Related Chapters

• Chapter 6—Beginning vs. Advanced Users.

Stresses the importance of keeping the default configuration simple for beginning users.

• Chapter 11—Good User Interfaces Are Invisible.

Discusses how the most successful user interface metaphors are simple.

• Chapter 13—Learn from the Web.

Discusses how to learn from the Web to simplify appearance, navigation, and interaction. The goal behind this approach isn't to be trendy but to make software simpler and easier to use.

• Chapter 19—Configurability Is Cool.

Discusses the trade-off between power and simplicity and why simple configurations are usually better than powerful ones.

• Chapter 21—Tooltips Are Cool.

Discusses the different types of tooltips, when to use them, and how to use them correctly.

• Chapter 22—Unnecessary Dialog Boxes Are Evil; Chapter 23—Unnecessary Message Boxes Are Pure Evil; and Chapter 24—Unnecessary Repetitive Tasks Are Evil.

These chapters present specific ways to simplify user interfaces by eliminating unnecessary dialog boxes, message boxes, and tasks.

• Chapter 33—Check Your Setup Program.

Describes the importance of simplicity in setup programs and presents several techniques for simplifying them. Many setup programs are just too complicated.