Re: GUI necessary?

     Roger,
     
     I think some of your statements are a little outrageous. A couple 
     of points...
     
     1) The AS400 has always allowed multitasking. True multitasking. 
     Good application design and well thought-out screens and F-keys can 
     be much more effective than a windowed environment. It really 
     depends on the scope of applications and the users work 
     requirements.
     
     2) The relative effectiveness of the UI depends solely on the 
     design of the app. I'm happy that you like quicken and it's UI, but 
     in most cases, for standard data entry tasks, the green screen 
     rules. Users don't need as much training, less chance of technical 
     problems, more reliability, etc.  
     
     eric.delong@pmsi-services.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: GUI necessary? 
Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
Date:    12/2/98 10:04 AM


>But ... I can think of VERY FEW instances where a GUI is necessary ... or
even
>advantageous.


Wow! That's a pretty strong statement. Are you saying that a multi-tasking,
Windowed interface does not add to your productivity? Prior to windowed
desktops (note, the reference to teh generic concept not Gate's cash cow)
the only way you could do more than one thing with the AS/400 was with
multiple terminals or kludgy old group jobs.

The value of GUI is more than simply offering your users checkboxes and
pulldown menus. GUI offers your users an easily switchable context of
applications, launched at their need. Beyond the sexy appeal of GUI, it's
fundamental importance is in letting users control their desktop context. Go
poll the bean counters today using a 5250 emulator and Excel concurrently.
Ask them if they'd like to go back to the days of a PC on desk and a 5250
dumb terminal on the other. Hardly. It doesn't matter that one of the apps
they're using (perhaps the one they're using most) is a green-screen
wannabe. They are in control and can launch the apps of their choice, and
download data to these apps, as needed.

As for GUIs not making good heads down data entry devices, that's a
green-screen myth of the highest order. Have you ever used Quicken? It is
hands down the best data entry I've ever used!

Whew. I feel better. Gotta go back to work.

rp

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