Comments on: Simple != Easy http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/ A distant chipmunk on the horizon Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:05:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Josh Curry http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-593 Josh Curry Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:43:47 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/#comment-593 Oh, of course, they should cater to the small part of the market, the people who've been buying their phones for years. It'd be stupid to build an interface that appeals to normal people. The point you're missing Jeff is you're the minority (although I'll admit a very vocal one). We're both the minority. This is one of the things you and I always argue about, we ain't the masses by a long shot and they shouldn't build a market around us. In fact, if you don't like the interface, just remove it, you're a power user, feel free to setup your own interface just how you like it on a Touch Pro. Leave the TouchFlo 3D to the people it's designed for (hint: you aren't one of those people). My point is, you don't think it's easier, but you're not supposed to. When HTC was designing the interface they specifically weren't trying to build something for you, they were building something for people who AREN'T like you. The people who weren't buying their phones or who were returning them because they were too complicated. Judging by the success of the Touch Pro, I'd say they've got a winner. So it's win win, you get a phone with the power under the hood and normal people get an interface they can understand more easily. Oh, of course, they should cater to the small part of the market, the people who’ve been buying their phones for years. It’d be stupid to build an interface that appeals to normal people.

The point you’re missing Jeff is you’re the minority (although I’ll admit a very vocal one). We’re both the minority. This is one of the things you and I always argue about, we ain’t the masses by a long shot and they shouldn’t build a market around us. In fact, if you don’t like the interface, just remove it, you’re a power user, feel free to setup your own interface just how you like it on a Touch Pro. Leave the TouchFlo 3D to the people it’s designed for (hint: you aren’t one of those people).

My point is, you don’t think it’s easier, but you’re not supposed to. When HTC was designing the interface they specifically weren’t trying to build something for you, they were building something for people who AREN’T like you. The people who weren’t buying their phones or who were returning them because they were too complicated. Judging by the success of the Touch Pro, I’d say they’ve got a winner.

So it’s win win, you get a phone with the power under the hood and normal people get an interface they can understand more easily.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Jeff Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:43:57 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/#comment-588 No, it is YOU who are missing the point. People use Windows Mobile <i>because</i> of the power. If all you're looking for is a shiny bimbo of an interface, buy an iPhone or a Blackberry Storm. They're cheap and easy, and if that's what you're willing to settle for, great. Some people want more. They want a phone (why are we still calling things with more power than a PC from a decade ago phones?) that can do what they want, when they want, with no compromises. And sadly, these are the people too often suckered into buying an inferior device because it's prettier. PRETTY DON'T WIN THE WAR, SON. /wanders off to find pearl-handled revolvers... No, it is YOU who are missing the point. People use Windows Mobile because of the power. If all you’re looking for is a shiny bimbo of an interface, buy an iPhone or a Blackberry Storm. They’re cheap and easy, and if that’s what you’re willing to settle for, great.

Some people want more. They want a phone (why are we still calling things with more power than a PC from a decade ago phones?) that can do what they want, when they want, with no compromises. And sadly, these are the people too often suckered into buying an inferior device because it’s prettier. PRETTY DON’T WIN THE WAR, SON.

/wanders off to find pearl-handled revolvers…

]]> By: Josh Curry http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-584 Josh Curry Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:10:13 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2008/11/simple-easy/#comment-584 There's something you're missing here, actually it's something you miss quite often, not everyone is you and neither you or I are the average user. In fact the people these simple interfaces are aimed at really could care less about the power of the device or how quickly it goes typing into it. For you (and me for that matter), that is to say power users, things like TouchFlo 3D actually make the experience sort of painful. In fact it's the one thing that worries me about the Touch Pro (I'll most likely be getting one this week). For people like my grandfather however the TouchFlo interface is perfect. For many people the separation in the TouchFlo interface makes it easier to understand out of the box. The biggest complaint I hear from knew users of the standard Windows Mobile interface is it's not easy to understand. These people are used to feature phones, the streamlined interface is much more intuitive to those sort of people. So while people who are willing to learn the more complex Windows Mobile interface may find that easier, even that isn't a guarantee. I can't disagree that the standard interface is faster and overall I agree with you. However, we are not the masses and from my experience with the several different kinds of users (several of which are coming from a mogul to a Touch Pro) I can say they prefer the TouchFlo interface hands down. These users really vary in competency when it comes to phone use and they all have the same feelings about the TouchFlo 3D interface. I think the big thing here is neither you are I are coming at this with fresh eyes, we're comfortable with the standard Windows Mobile interface, these newer interfaces aren't designed with us in mind. If the music app in TouchFlo wasn't a piece of crap I'd get no complaints about the interface on the Touch Pro. So while we see a slower clunky interface with more steps than we're used to, new users don't see that at all. There’s something you’re missing here, actually it’s something you miss quite often, not everyone is you and neither you or I are the average user. In fact the people these simple interfaces are aimed at really could care less about the power of the device or how quickly it goes typing into it. For you (and me for that matter), that is to say power users, things like TouchFlo 3D actually make the experience sort of painful. In fact it’s the one thing that worries me about the Touch Pro (I’ll most likely be getting one this week). For people like my grandfather however the TouchFlo interface is perfect.

For many people the separation in the TouchFlo interface makes it easier to understand out of the box. The biggest complaint I hear from knew users of the standard Windows Mobile interface is it’s not easy to understand. These people are used to feature phones, the streamlined interface is much more intuitive to those sort of people.

So while people who are willing to learn the more complex Windows Mobile interface may find that easier, even that isn’t a guarantee. I can’t disagree that the standard interface is faster and overall I agree with you. However, we are not the masses and from my experience with the several different kinds of users (several of which are coming from a mogul to a Touch Pro) I can say they prefer the TouchFlo interface hands down. These users really vary in competency when it comes to phone use and they all have the same feelings about the TouchFlo 3D interface.

I think the big thing here is neither you are I are coming at this with fresh eyes, we’re comfortable with the standard Windows Mobile interface, these newer interfaces aren’t designed with us in mind. If the music app in TouchFlo wasn’t a piece of crap I’d get no complaints about the interface on the Touch Pro. So while we see a slower clunky interface with more steps than we’re used to, new users don’t see that at all.

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