Alfa ebook manager

[slm]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

MacOS is not user friendly.

Not anymore.
Originally, that was the whole point.

[codrut_popescu]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The notion that at UI should be instantaneously intuitive (no research or learning curve) to a new user is ludicrous to me. Every added capability will be something a user will need to familiarize themselves with. We've become tricked (mainly by non-programmer UI "experts") into believing that there's some magic UI practice which will render a user guide unnecessary -- regardless of the complexity of an application's functions/features. If you want to know how to truly use an application: RTFM and/or experiment with it.

A good tool is transparent to the user and the user should only focus on what he is doing not on how to use the tool.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

A good tool is transparent to the user and the user should only focus on what he is doing not on how to use the tool.

Sounds nice, but is utterly impossible with a tool as powerful and multi-functional as Calibre is. Such a tool simply needs a bit of figuring out, much like the aforementioned word processors or spreadsheets.

That doesn't mean internal consistency doesn't help with that. I can't count the times I have been asked 'I want to do <X>, but I don't know how' in a program I hadn't seen before, I clicked around for a few seconds, and said 'See? There it is.'

And the reaction always is 'But you said you didn't know that program!'. Yeah, I didn't, but I know user interfaces after playing around with them for 40+ years. That helps. Knowing the system, not the program.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

A good tool is transparent to the user and the user should only focus on what he is doing not on how to use the tool.

Nonsense. Complicated, multi-use tools require a learning phase. Always. A hammer is not a CNC machine. A good tool becomes transparent with use. It doesn't start that way.

The notion that all of any complex program's features/capabilities should reveal themselves to a user through some sort of magical UI osmosis is misguided. It's OK if you have no desire to learn how to use complex pieces of software, but perhaps just say that instead of blaming your lack of motivation on imaginary notions that you shouldn't have to.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Nonsense. Complicated, multi-use tools require a learning phase. Always. A hammer is not a CNC machine. A good tool becomes transparent with use. It doesn't start that way.

The notion that all of any complex program's features/capabilities should reveal themselves to a user through some sort of magical UI osmosis is misguided. It's OK if you have no desire to learn how to use complex pieces of software, but perhaps just say that instead of blaming your lack of motivation on imaginary notions that you shouldn't have to.

yes!



Tools that need serious study even if expert in the field
CAD (2D or 3D)
Schematic Capture
PCB layout
Professional DTP/Content management (big publisher)
High end photo editing
Professional Video Editing
Professional Audio editing (DAW).
Visual Basic 5 to 6 and Visual c# or Vb.net , iOS and Android if only ever done console or embedded programming.
QT C++ framework

Tools that need proper training/study if you never used them:
Writer going from Typewriter or old Wordstar style text editor to modern wordprocessor with styles and outlining
Bookkeeper to spreadsheet or Accounts package.
Basic accounts package to corporate one
paper office clerk from time-sheets to payroll.


Subjects that need professional training in subject even before using program at all:
Mechanical Engineering design
Machinist
Electronics Engineer
Accounting
Project management
Professional photography, videography, audio, studio etc.
Publishing process
Programming (Server, Web, Desktop, phone, embedded are quite different).
Radio propagation / Communication engineering.
Databases, especially multi-user client-server

Most of the supporting software tools are not instantly intuitive and have at least a few days solid learning curve for someone expert.

[theducks]

@Quoth
YES
I can do a few of those on your list (and that is just at the basic level)

Nothing substitutes for Experience and actually learning the tool.
I remember interviewing 'Electronics trade school' candidates that could not run the Oscilloscope (TEK475) on my bench because it was not the one at school. They had no clue what the Knobs function was, so their skill was not transferable.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

yes!



Tools that need serious study even if expert in the field
CAD (2D or 3D)
Schematic Capture
PCB layout
Professional DTP/Content management (big publisher)
High end photo editing
Professional Video Editing
Professional Audio editing (DAW).
Visual Basic 5 to 6 and Visual c# or Vb.net , iOS and Android if only ever done console or embedded programming.
QT C++ framework

Tools that need proper training/study if you never used them:
Writer going from Typewriter or old Wordstar style text editor to modern wordprocessor with styles and outlining
Bookkeeper to spreadsheet or Accounts package.
Basic accounts package to corporate one
paper office clerk from time-sheets to payroll.


Subjects that need professional training in subject even before using program at all:
Mechanical Engineering design
Machinist
Electronics Engineer
Accounting
Project management
Professional photography, videography, audio, studio etc.
Publishing process
Programming (Server, Web, Desktop, phone, embedded are quite different).
Radio propagation / Communication engineering.
Databases, especially multi-user client-server

Most of the supporting software tools are not instantly intuitive and have at least a few days solid learning curve for someone expert.

And calibre.

I've learned a lot about calibre on MR that I may not otherwise have known. One thing I really do like is being able to ask questions and get answers. I like the level of support here. I see a lot of people asking for help and getting it. That is something that would never happen with Alfa eBook Manager. You would never get such a level of support and you would never get as many useful features that calibre has and will have.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And calibre.

I've learned a lot about calibre on MR that I may not otherwise have known. One thing I really do like is being able to ask questions and get answers. I like the level of support here.

Absolutely. More useful and more powerful, better programs take longer to learn

MS Paint vs Paint Shop Pro, Aldus Photostyler, Adobe Photoshop or The GIMP

MS Notepad vs Emacs, Vi, Notepad++ or KATE

MS Wordpad vs MS Word or LO Writer

Simple search & replace vs RegEx

MS Sound Recorder (now Voice) vs Audacity or Cubase

MS Powerpoint vs MS Visio (charts) or Powerpoint vs any serious Multimedia authoring tool (Powerpoint was bought in and is junk. Visio was also bought in).

[codrut_popescu]

You know that this is just an ebook manager, which should be a pleasure to use in order to just focus on reading. This is not a CAD system nor a CNC machine. You are completely missing the point. The fact that you persist in claiming this is the best tool on the planet just makes the rest of the planet being stuck with this app and there is nothing else the rest of the users can do about it cause they have no choice.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

You are completely missing the point.

Someone sure is. But I'm pretty sure it might be you.

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

The fact that you persist in claiming this is the best tool on the planet just makes the rest of the planet being stuck with this app and there is nothing else the rest of the users can do about it cause they have no choice.

I don't really use Calibre myself, so you can't be speaking to me. I'm speaking in generalities about the sense of entitlement that many users these days seem to have about programs magically using themselves with "intuitive UIs," and weird ideas that the need for a user guide equals some sort of failure on the part of the developer. Not to mention the false notion that programs should require no effort on the part of the user in order to be deemed to be a "good tool."

Your "just an ebook manager" comment is proof that you don't fully grasp the capabilities of the software you've dismissed as being unusable.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

You know that this is just an ebook manager, which should be a pleasure to use in order to just focus on reading. This is not a CAD system nor a CNC machine. You are completely missing the point. The fact that you persist in claiming this is the best tool on the planet just makes the rest of the planet being stuck with this app and there is nothing else the rest of the users can do about it cause they have no choice.

No one is forbidding anyone to develop another manager. The fact that there are no serious competitors proves that Calibre IS the best tool on the planet. Otherwise there would be dozens of programs like calibre, no matter what anyone claims. Claims don't count, the reality does. And the reality is obviously that there is no one who feels they can build something better than calibre.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

You know that this is just an ebook manager.

Unless it's junk, there is no such thing as just an ebook manager.

You obviously don't understand what an ebook manager needs to do for:
* Non trivial quantity of ebooks
* issue of many ebook formats, but your reader only works well for one of them (which is most ereaders).
* Loads of different kinds of devices.
* Managing aspects of device if possible
* User have more than one device.
* Concept of metadata, not just filename (Title, subtitle, series, author, blurb, publishing information)
* Cover
* Collections / shelves / tags / genres

Then you'd want various kinds of search, a viewer and an editor to "fix" ebooks, as they sometimes need it and an advantage of ebooks is you are not stuck with formatting you don't like as with paper.

Some want to track reading progress / status.

Also plug-ins for specialist use.

Recently "Full Text Search" on selected or all ebooks was added which is a totally fabulous tool for researchers or writers. Many people don't need it.a

Not everyone feels the need for an ebook manager, but a decent one isn't trivial.

[codrut_popescu]

Ok, everybody please be happy with your choice. I am personally happier with Alfa eBooks Manager which I find more pleasant to use, but which you dimiss.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

Ok, everybody please be happy with your choice. I am personally happier with Alfa eBooks Manager which I find more pleasant to use, but which you dimiss.

Apparently you didn't read the whole thread. Several posters here, myself included, have actually used Alfa in the past, but ditched it because Calibre was better in our opinion. YMMV.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by codrut_popescu

Ok, everybody please be happy with your choice. I am personally happier with Alfa eBooks Manager which I find more pleasant to use, but which you dimiss.

I'm happy that you found something you like. But I'm fairly certain not everyone in this thread dismissed Alfa eBooks Manager. I, in fact, made no mention of it whatsoever (not since you bumped the thread anyway). My whole beef was with the puerile "good tools should be transparent" hoohah. It's not a realistic criticism that a piece of software refused to mind-meld with you after first launch.