Pogue on the cult of simplicity
Posted by Jeff June 29, 2006
A nice video of NYTimes Tech columnist David Pogue’s talk at TED is here. He performs some suprisingly unsucky song parodies and comments on the state of user interface, tech support, and Steve Jobs’ simplicity meme.
My notes…
* Parody of “sounds of silence” - very good
* Emails: getting a lot of frustration. Too much tech, not enough support.
* Computers have gotten easier to use– broader, less technical audience. Entire Mac OS used to fit in 212K. War stories about listening in on Apple tech support - they collect funny dumb user stories, burning to CD.
* Error type 11…user keeps typing 11, LOL
* Screens getting smaller, fingers staying same size.
* Software: like joining a club, more features every year. “The software upgrade paradox“: if you improve software *enough*, you’ll eventually ruin it.
* Microsoft introduced a low-end stripped down word processor called MS Write. It tanked. This is the SUV principle: people like to surround themselves with unnecessary power.
* As you add more features, where do they go? Funny screenshot of Word with all toolbars open
* MS Shutdown dialog: 4 options - why in a combo box?!
* Funny - “Welcome to the Type a Word Wizard. I see you’re trying to type a word…”
* Intellegence: making something not consistent. Why is United States way down in the list in the U’s- should be first.
* Print Dialog: way too many options for simple stuff: why isn’t there a button “Print”?
* “Tap Counter”: at Palm - person whose job was to count how many taps for each task. If more than 3, had to redesign.
* “The Bill Gates Song” - “I am Bill Gates, and I write the code” - to the tune of “I write the songs that makes the whole world sing.”
* “Don’t cry for me Cupertino” - Steve Jobs as Evita.
* The Cult of Simplicity - Jobs always cared about simplicity, elegance, beauty. IPod: did everything wrong. fewer features, cost more. Lesson: simplicity sells.
* Really cool - SD card that folds in half, becomes USB. Macbook magnetic power plug.
* Voice macros - “thanks for that”, “piss off”-> “I admire your frankness..let’s agree to disagree.”. Version 8: improved from 95% accuracy.
* Remember: if it doesn’t work, not necessarily your fault.
* Easy is hard: sweat the details. Count the taps. Motivation: simplicity sells.
