Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!mit-amt!mjkobb
From: mjkobb@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Michael J Kobb)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: System Error Handling (Was: Mac interface bashing
Summary: BUT!
Keywords: mac, interface, system errors
Message-ID: <1630@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: 15 Feb 90 01:53:00 GMT
References: <3453.25d9361c@vax5.cit.cornell.edu>
Reply-To: mjkobb@media-lab.media.mit.edu (Michael J Kobb)
Distribution: comp
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA
Lines: 19

In article <3453.25d9361c@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> ke2y@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:
[...]
>
>  Anyway, to 'improve' the user interface so that system errors were better
>explained would mean that the average user would have even more chance for
>problems - it sounds more like something they could fix themselves.
>  The current system error method works well - it's cryptic enough to
>scare them into asking a consultant.
>  It works and works well.  Again, if you are a power user, there are simple
>remedies such as the wonderful 'System Errors' DA (Now up to v2.5)

For the "computer for the rest of us," the term "Power User" should be
undefined, or at best redundant.  I can't disagree more strongly with the
sentiment of "just ask us and we'll fix it."  This removes the power that
using a computer was supposed to give to these people, and puts it in the
hands of a consulting elite.  This serves only to increase the mystery with
which some people view these machines.  The machine should work like a
toaster, and I don't know of any such thing as a toaster consultant.

--Mike