>Unfortunately, the option of how to save changes, explicit vs. implicit save, and our choice of command names has already been dictated. With a few specialized exceptions, we as Windows developers are expected to adhere to the GUI standards which Microsoft has laid down for us.

I don't recall Microsoft offering any dicta on this issue. They certainly don't say "all apps must function just like Word." If that were so, they'd never be able to improve on Word's interface themselves!

>>If we were to unilaterally decide to change the Save As option to Copy File, the new user would be lost in an instant, and even the experienced user would wonder at the deviation from standards.

The _newest_ user (one who'd never used a computer before) would not be confused in the least (in theory; that change would not be appropriate, in my opinion). But certainly, if you're going to deviate from the "current usage," you'd better have darn good reasons. I think Cooper presents some of those reasons.

Standardization is good--it's one of the best things about Windows (anyone remember having to learn a new interface for every DOS program?). But it's not carved in stone. Computer programs are not as easy to use as they could be. The only way to change that is to think outside the box sometimes.

>In the same heads-down manner, any dialogs which appear MUST have some sort of audio indicator, and if possible, should NOT have single-stroke hotkeys. Many is the time when I'll be typing away at something, a dialog from another application will appear silently,

This is a perfect example of how Microsoft has changed its UI "standard." SetForegroundWindow() used to unilaterally bring any window to the top. In Windows 98, however, it just flashes the taskbar button. This is great! (Although some Microsoft products still seem to be able to violate this, somehow).

>When the next great paradigm shift occurs to the user interface, then we'll have room to be creative.

But if we all just follow Microsoft, then that paradigm shift will never happen (unless it comes from Microsoft).