Hi Craig,

SNIP
>
>Again, I have to disagree. There is a reason for the guidelines. MS has spent millions of dollars on researching UI to develop these guidelines.

Of course I agree that there is a reason for guidelines. No doubt of most relevance is MS' need to be able to change something and to count on it working as advertised (or pointing to a "broken" guideline as the culprit), and I agree with this.

BUT. . . "spending millions of dollars on researching UI..." is not justification that their guidelines are reasonable or the best or whatever. You've read Alan Cooper and I'm sure you know his opinion of the MS guidelines. And look at IRIDIUM that spent billions launching 18 or so satellites for their worldwide telephone service. All those satellites are scheduled to be guided gently into the ocean sometime soon. Did their billions make it good or right?

Cheers,

Jim N