Re: Coming back from Maya

[Chris Harkins <charkocu(at)gmail.com>]

"...is it really worth alienating new users that are used to the rest of the world's software?"

Is it really worth forcing all of their current users conform to a setup that most are not comfortable with? I doubt a customizable keyboard configuration is going to alienate anyone from using XSI. I have never heard of anyone say, "I don't want to use that software because their default keyboard config isn't like Maya."

It may be ideal to use a configuration that you are familiar with in other applications, but you can easily customize it to your preference. Your concern is that this is not the XSI standard. But, honestly, who cares? Does the 1 second required to move a finger across the keyboard really cut into your productivity? Larger studios decide for themselves if they want to reconfig the XSI keyboard to be more in sync with their other tools Individually, I would assume people want to stay with what they are accustomed to - the newer users who are too stubborn to learn another software navigation can simply change it to what they want it to be...

_C Harkins


Gene Crucean wrote:

Hey thanks for the nice reply Alan.


>For me it's better just by not using the Alt key. Don't even have to
think further.
This is a preference though. It sounds like you're just used to it the way it's been.


>Alt is designed as a modified, not a key-press in it's own right. So
they've immediately
taken away the possibility of an additional functionality for every
other key/mouse
combination. Pretty much the dumbest UI move they could have made.
See I like using my thumb because it leaves my other 4 fingers open. Meaning I can navigate and SRT (TRS technically ;) all very fast and without lifting my hand or even repositioning it. That's where my left hand stays 80% of the time. Not having alt doesn't bother me at all.

Using the S key which is better than Z,O and P imo... still doesn't let your hand rest naturally. And if you feel comportable using it then you are forced to swap fingers around to use X, C and V. A bit goofy.


>The other problem with using another applications keyset by default is
what do you
do with regards to differentiating your product based on it's unique
features? You
decide to use key X for your special function then in the next version
they add a
different feature using X - should you now switch your keymap to match
theirs and
find a different key for your feature?
See I think you're looking at this the wrong way. It's not that it should mimic anything to a T. It's more of a standard for the keys that are used the most. Navigation. Alt for nav, and qwer for select, T, R and S. After that you could do whatever native keys you wanted that are specific to XSI.


>If anything should be dropped I'd suggest it's the qwerty setup. In
the long run
it hurts an artist more than it helps. It also reinforces mentally the
notion that they're
using a software package which they're not. So their entire workflow
will tend to
flow in the manner they'd use with the other application. This is
likely to result
in their approaching things in a manner which is non-ideal or worse in a very
capable application.
Interesting point, however I disagree. I think the hotkeys and workflow of an application are completely different and you can't link the two like that.

So basically, you are saying that in addition to trying to learn a completely different workflow, you should also try and force yourself to re-learn how to rotate around your viewport? Unnecessary imo. Why make it more things to learn. It's like a double whammy when it doesn't need to be.

My main point with this was that I think the strongest argument that anyone has for using native interaction is that everyone is on the same page in a working environment. I know because I'm always switching mine when I sit at another computer, or when I help someone. So back to my main point... is it really worth alienating new users that are used to the rest of the world's software?


Bernard, I think you just strengthened my point.


Tim, M and a bunch of other keys are the same (or very similar) in qwerty. And I agree, the M key is great.

On Fri, Feb 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM, Alan Jones <skyphyr(at)gmail.com> wrote:

He Gene,

For me it's better just by not using the Alt key. Don't even have to
think further. Alt
is designed as a modified, not a key-press in it's own right. So
they've immediately
taken away the possibility of an additional functionality for every
other key/mouse
combination. Pretty much the dumbest UI move they could have made.

The other problem with using another applications keyset by default is
what do you
do with regards to differentiating your product based on it's unique
features? You
decide to use key X for your special function then in the next version
they add a
different feature using X - should you now switch your keymap to match
theirs and
find a different key for your feature?

If anything should be dropped I'd suggest it's the qwerty setup. In
the long run
it hurts an artist more than it helps. It also reinforces mentally the
notion that they're
using a software package which they're not. So their entire workflow
will tend to
flow in the manner they'd use with the other application. This is
likely to result
in their approaching things in a manner which is non-ideal or worse in a very
capable application.

Cheers,

Alan.

On Feb 1, 2008 4:40 PM, Gene Crucean <emailgeneonthelist(at)gmail.com> wrote:
> Can I ask why you old school Soft users think the native interaction model
> is better than every other piece of software out there that all relatively
> mimics the same qwerty setup?
>
> I'm looking for solid reasons why it's better. Is it faster because you guys
> are so hardcore that you don't even use a mouse... therefore freeing up your
> right hand for O,P usage? ;)
>
> I'm calling you guys out. XSI dragging along the old Soft mindset just
> further alienates potential users from hopping on board. IMO, SI would be
> better off in the long run if in V7 they just dropped it and kept the qwerty
> setup as default. Maybe drop it completely from the software but offer the
> keymap as a download from the site... at least until the "old dogs" retire.
>
>
> $0.02 ching ching
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 1, 2008 at 9:42 AM, Julien Stiegler <julien.stiegler(at)free.fr>
> wrote:
>
> > Hey eric,
> >
> > it's a great initiative to host tested/working/quality scripts and plugins
> on
> > your site.
> > What about contacting ALL the xsi addons authors and ask them the
> permissions to
> > host it on your site ?
> > I have a good collection of them but the authors still need to be
> contacted for
> > permissions ....
> >
> > regards
> >
> > Selon Eric Thivierge <eric(at)xsidatabase.com>:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Well Kim,
> > >
> > > It's a community based site. I don't script too well myself so it's
> > > pretty much up to the others on the list and in the community to put
> > > some things on the site. The site is for hosting the files of various
> > > resources to get rid of the horrible "File not found" errors. So I
> > > counter your comment with, "Shouldn't YOU put some scripts in it?" :)
> > >
> > > Cheers Kim. Hope all is well.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Eric Thivierge, XSI Database Admin
> > > www.xsidatabase.com
> > > eric(at)xsidatabase.com
> > > Forum Username: EricTRocks
> > >
> > >
> > > kim aldis wrote:
> > > > Shouldn't you put some scripts into it? ;-)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM] On
> > > >> Behalf Of Eric Thivierge
> > > >> Sent: 01 February 2008 03:32
> > > >> To: XSI(at)Softimage.COM
> > > >> Subject: Re: Coming back from Maya
> > > >>
> > > >> Right on Marcus! Don't forget we have a new scripts section as well.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ---
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Julien Stiegler
> > Réalisation de film d'animation, vidéo interactive,
> > pré-production, post-prodution.
> > http://animatic.no-ip.com/cv.html
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Unsubscribe? Mail Majordomo(at)Softimage.COM with the following text in body:
> > unsubscribe xsi
> >
>
>

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