On Wed, 27 Oct 1999, Jason Dawes wrote:
> At 06:38 PM 10/27/99 +0000, you wrote:
> >
> >Generally speaking, the definition of what constitutes
> >"better" depends upon the task being done.
>
> Then don't try and tell me that you shouldn't add a "done" button simply
> because most people don't add them.
Actually, in the interest of user interface, that's exactly why you should
*not* put a "Done" button. *Because* everyone else does it one way, it
will cause confusion when people see one that shouldn't be there.
The original creators of PalmOS set these guidelines for a reason, to
maintain a unified look and feel. This is why the device is so popular,
because everything works generally the same.
Windows is a perfect example. The UI leaves a lot to be desired, yet,
when you use a program that supposedly has an improved interface, it's
initially very clunky and a pain to use. There are quite a few clunky
apps out there, and, as a result, they detract from the whole UI
experience.
In contrast, MacOS sets guidelines for UI, much like the PalmOS
guidelines, and Mac is widely recognized has having one of the best UI
around. Why? Because of this consistency. They have spent a lot of
effort to figure out the best UI, as have the Palm people.
Programmers are good at programming, but tend to be not so good at UI
design. Leave that up to the UI experts. If you don't have a UI expert
to consult with, follow the guidelines they set forth.
---
Brian Mathis
Direct Edge
