ESR specifically (I paraphrase) states that "give average users fewer choices to make them happy,
Actually, he said "fewer decision points", not fewer choices. The idea being minimize questions he has to answer, not the number of possible answers. The very first question ESR should have had to answer is "Is the printer connected to this machine or another one?" That question would have eliminated most of his problems and the interface could eliminate the questions that don't make any sense to that answer. Once he answers "networked", the configuration program can then go look for computers with printers attached and suggest answers to the next question ("which computer is it on?") but still have the ability to put in the right answer if he happens to know it, even if the configuration program doesn't think it's right.
The problem with separating "newbie" interfaces from "advanced" interfaces is that there is going to be a large number of people who don't fit in either category. People whose printer setups don't fit neatly into the "wizard" setup but will be completely lost in the advanced setup.
Asking the right questions, in the right order, and suggesting likely answers without eliminating the unlikely (because they may still be the right ones) is the way to make it work. Having the computer eliminate options simply because the programmer doesn't think they're possible usually ends up in more frustration, not less.
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Re:CUPS/RH: Please don't!
Posted by: tsg on March 02, 2004 12:37 PMActually, he said "fewer decision points", not fewer choices. The idea being minimize questions he has to answer, not the number of possible answers. The very first question ESR should have had to answer is "Is the printer connected to this machine or another one?" That question would have eliminated most of his problems and the interface could eliminate the questions that don't make any sense to that answer. Once he answers "networked", the configuration program can then go look for computers with printers attached and suggest answers to the next question ("which computer is it on?") but still have the ability to put in the right answer if he happens to know it, even if the configuration program doesn't think it's right.
The problem with separating "newbie" interfaces from "advanced" interfaces is that there is going to be a large number of people who don't fit in either category. People whose printer setups don't fit neatly into the "wizard" setup but will be completely lost in the advanced setup.
Asking the right questions, in the right order, and suggesting likely answers without eliminating the unlikely (because they may still be the right ones) is the way to make it work. Having the computer eliminate options simply because the programmer doesn't think they're possible usually ends up in more frustration, not less.
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