Re: My usability experience - Asa Dotzler should be fired

On Aug 17, 7:46 pm, Asa Dotzler <[email protected]> wrote:
> Petter Andersson wrote:
> > I'm talking about shuffling things around for the sake of shuffling
> > things around "because we can" or "we believe it will be more trendy
> > this way".
>
> If you're saying that's what Firefox designers spend their time on,
> that's rather insulting. Can you re-read that and actually consider if
> you think that's what the professionals working on this product are doing?

My view is, it's difficult - if not impossible - to improve
perfection. Of course, that won't stop most from trying. But, IMO, if
it works, there's no reason to "re-imagine" it. Conservative approach
is always a good bet. I would think Firefox designers are trying hard
to stay on top of the game, but often times to stay on top of one's
respective game is to simply keep on doing what you do best. There are
much better chances to screw it up for everyone if you try too damn
hard. OK, take music for example. AC/DC, not complex or even
imaginative (two riffs and a handful of licks), but it works and you
know what you're going to get. Year after year, decade after
decade. :)

> > even with Firefox, to a degree. I guess what I'm saying, if a browser
> > still resembles Netscape Navigator 4.71 + Tab Bar, then all is well
> > and everyone feels right at home :)
>
> OK. That's an interesting point of view. Not one I share, but certainly
> not unreasonable. Most people do not like change, even when that change
> can be really helpful to them. I have a suggestion for you. If you like
> how Netscape Navigator 4.71  would look with a Tab bar (and a modern
> rendering engine) Mozilla supports such a product and it's called
> SeaMonkey. Maybe give that a try.http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
>
> I'm also curious, since we do have pretty much exactly what you propose
> in Seamonkey, how do you think users would react in a side-by-side
> comparison between Seamonkey and Firefox? Would they all flock to
> Seamonkey because "everyone would feel right at home there"? (A quick
> reminder though -- about 90% of the people on the web today came onto
> the web after Netscape Navigator had already faded from view)

I'm aware Netscape Navigator style would not necessarily win beauty
contests today, but placed side by side, there is a possibility less
colors/less flashiness equals more serious attitude thus more
desirable option to certain kind of people (stiff engineers such as
myself, heh). My history with Firefox begins precisely from
discontinuation of the Mozilla Suite. It seemed all the mainstream
action focuses on Firefox and Suite is becoming discontinued or/and
marginalized at best (Seamonkey fork seemed a little so-so). There was
no choice but to move on really. By the way, it is the view of many
that Netscape Communicator was the best damn mail/news client ever and
still unrivaled by anything that newer Suites or Thunderbird (3.0
really blew it - TB 2.x forever) could offer. A friend of mine used to
run Netscape Communicator for his mail needs up to about 2009 before
finally giving it up :) Today, as I run Firefox 3.6.20 with its
numerous add-ons, I still have a "Past Modern" theme in use which is
essentially just Mozilla Suite/Seamonkey Suite look for Firefox, sadly
not ported for FF4+. :(