Overly "fussy"/complex interfaces?

< Next Topic | Back to topic list | Previous Topic >

Posted by Cassius
Mar 14, 2007 at 05:35 AM

Does anyone share my feeling that some of the newer software have overly complex interfaces? I admit that I have only looked at their web pages and tours/tutorials, but at my first looks, both IdeaMason and UltraRecall have a lot of features, but their interfaces seem overly fussy to me. Maybe it’s my age…I spent a long time learning and modifying GV, but that was nearly 20 years ago. Today, I’m not willing to expend that much effort on any current software.

-c

Posted by Thomas
Mar 14, 2007 at 12:31 PM

There are some way more complex programs when it comes to GUI complexity, or non-standardness.

I’m learning disabled when it comes to GUI : either it’s intuitive and works right away, or it’s uninstall. Some aspects of IdeaMason were non-standard to me, but the first thing I did was to watch the videos and get acquainted with meaning behind the core features (English is not my native language), so once installed it was making a sense to me (at leat to be able to use basic features, and start learning gradually while using it).

Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Mar 14, 2007 at 01:20 PM

I would tend to agree with that in general. The reason I don’t use UltraRecall is that I find the interface too complicated and unintuitive. Idea Mason seems to me to be a bit more reasonable, but I have yet to get a copy. So much of this is subjective and personal, though. I use Zoot all the time and many people find it too complicated and unintuitive. I don’t like Whizfolders because of its fussiness with multiple windows, but for others that isn’t an issue at all. That’s also the reason I haven’t warmed up to InfoHandler, which, otherwise, seems like a very fine program.

Clearly, to use any of these programs effectively, you have to be comfortable with all its commands and functions. Like you, I felt totally at home using GrandView, which seemed very intuitive to me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

Steve Z.

Posted by Jan Rifkinson
Mar 14, 2007 at 01:24 PM

You could say that UR falls into the fussy category but the user can also simplify it as much as needed via layouts, i.e. you can UR to one pane… or two or whatever. You can call the other panes as you need them from the menu (or shortcut key) or leave them hidden where a mouse-over will reveal them until you are finished w them & then they disappear again. So maybe ‘fussy’ is needed to provide flexibility but allowing use to determine fussiness is the compromise. It is for me.

—
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield, CT USA

Back to topic list