Autor: Gregorio Kus (Grego_at_RMnet.IT)
Data: Thu 27 Jun 1996 - 02:19:33 MET DST
to ponizsze dedykuje wszystkim zachwycajacym sie slicznosciami
interfejsu uzytkownika w95:
Windows 95 - BEAUTY THAT'S ONLY SKIN-DEEP
Another major feature of Windows 95, and one that has drawn considerable
attention from the industry press, is its new user interface. Terms like
"object-oriented" and "desktop metaphor" are often used to describe this
radically different Windows look.
But as with most of Windows 95's underpinnings, the actual foundation
underneath the product's user interface is nothing more than an extension
to what already existed in Windows 3.1. Unlike a true object-oriented
environment - where links between individual objects are "live" and updated
automatically - the Windows 95 GUI is static. "Objects" on the Windows 95
desktop are merely pointers to files on the disk. "Properties" for these
objects are stored in .INI files (for Windows applications) or .PIF files
(for DOS applications), and links between them (called "shortcuts" under
Windows 95) are equally static.
For example, if you create a shortcut to an executable file and place it
on the Windows 95 desktop, then rename the original executable, the shortcut
will essentially be severed. To re-establish it you'll have to re-create
the shortcut from scratch.
In a true object-oriented environment, all shortcut-like links
to the executable would have been updated automatically by the underlying
object management model. Windows 95 has no such underpinnings, so links
are easily broken by novice users who are unfamiliar with the crudeness
of the Windows 95 interface.
Going hand-in-hand with Windows 95's shortcut mechanism is the product's
support for long file and directory names on FAT volumes. Microsoft is
emphasizing Windows 95's ability to automatically convert long
file/directory names into 8.3 character abbreviations for compatibility
with existing DOS and Windows applications. What they seem to be ignoring,
however, is the fact that promoting the use of long names can be disastrous
when there is no underlying object model.
Take, for example, the novice user who, upon discovering long filenames,
decides to "reorganize" their hard disk. They gleefully rename directories
at will, unaware that they are severing shortcut after shortcut
in the process. Suddenly none of their applications work, and I/S is called
in to undo the damage (which in some cases may mean reinstalling both
operating system and applications).
The Windows 95 desktop itself is not an OLE 2.0 object. This statement
in itself has no ramifications until you start understanding what type
of integration is lost due to this lack of object technology.
This deficiency in the product, means that an application is not well
integrated with the desktop and does not inherit any of the advantages like
Drag 'n' Drop support.
Heralded by Microsoft as one of Windows 95's key selling points, the new
Windows interface may in the end prove to be one of its biggest flaws.
Without an underlying system object model to tie everything together, this
new "shell" may prove to be an I/S support nightmare.
OS/2 - TRUE OBJECT-ORIENTATION
OS/2's WorkPlace Shell is a true object-oriented interface.
The underlying System Object Model (SOM) provides complete object-tracking
so simple operations like dragging a directory to another directory won't
invalidate links and other interface structures. Thus it's easier on both
novices and IS support staff alike.
SOM also allows applications to fully manipulate the WorkPlace Shell
interface. A good example is cc:Mail for OS/2, which uses SOM to seamlessly
integrate its in/outbox interfaces with the WorkPlace Shell desktop.
This level of integration isn't possible under Windows 95 since its shell is
itself not an object.
-- /------------------------------------------------------------------ Gregorio Kus Grego_at_RMnet.it Grego_at_cyberspace.org ROMA, Italy http://www.RMnet.it/~grego Grego_at_FreeNet.hut.fi
To archiwum zostało wygenerowane przez hypermail 2.1.7 : Tue 18 May 2004 - 12:46:28 MET DST