Double click hell
tripdragon (416 pencils) | Thu, 2005-08-11 14:49
This comes from just getting the new mighty mouse and finding that there is no option to swap the right click for a double click. It brought me back all the way to when I first tried computers and found after a day of double clciking it begins to give you hand an rss pain.
It makes me wonder why we still have double click in the first place or at least why there is no option to turn it off. I mean ya dont double click the web buttons, nor do you double click any buttons inside of applications, hell nothing really double clicks besides the stupid OS folder system like finder and Windows explorer.... But I do know windows does have an option to have one clcik, so why not osx ?
Just curious what others feel.
workys --->> http://filmsandwich.com/
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OK, my title may be a little exaggerated, but have you ever watched people use the interent? For some (bizarre) reason people are under the impression that everything requires a double-click. Go to your friends house and watch them browse... go to an interent cafe and observe what people are doing... they are all double-clicking on everything. It drives me crazy! I want to tell them to 'stop-it'!
As a developer of web site and CD-ROMS, this has always been a big annoyance for me. Often, the first click initiates an action, but their second click either cancels, or changes that action. For instance, if you have a link on a site that opens a small window... the first click opens the window, but the second click holds the main window in front, pushing the small window behind it. Your client then says... "why didn't the window open?"... um... it did... it's behind this window you double-clicking punk-ass. Fortunately, this particular problem has been mostly solved with modern browsers, but still... where did people ever get the idea that links needed to be double-clicked.
Please, someone make them stop!
Thanks for this opportunity to rant. This is obviously a sore subject for me :)
paul burd \\ multimedia designer
portfolio \\ weblog
paul burd \\ multimedia designer
portfolio \\ weblog
"...where did people ever get the idea that links needed to be double-clicked."
Starting with Windows 98 (or maybe it was in 95 as well) there was an option to turn all icons in the OS into "links." They'd get underlined as you hover over them, and your cursor would become a hand. Then you'd only need to click once to use it. Apparantly a *LOT* of amateur computer users loved this option and used it religiously (at least that's how it's been in my experience.) However, this led to a confusion as to what the difference between a link and an icon was, and it was a confusion that never really needed to be made. Now these people have trouble understanding that links should not be double-clicked and icons should be double clicked. It's what happens when Microsoft meddles with things they really didn't need to mess with just for the sake of making it look like they invented some new way to work.
blaming others is simple ... especially in case when microsoft could be hit. what you wrote is none-sense ... get the facts first. Never has this option been a favorite to windows users. If u'd ever used a pc, you'd know what other consequences it takes: this option is only to be enabled, if you whish the so called "active desktop" to be enabled too, at the same time. This means you can embed even whole websites or local folder structures in the background of your desktop. The idea behind is clever: instead of watching a website through an browser which you have to start all over, put the website on ya desktop! And you even can interact with it. And this is exactly why the Icons turn into links then which need to clicked only once. Because they ARE links now. See how clever Microsoft was at that time: they didnt want to break the concept how you use a website. they turned icons into links. consequent... in my opinion. And anything else then wrong! But blaming the old fashioned Win95 or once again and overall stupid Microsoft for it ... gush. I have never seen this option enabled on a windows PC, private or in an office... talkin about the last ten years. Because the whole idea was not accepted by windows users, so everybody turned it off .. and for shure ... nobody got confused about it. Blaming Microsoft for shit is ok, Im not defending them. But none-sense talk about weak features you dont even know exactly and building up a thesis about confused windows users out of it ... gush again. And you even think this confusion is going over like a virus to apple users ? gush gush gush ... I always had to double click icons ... whether Mac or PC ...
I've actually noticed my lack of double clicking as well. My finder is set up for column mode so I don't double click to navigate through them. I launch apps using either a single click on the dock or with QuickSilver.
The only time I really double click is opening Documents. Even then, a lot of the time I'll drag to the application because I don't want the default app opening it up.
Those same people wonder as to why their credit cards get charged twice when buying stuff online. Most professional sites will hide the submit button or just ignore a second submit, but you can still see many places warning you not to click the submit button twice.
wow I never knew it was that bad.. Double clcik should be turned off by default then on windows and osx.. Hrmmms,,, Gotta send petition to the world
workys --->> http://filmsandwich.com/
Many ppl around me keep double clicking. It annoys me a lot. I think if all ppl using the internet stopped double clicking the bandwidth usage overall would drop by like 10-20%.
You don't even need to click once remember? :)
In defense of double clicking, it serves a pretty good purpose when browsing folders on your desktop or in a more iconic view then a column view. It least you able to single click to highlight your file and get information on it, prepare to move it, copy it, etc. w/o having to worry about opening it. Now I know the argument will be "why not just right click on it?" Why add an extra menu to go through when I can simply use my keyboard shortcuts and bypass the *2* extra clicks plus time spent from mistakenly clicking the wrong menu?
I like double clicking, because I feel I have more control over my computer. Ever used windows single click feature? Its annoying to no end.
:)
in defence to windows version I like it :P It has a time release thing to it and is a boon to tablet users like myself. Ever try double clciking on a tablet It SUUUUCKKKSS egggs...
workys --->> http://filmsandwich.com/
Most tablet pens have a double click button don't they? I know my ancient one did.
I agree. I'm not totally against double-clicking. It serves it's purpose in the operating system. I just can't figure out why people can't make a distinction between the OS and a web page, or CD presentation.
paul burd \\ multimedia designer
portfolio \\ weblog
paul burd \\ multimedia designer
portfolio \\ weblog
Web page links are nothing like an OS. The things you click in a web browser are not complicated objects you can manipulate in multiple ways like a file or application.
I sure wouldn't want single clicks to open documents or launch applications if I was using a file manager. Single clicks in this context should let you simply highlight objects to get information about them, rename them, and so on. There needs to be a distinction between "touching" and "activating". This is *essential* with the current file metaphors we use.
Simply adding more mouse buttons and making one of them double-click isn't a great idea either. The average user doesn't even know how to use the right mouse button, and a well designed OS should be usable with only one button.
The great thing about OS X is that you don't need to do much double-clicking if you don't want to. Your dock and Spotlight both operate with single clicks, because they don't use the same file-browsing context that FInder does.
ya, but then you once again mess up the flow of working with osx finders mass of double clicks and docks/sidebars use of one click..
All of could be avoided if OSX had one simple option to just choose one clcik! Thats all ! Ugh :P
workys --->> http://filmsandwich.com/
I use my middle button on my Kensington Studio mouse for double click. It saves time and the amount of clicks all in one swift move. Why couldn't apple just make the scroll button a double click?
Well, at least they left some room for 3rd party developers. :o)
http://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/
I hate single click open. i turn it off. along with tap=click on the track pad.
but then i use a track pad, so all my clicks are with my thumb anyway.
I just tested out the http://www.dontclick.it/ Site . ! Sweetness!
Err the trick to it is to remove your hand from the mouse and guide it from the butt of the mouse :D.
The best idea out of it I found was the circle around a button to activate it. Could be a simple code hack for non flash sites.... Hrmmmmssss
workys --->> http://filmsandwich.com/
Yeah folks ... Apple still sticks to its "One-Button-Mouse" solution ... What a crap. Is it because Steve wants to keep the usabilty of his MacOS simple ? I guess, yes it is ... So when you want to blame Microsoft for shit ... yeah... u can, the hell of a lot. They have stupid product politics ... But when you talk about usability ... Guess what ? Users are faster digging through the folder structure on Windows machines than on Apples ... Nope ... Im not an Apple-hater-PC-user ... attitudes like these are for the brain dumped. but I want to stick to the facts ... And what silly Idea it is, wanting a single Click to open Folders ... what if u just want to drag the icon to a different place on the desktop ? U want that folder really to open ? Or like it is always do you want to press a certain key while click to make this action happen? I dont know much about the new Apple Mouse ... But again I see it only has a one-button-functionality ... which makes it stay an incomplete tool in my eyes ... as cool as it might look like ... greetz - kewlbit