Comments on: The difference between ‘feature’ and ‘usage’ simplicity

By: 90 Percent of Everything » Blog Archive » Heresy! Underwhelmed by Basecamp

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:43:21 +0000

[…] I know the whole philosophy behind their apps is a about simplicity and avoiding featuritus but this harks back to the debate about simplicity that went on a few months back. Simplicity of use doesn’t imply absence of features and some well chosen additions to Basecamp could make it massively more useful. […]

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By: Patrick

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:55:12 +0000

I would like to add a third point of simplicity: Let’s say “handling” simplicity. What do I mean?

One example: I’ve got two mobile phones. You can phone and write SMS, both have a camera with autofocus. In short: both have the same features und their usage (like in the definition above) is the same.

Now the difference: If I want to write an SMS I have to go with mobile phone 1 through different menus – press, hit, press, press, hit – now I am able to write a SMS. With mobile phone 2 that goes faster – press, hit.

Now imagine that mobile phone 2 offers all features with the same electronic aid (so called “usability”) with less than 2 presses and hits. Mobile phone 1 offers the same features und usability with 5 presses and hits in average.

In principle I would prefer mobile phone 2. The handling is much better…

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By: Jungcook Park

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:00:31 +0000

You seem to be the person of simplicity. You’ve chosen an excellent subject and provided very clearly the definition and the benefits we can get from it.

Learning much from you
With great appreciation

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