things too well... :-})
So I am posting it again:

Hello,

Could someone tell me what is the real purpose of having "About..."  
(i.e. the first entry under the apple logo)?  

According to my opinion, "About..." should tell the user what a
program is for, and how it is supposed to be used, sort of an online reference
card.  And most programs *do* use "About..." for this purpose.  But a lot of 
others just give you a stupid copyright notice.  Not at all friendly.  It is 
like going to a tourist information box in Washington D.C. asking for direction 
to the White House and being told instead that you are in Washington D.C. the 
capital of the United States of America.(1)  Well, big deal.  I know *that*, 
that's why I am here.  What I need is some on hand direction about what to do,
where to go to.  The manuals?  Sure, when I was in Washington D.C. I usually
have my tourist booklets and city maps with me, still the city government 
provides tourist info centers.

I am not against putting copyright notice, or suggestion for 
donations, etc., in "About...,"  I am only asking for 
directions.  It is perfectly OK with me if the tour guide tell me how to get 
to the White House, and later tell me that the President lives there.

Flames welcome, such a boring summer this be.

______________________
(1)  This is only an analogy, never happened to me before, and I don't mean to 
say anything bad about Washington D.C., or the USA, or the Tourist Department--
if there is one.


sugih jamin

ARPANET: schung@cory.berkeley.edu
CSNET: schung%cory@berkeley.edu
UUCP: ucbvax!cory!schung
BITNET: SCHUNG@UCBCORY.BITNET