Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on March 12, 2006 11:06 PM
>>"...it was quite a steep learning curve at first, but I kept at it."
Any software that has "quite a steep learning curve" to learn how to use it has, by definition, a bad user interface.
That's not the same as arguing that learning to use the capabilities of software cannot legitimately require a steep learning curve. Or, that an interface cannot be complex. Capabilities and user interface are different creatures.
The job of the interface is to make it as easy as possible for people to exploit capabilities. Arguing that Gimp's interface is just fine if only everyone else would climb the same learning curve as you did is turning things on their head.
Gimp doesn't exist in isolation. Expensive software that offers the same capabilities is widely available. The fact that people continue to buy it rather than grabbing a free copy of Gimp says something. But, to hear it, you have to be willing to stop blaming users for the failures of software.
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Re:I don't think we need a fork
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on March 12, 2006 11:06 PMAny software that has "quite a steep learning curve" to learn how to use it has, by definition, a bad user interface.
That's not the same as arguing that learning to use the capabilities of software cannot legitimately require a steep learning curve. Or, that an interface cannot be complex. Capabilities and user interface are different creatures.
The job of the interface is to make it as easy as possible for people to exploit capabilities. Arguing that Gimp's interface is just fine if only everyone else would climb the same learning curve as you did is turning things on their head.
Gimp doesn't exist in isolation. Expensive software that offers the same capabilities is widely available. The fact that people continue to buy it rather than grabbing a free copy of Gimp says something. But, to hear it, you have to be willing to stop blaming users for the failures of software.
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