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From: singer@endor.harvard.edu (Richard Siegel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Poor Mac Design Philosophy
Message-ID: <2991@husc6.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Oct-87 20:25:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: husc6.2991
Posted: Tue Oct 13 20:25:32 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Oct-87 05:01:52 EDT
References: <2514@cvl.umd.edu>
Sender: news@husc6.UUCP
Reply-To: singer@endor.UUCP (Richard Siegel)
Organization: THINK Technologies, Inc., Bedford, MA
Lines: 44
Keywords: Mac design blinking apple

In article <2514@cvl.umd.edu> avjewe@cvl.UUCP (Andrew V Jewell) writes:
>
>The finder has a SPECIAL menu right?
>So, why doesn't it include items like
>   REBUILD DESKTOP
>and
>   RESET PARAMETER RAM

	Because special system-level functions like that are functions
that are only needed in specific conditions, i.e. when the Desktop file
gets trashed or when the Parameter RAM gets corrupted -- these are both
things that in general aren't supposed to happen.

	I realize that for a Mac Hacker these functions are handy, but for
a novice user they would be only confusing and somewhat threatening.

>It seems this would be amazingly easy to implement,

	This is true, but see above.

>easier to document
	
	Easier to document than WHAT? It's equally trivial to document either
type of function.

>and N times more mac-like

	Again, more Mac-Like than what? The Finder is a program that
has no analog anywhere in the personal computer industry. True, there are
Mac-alike "desktop" things like Windows and GEM, but note what I just said:
the Finder is the prototype for graphical operating-system interfaces.

>
>                                 Andy Jewell

		--Rich


**The opinions stated herein are my own opinions and do not necessarily
represent the policies or opinions of my employer (THINK Technologies, Inc).

* Richard M. Siegel | {decvax, ucbvax, sun}!harvard!endor!singer    *
* Customer Support  | singer@endor.harvard.edu			    *
* THINK Technologies, Inc.  (No snappy quote)                       *