[horde] [imp] default reply behavior in dimp/imp

[Brent]

Quoting Vilius Šumskas <vilius at lnk.lt>:

>> Am 06.09.2011 10:48, schrieb Vilius Šumskas:
>> >> Am 06.09.2011 09:53, schrieb Michael M Slusarz:
>> >>> And this is a fantastic feature of IMP.  One button = less confusion for
>> the
>> >> users when they want to reply.  So
>> >>> IMP is better than mailers that have more than 1 button.
>> >>>
>> >> why does the whole world think it is better to hide options
>> >> from users and think anybody is confused if he can select
>> >> between "reply to sender" or "reply to sender and all others"
>> > Because it is the way human brain works. Take a look at cars before
>> automatic gear box. You had to know at least minor things about how car
>> operates to do good over the wheel. Now, every older lady down the street
>> can do grocery shopping. Sure it does a little bit less miles to  
>> the gallon this
>> way, or you never want to ride automatic gear box in the race. But  
>> this is only
>> important for power users. And they always be a minority.
>> >
>> > The same goes with every device you own at home, including software.
>>
>> sorry but it is idiotic to take the decision "reply" or "reply all"  
>> away from the
>> users
>> this makes NOTHING easier, it makes it more complex for everybody who
>> knows what he
>
> As others already pointed out, it's not "taken away". For users who  
> *really* know what they are doing it is there, under drop down menu.

The problem is that most users know Outlook, and Outlook has a Reply  
button which means "Reply to Sender".  That label/button is ingrained  
into people...you can't change it.  So, when a Horde user sees a  
"Reply" button, they will logically assume it is going to the person  
that sent the message.  Sure, there is a pop-up that indicates what is  
going to happen, but habits are hard to break.  I think there should  
be another button like Outlook has for "Reply To All"; or if you  
insist on the one-button-to-rule-them-all, make the button text say  
something like "Reply To..." and force the user choose what they want.  
  I don't think any button with logic behind it should automatically  
make a default selection, especially with a heated debate about what  
the default should be.  Developers seem to like their feature, while  
users/administrators want to change it.
>
>> wants to do and in my opinion everybody who do not realize the difference
>> between both
>> should not use a computer at all
>
> You do realize that like 98% of computer users doesn't know the  
> difference between forward or reply, don't you? Or even what *is*  
> the mailing list?

And THIS is the reason for the default.  The Horde list people grew  
tired of people hitting "Reply" and not having it go to the list and  
then had to explain to the user how to use the list appropriately.  I  
can deal with switching between email clients and an extra click to do  
what I want, but most people don't pay attention, which is the point  
you make above:  "98% of computer users doesn't know the difference  
between forward or reply".

I'm all for progress in the UI, and I personally don't mind the new  
feature.  As as administrator, however, the change is actually quite  
drastic and that's why people are asking for the previous behaviour.   
It won't matter how much information you send out to your users  
pimping the new features of the uber-Horde, the first time a  
high-level exec hits "Reply" and says something disparaging to the  
sender of the message and didn't notice it went out as "Reply to All"  
who/what is going to be blamed?

I think there's a Dilbert cartoon in there somewhere.

brent