CompuServe Messages

User interfaces

    26-Aug-93 19:57:22
Sb: #111524-User interfaces
Fm: Mark D. Manes 74030,744
To: Syndesis 76004,1763
John, There is a difference between 'standards' and 'laws'. The Macintosh is an example of 'laws' to an extreme. An interface should be written that best serves the function of the program, and most importantly the user. A "Guideline" from the manufacturer stating how they "think" an application should work under the Amiga OS is useful in the situation where you are attracting new developers to he platform. If such a document had existed earlier, perhaps some of the early productivity packages for the Amiga would have been less "PC like" and more "Intuitive", if you'll pardon the pun. I believe Commodore attempted to follow the "guidelines", but I certainly would not damn them if they violated it for whatever their reason. Guidelines are not laws John. To me, especially now, there are much bigger fish to fry. We need a standard for playing digital video from disk. We need official support for the ANIM7 IFF file. The list goes on and on. Besides, the way things are going it is likely that you will be arguing interface issues with the 3 or so folks that are left. I mourn the loss of engineering to companies like 3DO (Andy Finkel), Mike Sinz, (SCALA), Chris Green (Bethesda Softworks),… and several others. This interface argument is really moot at this point don't you think? -mark= Otto Pilot Engaged..