On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 10:01:27 -0700, Eric Ocean subscriber@ampede.com wrote:
have the Preferences... menu item launch a help window/assistant that explains the preferences philosophy of TextMate, along with visuals on where to find them (the specific menus), and how the TextMate approach makes sense for what TextMate does.
That will eliminate the number one problem encountered by new users, and also get them quickly up to speed about TextMate's underlying philosophy.
"Show, don't tell."
You're suggesting explanatory text -- which would seem to map to telling more than showing.
The need to explain something to users is a sign that there's a design problem to be corrected. Given that Allan has said a Preferences item is inevitable, shouldn't that just be introduced instead of implemented as an explanation for why it's not there?
If there must be an explanation, why not just make it the first tip-of-the-day the user sees?