User Interface Opinions are like thumbs

everyone's got at least two of them, and they are usually at odds with each other.

for some reason, i guess because of the recent deconstruction of hyped software apps lately (the "delicious generation," as rogue amoeba called it), people have been debating user interface elements a LOT lately. my only beef, and it is a beef i have held for a LONG time, is that often, when we say that a user interface is superior or not, it is that we are accustomed to that interface, and changing that interface forces us to remap our brains, causing distress, and then we verbally lash out as "this is inferior."

but i often wonder what a truly new user to an app would say? i mean, a TRULY new user. i read a recent blog post by the former mac os x finder lead, and he made a case for dropping aspects of the shutdown dialog, and everyone is jumping on his case, saying they like it the way it currently is. and, if forstall was the guy with the hammer to drop, then may i point out that a POWER USER shouldd not be making decisions for the SIMPLICITY of an interface. i cannot believe how many people are sidding against arno with their primary evidence being "if you're controlling your computer remotely, then you may not have access to the hardware button." LISTEN to what you are saying. i can count, on one hand how many peoplee i know that use VNC-style apps to control an interface. can you use my test-case-of-me as a supprting platform for a user interface choice? probably not. but there MUST be some validity to the "random sampling from the correct end of the pool" mentaility, and say that maybe, just maybe, this is an advanced user consideration that should NOT work its way down to the consumer level.

but of course, people argue vehemently over the point. people who have used photoshop since version 3 also have nno problem with the interface, but that's because it's gained weight with every upgrade, slowly. it's like seeing a relative every day, you might not notice their putting on too many pounds, but if you only see them in winter holidays, you REALLY notice the problem. it's called "fresh eyes," and i am not sure they exist in software design anymore, but i wish they did. does this mean dumbing down every release based on the lowest ccommon denominator in user testing? no. but you BETTER be at least checking with your biggest n00b to make sure they aren't completely lost on some critical feature... like shutting down the computer.