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0 pointswhatever_dude6y ago0 comments

My new pet theory is that software nowadays is _anti_ power user.

In the 90s and 2000s, software came with a bunch of features that most users would want, and also a few small but powerful features that a tiny portion of their users ("power" users) really cared about. Almost every software had "power" features of some kind. A config file, command line arguments, that kind of stuff.

Nowadays, popular software like Chrome are all too eager to drop "power" features; to make themselves simpler. This avoids confusing general users, at the cost of alienating "power" users.

Dropping Ctrl+tab (heck, making shortcuts support a low priority) is one of such features.

0 comments

floatingatoll6y ago

Power users often make it a priority to shut off in-product metrics that would represent their needs statistically. Since ‘power users’ as described are probably 0.01% or less of the world’s population, that’s probably less of a big deal for decision making than it sounds, but it’s always interesting to me to watch a subgroup dedicate itself to not being counted and then complain about the outcomes as if they didn’t contribute to their own workflow’s downturn.

soulofmischief6y ago

This is a false dichotomy and a strawman.

The only two options are not either participating in often misused, grossly overreaching, non-configurable telemetry programs or disabling them completely.

And power users are not dedicating themselves to not helping the product getting better. You've gotten the argument twisted. We love to make software better by offering up information about how we use a product. However, in this climate the rational response is to disable all telemetry until the situation is under control with better legislation.

Don't paint this with the wrong colors. Power users are not the irrational group here, and this 0.01% figure which you based your argument on isn't grounded in reality, and therefore neither is your argument.

floatingatoll6y ago

The assumption by framing that telemetry programs are “often” anything notably weakens your argument. A collection of examples of different entities misusing telemetry over time would strengthen your argument.

1 more reply

soulofmischief6y ago

Chrome and Firefox both don't even allow reconfiguring most hotkeys. That's not anti power user, that's plain anti-user and anti-accessibility.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointswhatever_dude6y ago0 comments

My new pet theory is that software nowadays is _anti_ power user.

Nowadays, popular software like Chrome are all too eager to drop "power" features; to make themselves simpler. This avoids confusing general users, at the cost of alienating "power" users.

Dropping Ctrl+tab (heck, making shortcuts support a low priority) is one of such features.

0 comments

floatingatoll6y ago

soulofmischief6y ago

This is a false dichotomy and a strawman.

The only two options are not either participating in often misused, grossly overreaching, non-configurable telemetry programs or disabling them completely.

floatingatoll6y ago

1 more reply

soulofmischief6y ago

Chrome and Firefox both don't even allow reconfiguring most hotkeys. That's not anti power user, that's plain anti-user and anti-accessibility.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse