Brushed MetalWhy is it used in this program but not that program? Titlebar WidgetsWhat do those coloured buttons in the titlebar really do? Key CombosIs system-wide consistency really too much to ask for? Contextual MenusWhy is there such a consistently inconsistent implementation? System ButtonsMy dictionary of different button types has far too many entries! MiscellaneousAll those little bugs and oversights that drive me insane! FinderWhy is the worst Apple app in Mac OS X also the most important? SafariI have 5 webpages open. Why can't I switch between them? SpotlightThe greatest feature of Tiger has some great drawbacks too! TextEditEvery text format supports headers, so why can't TextEdit? iLifeA nice suite of inconsistent and nonstandard Applications.

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Note: this is the next page that is slated for renovation. By renovation I mean a complete reworking. I haven't really done anything to this page for over a year, so you definitely have something to look forward to.

There is somthing very silly going on in Mac OS X today, and what exactly that is I'm not entirely sure. If I were creating an operating system, for every standard button there would be a single resource for the developer to use. If, say, the developer wanted to make a back button, instead of drawing their own, they would simply use the system provided copy. Unfortuatnely, Mac OS X has not implemented such an intuittive system.

But wait you say. They have! you say. To this I would say: look at the back/forward buttons used throughout the system, and, look at the add buttons used throughout the system. Clearly, there is no uniform resource. Here are 10 different buttons I've seen in casual use:

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 

It is true there are some legitiamate differences there. However, there are four different buttons that are virtually identical (1,3,6 and 7), but it's clear the same graphic is not used because they aren't exactly identical. Why is this? How hard can it possibly be to use a standard system graphic?

Not just the Back ButtonsBack and forward buttons aren't the only buttons that fail to use a standard resource. Add buttons don't either. Again, there are some buttons that have legitimate differences. However, there are others that have no business being different.

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

The situation here is almost worst than with the back buttons. Buttons 1,3,5,6,7 all should be using the same graphic, and 2 and 8 have absoulty no business being different. Now, some might say that I'm just overreacting, that this is an insignificant issue. Guess, what? They'd be right! Obviously, I do know there is some kind of way for developers to use system provided graphics. All I'm saying is that there are some buttons that don't have a central resource. Should this affect anyone's choice to buy Mac OS X? No! Should Apple fix this? Yes! For the simple reason of system consistancy. Apple has taken it upon themselves to provide a consistant user experience. In order for them to do that fully, it's important that they pay attention to small details, like the buttons. That'a all.

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