Laurie, VK3AMA
2017-07-19 20:17:59 UTC
Having the slider immediately adjacent to the level indicator,
regardless of its true function, implies to an uneducated user (hasn't
read the manual or understood group postings) that the two are
associated. It is how most GUIs are presented.
A problem I see all too often, is some users experiencing difficulties
or think there is a defect with their software will post their
questions/findings to non-related Internet forums, QRZ and eHam are the
big ones, looking for answers and support. They don't post to the
correct support group/forum. I see this often with WSJT-X, JTAlert and
JTDX. The usual result is an incorrect or incomplete answer from a user
based on their experience or the perception of how the software works,
often wrong. It is not uncommon to see a long running thread of
exchanges between users exchanging (and reinforcing) the misinformation.
Unless someone comes along and corrects the record, this misinformation
tends to be propagated through Internet searches and word-of-mouth.
None of us like our software being incorrectly maligned due to
misinformation.
IMHO, leaving the slider adjacent to the level meter will lead to an
ongoing public perception among some users that the software is broken.
Especially after a General Release (look at the numerous threads posted
since the 1.8.0-rc1 was posted, people don't read or research old
messages). New users encountering these uncorrected public defect
reports via an Internet search will likely perceive there is a problem
with the software.
That's my 2cents.
de Laurie VK3AMA
regardless of its true function, implies to an uneducated user (hasn't
read the manual or understood group postings) that the two are
associated. It is how most GUIs are presented.
A problem I see all too often, is some users experiencing difficulties
or think there is a defect with their software will post their
questions/findings to non-related Internet forums, QRZ and eHam are the
big ones, looking for answers and support. They don't post to the
correct support group/forum. I see this often with WSJT-X, JTAlert and
JTDX. The usual result is an incorrect or incomplete answer from a user
based on their experience or the perception of how the software works,
often wrong. It is not uncommon to see a long running thread of
exchanges between users exchanging (and reinforcing) the misinformation.
Unless someone comes along and corrects the record, this misinformation
tends to be propagated through Internet searches and word-of-mouth.
None of us like our software being incorrectly maligned due to
misinformation.
IMHO, leaving the slider adjacent to the level meter will lead to an
ongoing public perception among some users that the software is broken.
Especially after a General Release (look at the numerous threads posted
since the 1.8.0-rc1 was posted, people don't read or research old
messages). New users encountering these uncorrected public defect
reports via an Internet search will likely perceive there is a problem
with the software.
That's my 2cents.
de Laurie VK3AMA