Contrast on that article between text and background was poor.
following sets it back to something sane:
document.body.style.fontWeight = "normal";Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
31–40 of 402 posts
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#32It's hard to remember, but even though Windows 3.11 was extremely dominant at the time, it was by no means assured that Windows 95 would be the success that it was. The very first version missed wildly in some big ways (MSN was a folder integrated into the desktop, for example, and no TCP/IP support [*Edit: yes there was - I misremembered.]), but the core, underlying redesign of the GUI was so profoundly good it prop…
>Even though I've used a Mac daily for the past decade or so, I still miss the task bar, and window-oriented GUI of Windows. I still get frustrated on OSX when I minimize a window and have to hunt around for it. I wouldn't switch back because of the underlying crap that is the Windows OS and file system, but I still miss the interface.
OT but have you tried Witch[1] as a task switcher? It switches between windows, which made my life SO much easier
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#33"not understanding how folders could exist inside of other folders" -- My mom is 70 years old now, and I easily get frustrated whenever she's stuck with seemingly simple tasks with her computer. I usually scold her and yell at her, "This is so obvious, how come you don't know?" -- I always regret doing that afterwards. After I'm calm, I ask her why, trying to understand it from her perspective. Every time I do this,…
The term "folder" already annoys me. It's a (filesystem) directory...
Me too!
However, in the Windows shell a "folder" is not necessarily a "directory" - it's just something that may contain something. Control Panel, for example.
A directory is a type of folder.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
How do you manage files in windows at all without drag and drop? Do you just never reorganize anything? Further what is the chance that anyone who can't drag and drop would be able to find the setting to turn off drag and drop?
I'd like an interface without DnD too, not because I trigger it accidentally but because it's very bad for my RSI. And it's a nightmare on a trackpad. Fortunately you can do 99% of file management in Windows with the keyboard, either through cut and paste or the Explorer menus.
The Mouse Keys accessibility feature lets you activate drag and drop without holding anything down.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#35It's hard to remember, but even though Windows 3.11 was extremely dominant at the time, it was by no means assured that Windows 95 would be the success that it was. The very first version missed wildly in some big ways (MSN was a folder integrated into the desktop, for example, and no TCP/IP support [*Edit: yes there was - I misremembered.]), but the core, underlying redesign of the GUI was so profoundly good it prop…
There absolutely was TCP/IP support in Windows 95 from the very beginning. It was not installed by default but it was trivial to add via the Network applet in Control Panel. SLIP/PPP was also supported and you had basic utilities like Telnet and FTP included so you could connect to the Internet right out of the box.
No web browser, though. Internet Explorer 1.0 shipped with the optional Plus! pack.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#36It's hard to remember, but even though Windows 3.11 was extremely dominant at the time, it was by no means assured that Windows 95 would be the success that it was. The very first version missed wildly in some big ways (MSN was a folder integrated into the desktop, for example, and no TCP/IP support [*Edit: yes there was - I misremembered.]), but the core, underlying redesign of the GUI was so profoundly good it prop…
> I still get frustrated on OSX when I minimize a window and have to hunt around for it
Windows user here. Honest curiosity: does anyone know why the minimize / maximize works on the Mac the way it does? I mean, what's the rationale to design it like this?
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#37When actual thought and reasoning went into UI design. Nice to see the methodology.
I doubt that Microsoft has really departed from the UI design methodology they used. The dubious decisions are most likely pushed from either the marketing department or from above. But I think Windows itself, even the newer versions, is quite well designed.
Apple probably also has a pretty solid design process.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
The term "folder" already annoys me. It's a (filesystem) directory...
> The term "folder" already annoys me. It's a (filesystem) directory... You don't like the metaphor of a folder, but you'll accept the metaphor of what goes into a folder?
The two metaphors are not as tightly coupled as you suggest. Even pre-computing, a "file" meant a collection of information and a "filing system" was a way of organizing it - that didn't neccesarily involve paper folders. In fact, card files, from which we ultimately derive our computer term, were more usually stored in boxes.
I too prefer the term "directory". Apart from all UNIX tools using this terminology, it also more accurately reflects what it actually is - not a physical container for information, but a list of references to it - an association of names to addresses. A paper file cannot be in more than one folder, but it can easily appear in more than one directory. On a filesystem that allows hard links, this is a more useful conceptualization.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#39It's hard to remember, but even though Windows 3.11 was extremely dominant at the time, it was by no means assured that Windows 95 would be the success that it was. The very first version missed wildly in some big ways (MSN was a folder integrated into the desktop, for example, and no TCP/IP support [*Edit: yes there was - I misremembered.]), but the core, underlying redesign of the GUI was so profoundly good it prop…
There absolutely was TCP/IP support in Windows 95 from the very beginning. It was not installed by default but it was trivial to add via the Network applet in Control Panel. SLIP/PPP was also supported and you had basic utilities like Telnet and FTP included so you could connect to the Internet right out of the box. No web browser, though. Internet Explorer 1.0 shipped with the optional Plus! pack.
Yes, you're right. I misremembered it.
Re: Designing Windows 95’s User Interface
#40I think it's beautiful. And, compared to Windows 10, Windows 95 was at least somewhat consistent design wise.
After 12 years of macOS I recently got a Windows 10 machine. There's plenty of Windows 10 bling on top of the OS, but you don't have to dig deep before you encounter the embarrassing remnants from very early versions of Windows. Running the latest version of 10 it still feels very unfinished which I hope Microsoft intend to do something about.
I don't have too high hopes though, considering it was released two and a half years ago.