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From: bzs@Encore.COM (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac,comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor (Why any metaphor?)
Message-ID: <4510@xenna.Encore.COM>
Date: 28 Dec 88 19:50:02 GMT
References: <850@mtfmi.att.com> <673@cogsci.ucsd.EDU> <1489@umbc3.UMD.EDU> <22616@pbhya.PacBell.COM> <66401@ti-csl.CSNET>
Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Marlboro, MA
Lines: 48
In-reply-to: holland@m2.csc.ti.com's message of 27 Dec 88 22:00:58 GMT
Posting-Front-End: GNU Emacs 18.41.15 of Tue Jun  9 1987 on xenna (berkeley-unix)


From: holland@m2.csc.ti.com (Fred Hollander)
>Typical Mac Word Processor:
>
>        Find:   word    Replace With:   new-word
>
>vi:
>
>        ^[:.,$s/word/new-word/g
>
>Can you tell which one is more intuitive?  Now, don't get me wrong.  I've used
>vi since college and never had any problem with it, but I would never had
>gotten started without a manual or a reference.  Simple yes.  Powerful yes.
>Intuitive %$#@ no! I agree that UNIX is easy to use, ONCE YOU KNOW HOW!  My
>four year old can use my Mac without help.  Don't tell me you son just sat
>down and figured out vi (and NROFF!??).

The issue is not which is more "intuitive" (whatever that means) but
what your goals are (to hire your four year old?) You also
conveniently fail to mention that the latter is far more powerful,
once learned. Or is taking a little time to learn how to use a tool a
dirty word?

I remember being driven nuts trying to figure out any number of fancy
typewriters or xerox machines until I asked someone to show me how or
read a manual. There's nothing all that unique about most computer
software. I suppose a xerox machine could just have this one big red
button COPY on it and it would then be "user friendly".

There seems to be a fascination in this field with catering to some
mythical person with a two-digit IQ, total fear of computers, and not
enough technical sense to operate a push-button phone.

Perhaps we are actually patting ourselves on the head and trying to
convince the world how hard what we do is? Hmmm?

Much of it really isn't, I've seen many people of mean talent handle
vi or emacs perfectly well, and spent far too many hours listening to
boors "prove" to me that it's not possible, that holding down a
control key is just way beyond the ability of (that loathsome
sub-human drooling moron) the secretary.

My suggestion is that when you find such people don't hire them as
they will probably be poorly suited to the rest of the skilled white
collar job they are being considered for, let them find more
appropriate work (for both of you.)

	-Barry Shein, ||Encore||