Recently, I posted here about Adobe Fireworks CS4 Mac OS X beta’s UI, which I rather unsubtly subtitled ‘UI hell’. Clearly, lots of other people felt the same, and now John Nack has responded to the sometimes scathing criticisms on his insightful blog.
I admire Nack’s openness and the way in which he’s clearly not in agreement with every Adobe decision.
However, it’s strange to see some of his explanations for the CS4 changes, with comparisons to a disparate selection of software that’s not in the same space as the likes of Photoshop.
That said, I don’t recall any other software worth a bean that stuffs the title bar full of buttons.
Still, for any regular Photoshop user, Future Photoshop UI changes is essential reading, and Nack often responds inline to comments, trying to address concerns.
Who knows? Maybe Adobe might have a slight change of heart before Photoshop CS4 yomps on in.
If not, I already know a dozen designers who aren’t upgrading from CS3 and who are already looking for alternatives, often for specific tasks, rather than weighty behemoths that suck RAM and processor cycles like a greedy digital vampire bat.
Craig Grannell was once Cult of Mac’s designer and an occasional contributor. Find out whatever he’s doing now on Twitter @CraigGrannell or his website, craiggrannell.com.
