googletalk gui is boring

jessica · 12-09-2005, 10:32 PM

I wish google would make a more graphical client... i mean the current client is pretty boring... mayb more colors would do the job..

zima · 12-10-2005, 01:41 AM

I don't mind, people with whom I talk to are plenty "colorfull", don't need the IM client (the tool that suppose to do the job, you know...) to distract me. Of course if you don't have the first thing...

mondine · 12-10-2005, 01:44 AM

I use it through Trillian, so it looks more or less like everything else.

andrew247 · 12-10-2005, 04:25 AM

I think it looks 'elegant' the way it is...

jessica · 12-10-2005, 06:18 AM

well if using trillian or talking to "colorfull" ppl is your solutions to a "plain" boring client, thats fine but doesnt solve the problem of the client being boring.

Pepper · 12-10-2005, 11:24 AM

um..it looks like google....and i really don't care what it looks like because if you actually use it for anything important you would find out that when talking to someone through it, it has the best quality over all the other IM systems...and if you really are upcessed with the looks of things, you might want to realize that it is still in "beta". Use some flashy msn program if you want something that is "pretty"

emlprime · 03-17-2006, 08:45 AM

Jessica,

The client does look boring, but I think it's intentional. Most of google's tools are intended to be useful rather than entertaining. Movies are supposed to be entertaining, so they have bright colors and exciting images, but imagine the same movie on a loop for 3 months sitting on your screen. Eventually, familiarity breeds contempt.

The thing which seems exciting now, after much repetition will gradually become annoying and finally repulsive.

I believe Google's interface strategy is, in general, to stay out of sight as much as possible. They use blue, the color human eyes are least drawn to (so it's a cool color vs warm like red) so that you look at the information instead of the interface. They use soft clean lines to show boundaries so that it's easy to see different sections. They don't show buttons unless they absolutely have to and they use pretty intuitive keyboard shortcuts to give you functionality.

What I love most, is the features they don't advertise. I love that the input control doesn't resize by hand. It resizes only when it needs to get bigger (ie, you type more than one line). I love that valuable screen space isn't used up with a send button that nobody uses. I love that there are no buttons for bold and italics when I can just *bold* instead.

I don't think your complaint is unreasonable. I like theming, so you can change the look to feel more personal, but I think that Google has made good default choices.

monclo · 03-17-2006, 09:07 AM

i love it the way it is i like simple things why would i want all the others thing if i only whant to chat with my friends ?

stuck_fugu · 03-17-2006, 08:20 PM

All I can say is, simple yet effective.

I think the simpleness adds to the whole feel.

kcirick · 06-05-2006, 05:46 AM

Hi,

I think Gtalk is very simple and fast. I've migrated from MSN, which is cluttered with all kinds of graphical BS, which slows my computer.

I think simpler the better for messenger client, because talking to people is the first priority, not advertisement or other add-ons they try to fit in MSN or Yahoo!

-Rick

12-09-2005, 10:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
jessica Junior Googler Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	googletalk gui is boring I wish google would make a more graphical client... i mean the current client is pretty boring... mayb more colors would do the job..

12-10-2005, 01:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
mondine Google Guru Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC. Posts: 4,002 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I use it through Trillian, so it looks more or less like everything else. __________________

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12-10-2005, 01:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
zima Google Freak Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I don't mind, people with whom I talk to are plenty "colorfull", don't need the IM client (the tool that suppose to do the job, you know...) to distract me. Of course if you don't have the first thing...

12-10-2005, 04:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
andrew247 Google Guru Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: c:\GoogleCommunity Posts: 3,386 Thanks: 3 Thanked 13 Times in 13 Posts	I think it looks 'elegant' the way it is...

12-10-2005, 06:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
jessica Junior Googler Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	well if using trillian or talking to "colorfull" ppl is your solutions to a "plain" boring client, thats fine but doesnt solve the problem of the client being boring.

12-10-2005, 11:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pepper Google Freak Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 437 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	um..it looks like google....and i really don't care what it looks like because if you actually use it for anything important you would find out that when talking to someone through it, it has the best quality over all the other IM systems...and if you really are upcessed with the looks of things, you might want to realize that it is still in "beta". Use some flashy msn program if you want something that is "pretty"

03-17-2006, 08:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
emlprime Noogle Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jessica, The client does look boring, but I think it's intentional. Most of google's tools are intended to be useful rather than entertaining. Movies are supposed to be entertaining, so they have bright colors and exciting images, but imagine the same movie on a loop for 3 months sitting on your screen. Eventually, familiarity breeds contempt. The thing which seems exciting now, after much repetition will gradually become annoying and finally repulsive. I believe Google's interface strategy is, in general, to stay out of sight as much as possible. They use blue, the color human eyes are least drawn to (so it's a cool color vs warm like red) so that you look at the information instead of the interface. They use soft clean lines to show boundaries so that it's easy to see different sections. They don't show buttons unless they absolutely have to and they use pretty intuitive keyboard shortcuts to give you functionality. What I love most, is the features they don't advertise. I love that the input control doesn't resize by hand. It resizes only when it needs to get bigger (ie, you type more than one line). I love that valuable screen space isn't used up with a send button that nobody uses. I love that there are no buttons for bold and italics when I can just bold instead. I don't think your complaint is unreasonable. I like theming, so you can change the look to feel more personal, but I think that Google has made good default choices.

03-17-2006, 09:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
monclo Googler Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i love it the way it is i like simple things why would i want all the others thing if i only whant to chat with my friends ?

03-17-2006, 08:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
stuck_fugu Master Googler Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 503 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	All I can say is, simple yet effective. I think the simpleness adds to the whole feel.

06-05-2006, 05:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
kcirick Noogle Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, I think Gtalk is very simple and fast. I've migrated from MSN, which is cluttered with all kinds of graphical BS, which slows my computer. I think simpler the better for messenger client, because talking to people is the first priority, not advertisement or other add-ons they try to fit in MSN or Yahoo! -Rick

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