Re: Second Normal Form help.

On Fri, 30 Mar 2001 02:48:02 +0100, James Taylor <james_at_NOSPAM.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>It baffles me why Microsoft Outlook Express users always talk in reverse
>as typified by the exchange above. I've not used it myself so perhaps
>someone could tell me what user interface flaw causes users to do this?

Outlook is a horrible program, we use it at work and it's buggy and annoying. The only thing I like about it is the ability to search email folders (including the body of the messages).

>It is because it does not allow them to trim the quoted material, and/or
>does not show them the quoted material in the same window as that which
>they type their message in?

I think it's because when you get something long in Outlook it puts the text below the cursor in a reply, so you'd have to take an extra step to make it work. Possibly also because some users think you should only include the thread for reference in case someone needs to read it, so that each post by itself contains the whole thread yet can be read without having to go to the bottom to read the current reply.

>Or perhaps it's just because there is a strong
>inverse correlation between Outlook users and Usenet aficionados.

Absolutely, I've been using Usenet for many more years than Outlook. The more I use MS software the more I appreciate Pine and Tin.

>Any
>help understanding this annoying phenomenon would be much appreciated.
>

Just a guess on my part, don't get me started on html format email with lame fonts, we have people that do mass mailings that way, complete with backgrounds and images - I no longer cringe when I see them but it took a while.

DCraig. Received on Fri Mar 30 2001 - 05:22:27 CEST