Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac:13746 comp.windows.misc:235
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!mcnc!thorin!unc!steele
From: steele@unc.cs.unc.edu (Oliver Steele)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: 2 button mouse
Message-ID: <1635@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Date: 10 Mar 88 02:12:12 GMT
Sender: news@thorin.cs.unc.edu
Reply-To: steele@unc.UUCP (Oliver Steele)
Organization: University Of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lines: 25
Keywords: window human computer interface
References:


The story as I've heard it (most recently from a talk Mark Cutter of Apple
(Mr. MacDraw) gave here) is that Apple tested its multi-button mouse
(single button on mouse, modifier keys on keyboard, and multi-click)
against what is now the standard (three buttons on mouse with less use of
keyboard modifiers) and found that beginners found the single-physical-
button much, much easier than the multi-, and that experts found both
equally easy.  You aren't giving up power, since you've got enough
modifiers to give you virtual buttons to your hearts content as well as
using location as a substitute for buttons (often clearer anyway:  tool
palettes instead of popup tool windows, etc.), unless you're one of those
people who actually _uses_ all 3*2^4(?) buttons that some of the X window
managers give you.

And as far as anecdotal evidence goes:  I constantly get confused about
which button to use for what when I switch twixt X, Smalltalk, and
playing with NeWS, and I've been mousing for 4 years and sunning for
2+ (hey!  I just verbed some more verbs!) and have both motor
coordination and typing skills that are above average and can switch
operating systems without getting near as mixed as the mice get me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oliver Steele					   ...!uunet!mcnc!unc!steele
							   steele@cs.unc.edu
"A sea urchin is the best way to comb the inside
of a hairy tube."		-- Peter Wolfenden