mplayer vs. xine

[Chadley Wilson]

On Fri, 2004-01-30 at 11:58, Geoff Teale wrote:
> On Fri, 2004-01-30 at 08:29, Eric S. Raymond wrote:
> <snipped>
> > The default xine front end is a classic case of bad design, an
> > interface that is all glossy surfaces and no substance.  It's cramped,
> > cluttered, chronically difficult to understand, and subordinates every
> > usability consideration to the purely visual objective of looking like
> > a piece of glossy stereo equipment.
> > 
> > *ptui*
> > 
> > I grant that it's an attempt to be "friendly" for the non-technical user,
> > but it's a clumsy, hamfisted, *stupid* attempt.  Not anything to be emulated.
> </snipped>
> 
> Amen!
> 
> A lot of people attribute some of the bad UI's in F/OSS to the lack of
> resources for usability testing on non-commercial projects.  This may be
> true in part, but I see an equal lack of such testing if commercial
> software through a lack of understanding rather than a lack of resource.
> 
> Too much effort is spent on making things look "cool" or making them
> "skinable" to little effort is spent on making things usable.  Simple
> consistency of interface is a big step and it's one of the reasons that
> Red Hat 8/9 was easier to get onto people's desktops than Red Hat 7.  
> 
> I'd like to see Fedora strive to provide applications, wherever
> possible, that conform to Gnome HIG, or at least try to provide a
> sensible, consistent interface design.  If people want something else
> they can look to Fedora extras/alternatives surely?
> 
> -- 
> GJT 
> gteale at cmedltd.com 
> 
> Life is like a tin of sardines.
> We're, all of us, looking for the key.

> 		-- Beyond the Fringe

This is true but for me a technical person and by no means a programmer,
as long as it works  I'm happy.
-- 
Chadley Wilson <chadley at pinteq.co.za>