[IxDA Discuss] Most usable doesn't always mean best solution

[Brandon E.B. Ward]

I think the 'standard vs automatic' is very much akin to Linux/Unix user vs Regular user.

I think everyone could agree that automatic is technically 'easier', but you lose the ability to have fine-tune control if/when you want it like you've got w/ a stick. The people I know that drive stick do so because driving is a passion for them and they don't trust a machine to decide when/where/how to shift for them. They also like to work on their own cars, tweek them, mod them etc.

Power-users and people who like tinkering w/ the fiddly-bits of their OS, trying new things, getting under the hood  of the OS, using OpenSource apps, also like this ability in their computers. Setting up and using Linux/Unix etc. may not be quite as 'easy' as just installing OS X or Windows, and finding apps, settings etc. might be a bit more of a challenge, but those who choose either camp do so for obvious reasons, foregoing either some of the options or control they might get for the ability to do things more quickly/easily.

Sorry if this isn't very coherent - but I think my point is in there somewhere.

B