So I was a little off the other day
I got fairly close on my MWSF predictions.
I am posting this using the new Apple Safari web browser. This thing is really quite fast and it has some very well designed UI features. It is very obvious that Apple put a lot of work into KHTML as Konqueror seemed to have some large CSS gaps. Now that Apple is committing their changes back, there is a great chance for both browsers to develop at an accelerated rate.
Safari obviously needs improvement and it is just a beta, but I think it is amazingly stable and featureful for a beta. (Hey, I liked Apple’s first browser, Cyberdog
There is one area in the UI I see that could use an added feature, tabbed browsing. I have a 12″ iBook 600 so my screen real-estate is definitely not infinite and the addition of tabber browsing would seriously improve usability for me.
However, there is always a wrinkle. I couldn’t fathom that anyone would want to deny me the ability to use tabs should Apple feel like providing them, but low and behold, there is such a group. They are claiming that tabs are basically Windows MDI, that they violate Apple Usability Guidelines, and that every second an Apple engineer spends working on tabs is taking their time away from something more valuable and worthwhile.
Hmmm…How to address this? My first response, albeit a tad excessive, would be “$%#@ off”. Oh well, I will try to be more diplomatic. I can understand that someone might feel tabs are ineffective or undesirable even if I do not agree, but to exclaim that they should be tossed out of consideration when the functionality would likely not be forced on anyone is simply inconsiderate and foolish. Let’s address the points one by one:
1. Basically like Windows MDI
I personally do not care for the MDI interface in Windows and can understand why some detest it, but tabs are far from MDI as the devil is really in the details. There are key differences between MDI and full window (not independently movable/resizable) screens.
2. Violates Apple Usability Guidelines
Mac OS X rewrote a large portion of the guidelines. Elements such as the drawer are foreign to the original guidelines from the days of ‘Classic’. Guidelines are good, but they should not get in the way of progress or true usability enhancement. In addition, DO NOT tell me that tabs are ineffective or not useful. Just because someone else does not find them to be, does not mean that they are not to me.
3. Waste of Apple Programmer’s Time
Uhmmm, how about we let Apple decide is a waste of their time? It is obvious that they have developed something quite nice. They are getting feedback from users and I am sure they will consider it when deciding on where Safari will go. After all, it is their time and their choice and not ours. Make you thoughts known without impuning others’ and Apple will decide how their product develops.
Let me just say that some on Apple’s Discussion site are simply voicing their opinion of tabs and not trying to ignore the validity of opinions on the other side of the discussion. I have no problem if you don’t care for tabs, just don’t suggest my feelings towards them have no merit…