Just being nosy. People don't just up sticks for western Ukraine for the sake of it. Thought you'd have an interesting story to tell!
Paul
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About software interfaces, take a look at this post of mine: http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=33680 .
I'm using Adobe Fireworks public beta from some weeks and have to say is really interesting.
Actually the only feature I miss is the support of Photoshop filters right into the app... ironic for an Adobe product.
I don't find that interface any more modern than Xara's, and I find it overwhelming. I like Xara's simplicity that only the relevant tools are present at any time. I thought that it was the overall look that people want to change, as they say "it looks dated". Personally I don't see much difference in actual style.
I would drop Xtreme like a hot potato if it ever became like FWCS4.
The UI is cluttered (which Charles would reject) and all those tabbed flyouts offer more confusion than assistance in my opinion.
LESS is MORE, throwing more at software doesn't make it better, only BETTER makes it better. Clutter and multiple tabbed-tool boxes which are hidden behind flyouts (who's tabs have truncated titles) drive me insane, even at the CorelDraw level. It's unintUItive.
Tabbed document interface is a different story however.
I completely agree with Sledger. The Fireworks interface is an atrocious design.
A great example of having to learn the interface before you can even start to use the software.
This is the environment I work in, and don't think is cluttered, just handy. :cool:
Giovanni I'm cool that it works for you.
It would against me.
I don't have a 24" monitor to fill up with tools and menus only to end up with less than a 17" monitor worth of document real estate.
Of course, I'm sure FW has many hotkeys which might allow me to close most of them.
Xtreme UI works fine for me :)
(with the exception of the Clipart and Fills galleries which do need fixing immediately..)
It's a matter of priorities. Here's the screenshot of the interface that my friend designer uses with Xara.
Please note, that he works in "Full screen mode" so there's no main menu for example. All "missing" buttons are redundant as they are quicker to use with hotkeys (as soon as you master it). The ability to work in this kind of uncluttered environment is one of the reasons he likes Xara.