Re: My usability experience - Asa Dotzler should be fired

On 2011-08-17 18:23, Petter Andersson wrote:
> On Aug 17, 6:00 pm, David Tenser<[email protected]>  wrote:
>
>>   From a usability point of view, I beg to differ. With tabs on top, you
>> can just reach for the top edge of the screen (assuming the window is
>> maximized, which most browser windows are for power users). This is far
>> easier than pointing precisely where the tab strip is, even if it's a
>> few pixels closer to the web page with tabs under the toolbars.
>>
>> You can read more about this here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts%27s_law#Success_and_implications
>
> Browser window is maximized, but you assume tabs are at very top.
> Sorry... Windows XP, classic theme here (good old grey and blue and no
> stupid transparencies a'la Aero). Titlebar is on top, then come File|
> Edit|View|History|Bookmarks|Tools|Help etc.
>

Ah. On Windows 7 (aero) the tabs are truly on top. I assumed that was 
the case in XP as well, but I guess I was wrong.

> If you have difficulties aiming for the tabs, you need stronger
> glasses or more accurate mouse or steadier hand or combination of
> these :) Tabs on bottom works for me perfect.
>

It isn't about bad vision or mouse accuracy, it's about the time it 
takes to stop the mouse/touchpad movement precisely over the tab strip, 
which is a small vertical area. If the tabs are at the very top of the 
screen (as is the case in Win7/Vista and Mac OS X at least), the 
movement becomes a lot quicker.

Compare this to adjusting the volume of an amplifier. It's a lot easier 
to adjust it to the max than it is to adjust it to, say, -30 dB. (Your 
ears will say otherwise though...;) )

- david