Interesting. I'm big on interface consistency between applications and yes, on windows, I do right click, but on my mac I just memorize command keys and I've been using Mouse interfaces since 1985.
Interesting though. I never really thought of switching my mind set to using the input device differently depending on the application. Hmmm.
I ran an unprotected web server off my Mac 8500 for 4 years with probably only one successful hack that disabled it.
My solution? I rebooted it.
OS X, even 7, 8, 9 are much more secure since there is less spyware and viruses written for them and OS X is pretty secure. If she spent 800 bucks on help and God knows how much her time cost, switching to even a used iBook would have been more cost efficient. Of course, I can't predict what software she used or the cost of that.
Just because it is a Microsoft world, doesn't mean you can't find a better solution. Linux is great for some, but for the casual user, a mac just provides less to worry about.
Firefox is but one application. And though this may be great for Firefox, the idea of a ui element it that it work the same way across everything - or at least in a predictable way.
Of course here, we get your love of efficiency and power in one app and different or unknown behaviour in others? Do we move from standard predictable consistent ui elements to "the best application for each app"? If so, how far do we go before it gets too cumbersome for people besides those who invented the convention??
BINGO. That's my point - what is obvious to any user regarding which button does what?
If you're going to do a multi button mouse, the task of each button must be painfully obvious to any user and the user interfaces must be consistent in the uses of these buttons, otherwise usage becomes confusing and irritating all too easily.
I have a 3 button logitech mouse and a 2 button I use for quake. Funny thing is that I never used all 3 buttons on the logitech and the only reason I went to the 2 button was because of the lack of complexity. left = shoot, right = zoom.
I could see a place in a non game UI if the right button's functionality was consistent between apps. As in the right button = options for the thing clicked on. However in windows, consistency is rare in many cases.
Don't you see that the complexity of what you have just described is a little more than what might make sense to someone approaching the computer?
What makes sense about a middle click opening? Wasn't that what a double click was for?
When did that change and why didn't anyone tell me?
This results in a confusing metaphor that is not consistent across apps. Consistency and predictability are primary concepts in an effective cross product user interface.
Many casual users of computers, approach the computer with a bad case of confusion and may just feel like a retarded monkey.
My Uncle is one of them.
I initially wasn't a big fan of the scroll wheel because I thought the UI already should support that functionality with up and down arrows and the page up and page down keys.
When it's there I use it though.
The design of the input device truly needs to be done not in an ad hoc basis but terribly well thought out and simplicity and ease of use needs to balance flexibility and power.
Since I am feeling rather retarded this morning, please explain to me the purpose of each button on your 3 button mouse?
The reason behind the 1 button mouse was that it was painfully clear what the 1 button was to be used for. If you wanted "right button style functionality," hold down the option key and click.
Studies done at the time indicated that people made more mistakes with multi button mice and mice with multi button interfaces took longer for the user to accomplish what they want to do (because of the mistakes and confusion about what the other button was for).
For me, it is pretty damn obvious that the mouse button is used to provide the "primary operations" for the item clicked on. Holding down the option key when clicking to extend into "options" for the item makes perfect sense to me.
What really is the big deal with people's obsession on multi button mice? Honestly, I don't get it.
You can google on "chirality amino acids" and you'll get some relevant links, including some humorous religious ones that get the final point incorrect.
My asteroid hypothesis is that different conditions gave rise to different tendencies which may lead to different molecules.
Also check on New Scientist, Eurekalert and Sciencedaily's sites for more info.
At a very high level, this seems to be similar to chirality among amino acids.
Even though the molecules can be either left or right handed, there is a predominance of left handedness among amino acids.
This is similar to matter where the left handedness of an amino acid is synonymous with matter and the right handedness with antimatter.
Although matter and antimatter are almost mirror images of each other and left and right handed amino acids are mirror images of each other, small differences result in a predominance of one over the other.
Slashdot Mirror
Why alive?
I have many "Alexisms." I offer you this one:
"If you go above and beyond the call to be a blight upon society then you deserve to be removed from it."
You may quote me. Alex Zavatone 2003.
...that after many long years, my dream is finally coming true.
The FUNNY thing is that I took that "faster, longer" text from the actual article itself.
And in South Africa, White Out is NOT called White Out.
Forget exactly what it is called though.
Well, I DO try.
I'd pay for a ticket - or at least a web cast.
Sell "execution privs" on a ebay to the highest bidder.
Use licensed Marshals and bounty hunters to capture them.
Put a bounty on their heads.
I'd just downsample.
Sell High def DVDS, rip and downsample to a lower def format.
Mpeg 4 with deblocking filters aka h264.
Well you think you'd pull the lever. In fact, I want first dibs and if he doesn't die the first time I'll let you go on the second pull.
Seriously, you could sell execution rights. I think the demand would be rather high.
Ahhh. Deep calming breaths. Relax. Relax.
It's not that I love killing people. I don't. I love killing people who deserve it. And ohhhhh, how they deserve it.
Hugs,
Think about it this way. If you wouldn't get caught, would you off a spammer?
This will infuriate many people but I care to submit the following "Alexism" for your careful consideration:
"If someone goes above and beyond the call to become a blight upon society, willfully and purposefully, should they be removed from it? If so when?"
I firmly believe that they should be but hey, that's just me.
BTW, you should not have been modded down. Sorry man.
I have just nominated you for sainthood.
Let's get a collection have this man removed from the planet in a very slow and painful way.
It amazes me just how ineffective our government can really be at times.
Interesting. I'm big on interface consistency between applications and yes, on windows, I do right click, but on my mac I just memorize command keys and I've been using Mouse interfaces since 1985.
Interesting though. I never really thought of switching my mind set to using the input device differently depending on the application. Hmmm.
Agreed!
I ran an unprotected web server off my Mac 8500 for 4 years with probably only one successful hack that disabled it.
My solution? I rebooted it.
OS X, even 7, 8, 9 are much more secure since there is less spyware and viruses written for them and OS X is pretty secure. If she spent 800 bucks on help and God knows how much her time cost, switching to even a used iBook would have been more cost efficient. Of course, I can't predict what software she used or the cost of that.
Just because it is a Microsoft world, doesn't mean you can't find a better solution. Linux is great for some, but for the casual user, a mac just provides less to worry about.
FYI, I work on Win 2000 and OS X all day.
Firefox is but one application. And though this may be great for Firefox, the idea of a ui element it that it work the same way across everything - or at least in a predictable way.
Of course here, we get your love of efficiency and power in one app and different or unknown behaviour in others? Do we move from standard predictable consistent ui elements to "the best application for each app"? If so, how far do we go before it gets too cumbersome for people besides those who invented the convention??
BINGO. That's my point - what is obvious to any user regarding which button does what?
If you're going to do a multi button mouse, the task of each button must be painfully obvious to any user and the user interfaces must be consistent in the uses of these buttons, otherwise usage becomes confusing and irritating all too easily.
AHA!
:]
Quake! Right click to zoom
I have a 3 button logitech mouse and a 2 button I use for quake. Funny thing is that I never used all 3 buttons on the logitech and the only reason I went to the 2 button was because of the lack of complexity. left = shoot, right = zoom.
I could see a place in a non game UI if the right button's functionality was consistent between apps. As in the right button = options for the thing clicked on. However in windows, consistency is rare in many cases.
"They suck, everyone knows this"
Why?
I have been using computers since 1979, TRS-80, Apple II, Dos, Mac, Vax, PDP 11, Windows, OS X, win 2k, xp, etc..
Since everyone knows why they suck, I would like one of everyone to tell me why they do.
My original question was "I don't get it." Please explain this to me.
I'm using OS X and Win 2k at this moment and I can see the 2 button mouse as an excuse to get by in a poorly designed UI.
Don't you see that the complexity of what you have just described is a little more than what might make sense to someone approaching the computer?
What makes sense about a middle click opening? Wasn't that what a double click was for?
When did that change and why didn't anyone tell me?
This results in a confusing metaphor that is not consistent across apps. Consistency and predictability are primary concepts in an effective cross product user interface.
Many casual users of computers, approach the computer with a bad case of confusion and may just feel like a retarded monkey.
My Uncle is one of them.
I initially wasn't a big fan of the scroll wheel because I thought the UI already should support that functionality with up and down arrows and the page up and page down keys.
When it's there I use it though.
The design of the input device truly needs to be done not in an ad hoc basis but terribly well thought out and simplicity and ease of use needs to balance flexibility and power.
Since I am feeling rather retarded this morning, please explain to me the purpose of each button on your 3 button mouse?
The reason behind the 1 button mouse was that it was painfully clear what the 1 button was to be used for. If you wanted "right button style functionality," hold down the option key and click.
Studies done at the time indicated that people made more mistakes with multi button mice and mice with multi button interfaces took longer for the user to accomplish what they want to do (because of the mistakes and confusion about what the other button was for).
For me, it is pretty damn obvious that the mouse button is used to provide the "primary operations" for the item clicked on. Holding down the option key when clicking to extend into "options" for the item makes perfect sense to me.
What really is the big deal with people's obsession on multi button mice? Honestly, I don't get it.
In the article, it notes that we can write in "Sterling Ball" the guy who jettisoned all MS products after getting raided by the BSA.
Anyone know where the url is so we can vote?
There is a company in Massachusetts (that's Mass a chu setts, not Mass uh two setts) that are already making them.
Currently, they exist within a sphere.
At the Wired NextFest, there was a flat surface with a cityscape floating in 3d on top of it.
So you don't want a 3d monitor but you want a 3d table?
Put the monitor horizontally and place a sheet of glass over it.
Looks like a 3d monitor just may be of use to you after all.
You can google on "chirality amino acids" and you'll get some relevant links, including some humorous religious ones that get the final point incorrect.
My asteroid hypothesis is that different conditions gave rise to different tendencies which may lead to different molecules.
Also check on New Scientist, Eurekalert and Sciencedaily's sites for more info.
At a very high level, this seems to be similar to chirality among amino acids.
Even though the molecules can be either left or right handed, there is a predominance of left handedness among amino acids.
This is similar to matter where the left handedness of an amino acid is synonymous with matter and the right handedness with antimatter.
Although matter and antimatter are almost mirror images of each other and left and right handed amino acids are mirror images of each other, small differences result in a predominance of one over the other.
Just an observation/speculation.
Petard