[mso] Re: Dian won't be around much either
- From: "Greg Chapman" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 13:36:31 -0600
I won't speculate on her reasoning but I will point to a flaw in your
own (after all, you don't seem too shy to apply the method yourself).
People will spend money on tools they can use with minimal training
despite a cheaper priced alternative that provides too many challenges.
Your assertion that "it's the user, not the tool" is inaccurate and
serves people poorly. It's the same argument Sun used to use to ignore
valid arguments about the cost of creating enterprise systems (of
course, they weren't shy about price either so they had both barrels
loaded and aimed directly at their feet). Or the inverse of the
arguments that Microsoft used to successfully wipe out Word Perfect.
People who were actually trained in print production actually found Word
Perfect to be much better suited to their needs as electronic
typographers. But the larger market was the one Word was designed for
and the opinions of those experienced producers took a back seat.
Take it a step farther: I basically get FP free...and don't use it. I
rarely write HTML at all anymore but I do remember that the constant
complaints of myself, other administrators and users were simply that FP
rarely complied with specification or expectation. Supporting the
product was nightmarish. If you're telling me that FPXP is finally
conforming to what the rest of us expect, all I can offer is that it's
about freakin' time. 5 years of whining for something to *produce* the
results we expect is way too long. For me, the only piece FP offered
(and it was sometimes risky to use because there was a chance of source
modification) was the FP Explorer. That was excellent thinking in the
pursuit of good site continuity!
I'll admit that I am bristling on this one a little, too. The idea that
the user needs to be recreated, and not the way the software works, says
that the cart is driving the horse and that it's being fueled by
developer arrogance (IMNSHO). You see, we won't have any of this right
until the average person with average training can go to a computer and
produce average results that are acceptable for regular, average use.
The very idea that you, an attorney (IIRC) or that I, a mechanical
schmoe, should have to pursue the equivalent of a second baccalaureate
in order to use a basic, personal computer and the tools on it is an
indication that these things are nowhere near as mature as they need to
be and that blaming the consumer for the arrogance of the producer is
imbicilic. Again, if it took 5 years to fix the problem then it's about
freaking' time.
So, I'm on these groups, doing these techie things for two reasons: I'm
just sick enough to enjoy some of it and I can't wait for the day when
the need for this kind of constant hand-holding to acclimate people to
general software disappears. FP is not setting a good...rephrase...up to
now, it hasn't set a good benchmark. Again, if it finally is working the
way people expect it too, it's about freakin' time!
We're nowhere close and I find it depressing.
Where's my Macintosh, anyway?<g>
Greg Chapman
http://www.mousetrax.com
"Counting in binary is as easy as 01, 10, 11!
With thinking this clear, is coding really a good idea?"
>
> Shhhhh don't say nothing, Dian still hasn't answered my
> one post with the W3C validation links on a FP made site, CSS
> and all. Let's face it she paid almost $1,000 for a program
> that spits out the same code as the $150 FP. As you know it's
> best to just let some things go and humor those that have
> "brand name" delusions. <WEG>
>
> Cordially,
> Steven Fredette
> President http://www.prowebsites.net
> Indianapolis, Indiana. USA (-5 GMT/UT)
> "For Your Internet Wants and Needs" Since 1997
>
>
>
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