Huh?
It's the programmers' job, to translate what the non-programmers want, to how the program actually functions (including what the user sees).
With even the smallest systems, runner mega-amounts of memory these days, it's gotten all too easy to write sloppy code.
Talk to those of us that programmed back in the old days!
Notan
"runner" was supposed to be "running."
Damn fingers!
Notan
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 16:05:52 -0600, Notan wrotG:
I just installed Q2007 Premier from the boxed version now on sale at Staples ($20 rebate plus $20 Staples gift card). The recommended screen resolution stated on the box is 1024x 768. It looks to me as if the screen problems with Q2007 on 1024 x 768 monitors result from shoddy programming more than anything done by intentional design. I use Quicken primarily to download investment prices and track my investments. So I can't comment on the other functions.
The investment section works fine on 1024 x 768 with large fonts except for one screen -- the summary screen which appears (and can be turned off) after an investment download. The bottom part of the screen offering the option to turn off the screen is not visible, the screen can not be resized, and the "x" in the top panel to exit is barely visible. And the screen is mostly empty real estate.
It's one thing to offer scroll bars to enable users to view parts of screens on lower resolution monitors. It's quite another to make parts of the screen invisible and to offer no resizing or scrolling options options on screens with the recommended resolution. This to me is shoddy programming.
In terms of investments, I really did not see anything to justify the upgrade price. There is the ability to click on an investment account, directly connect to the web site, logon, and import the web connect file without leaving Quicken. However, the function is not integrated with the online updates and is difficult to find and use. All in all, not worth the $39 (after rebates and gift cards) Staples price. -- Howard
That's the way it _should_ be, but all too often those not in technical positions are able to dictate such things to the development staff. I've worked in large companies under both environments, and I certainly prefer the ability to guide or participate in the whole product lifecycle from design to implementation. I understand your point, but there are different environments out there.
I can live with that!
Notan
Then where are the UI designers who understand these issues and can get "must be workable under screen resolutions ranging from X to Y" written into the specs?
The bottom line is that companies, just like our government, are imperfect bureaucracies. While average users or even technically advanced gurus know what makes sense, too often what makes sense to the company is the CEO's or the board's vision of what is important. I've just shaken my head at some of the decisions made in the companies I've worked for, things that just baffle anyone who knows what the hell they're doing. My favorite example, look at the Challenger accident. Non-management engineers objected to the launch, while management made the final decision, the rest is history on that cold morning.
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