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User Interface (or is that "In-your-face"?) What is user interface, and what is superior (and why). By:David K. Every ©Copyright 1999 Understanding UI Screen Layout Color   Menus - The overview, links and summary How Menus work - the basics, terms and types of menus Who does What - The different menu implementations Targeting - how easier are menus to hit (and why).  Space - how much space does each implementation take? Look - how do they each look? (Which one is sexy?) Consistency - who makes rules (and follows them)? Shortcuts - how can you use menu's the least? Other Issues - This is the "catch all" category Power - PowerUser rationale Ease of Use - Newbies rationale      Windows - The outline, links and summary How Windows work - the basics, terms and types of windows Who does What - The different window implementations Closing Windows - Who does it better (MS or Apple)? Mouse   Hardware and integration   Hysteresis - time delays and slop make an interface better for people Controls Combo-Box - Microsoft has contributed one control to the world, and it is bad. Start Menu - the Start button-menu thing, good or bad?   Trashing Disks? - why would you drag a disk to the trash to eject it?   Real-world interfaces - advantages and disadvantages of real-world interfaces. New Icons - New Icons (128 x 128) are called "Previews". Where's the Finder? - Question Answered (speculatively) about the OS X Finder. File Copying -- simple operation as metaphor for interface differences (NT and Mac). More File Copying -- even more differences in file copying. Aqua (Jolly Rancher Interface) Basic looks and concerns Windows Browsing Dock Word - My impressions, and why Word Customization - An excellent break down of Words Customization flaws Don't Move - moving toolbars Why CANCEL when you can CLOSE? - dialog button naming Practice Your Wrist Moves - so much for shortcuts New MS Word Order - consistency in lists Macronames for Macros - size matters Apple stole the Mac UI from Xerox? Letter from Bruce Horn on origins of Macs UI - Xerox-PARC and Apple employee Response from Jef Raskin - another XEROX-PARC and Apple employee Response from Bruce to Raskin's Letter     Response to 'Ask Tog' Bibliography Created: 9/19/97 Updated: 11/09/02 Top of page Top of Section Home