Re: Microsoft Metaphors (fwd)

At 09:47 AM 1/15/98 -0600, Jim Choate wrote:

Forwarded message:

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Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 10:09:09 -0500 From: Declan McCullagh Subject: Microsoft Metaphors

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What are the best metaphors to use when talking about a browser and an operating system? Is the combination like a car and an engine, or a car and a roofrack? A pair of gloves?

It seem to me to be like a car and a road map. It simply lets you address the multiplicity of resources (ie destinations) out there in a convenient model.

A browser is a piece of software. How it is implemented has no effect on what it is: a tool used by people, running on a computer with an OS. The computer is a building. The OS makes it a supermarket. The browser is the map of the store showing what foods are in what aisles. -dsr-