Seeing cross-platform OS X/Windows apps is somewhat unusual; it’s a surprise to find software developers prepared to create a Mac version of their software by default, when the Mac user base is so much smaller.
In one short browsing session today, I stumbled upon Surprise Software’s Docket (a list maker) and Simply Journal, and Suretype a launcher that follows in the footsteps of LaunchBar, Quicksilver, et al.
If anyone out there tries out some of these apps, do post a comment to let the rest of us know what you think of them. Do cross-platform developers make software that’s as good as OS X-only developers? :)
Does being Windows compatible even matter?
UI Quality
Most cross platform apps that I've seen coming from windows lack a certain UI quality. Developers on the windows platform seem to be less sensitive to the requirements of good UI design and less sensitive to the needs of the users.
Most recent example: Xten's X-Pro. I bought a couple of copies because it is a very solid, usefull SIP softphone that works on Mac and Windows which I need for our environment. But try to set it up: A deep hierarchical preference pane with lots of technical terms and acronyms. Try to use the built in address book to dial a number: without consulting the manual, you'll never figure out how to perform this essential everyday task.
Dialing a number works like this: Pressing the off hook button gives you a dialtone and pressing the numbers plays the DTMF sound in your ear (annoyingly loud, but you can't change the volume). But to really dial the number you have to press the off hook button again, which the users often forget because they expect the phone to have already dialed as indicated by the dial tone and the DTMF sounds. My suspicion is that the developers added the tones because they thought it would be cool to do that not because they found them to be any great help for the users. To the contrary: In the current form, these sounds are annoying and confusing the users.
At least it is not as bad as in the other softphone we had before where you had to press the red button with the picture of the on hook phone to pick up and the green off hook button to end the connection.
On the windows platform, users are used to this kind of abuse and unfortunately, cross platform apps often seem to manage to take this across to the Mac.
But who's teaching about usability?
I agree with your point about cross-platform apps, but I'd argue it has nothing to do with whether or not the application is cross-platform at all. A number of Windows users would be just as confused and frustrated by the preference panes you mentioned. They aren't "used" to it by any means. It's just that Mac users think that's "par for the course" on Windows and so think the developers aren't good at designing "Mac-friendly" interfaces. In truth, the developers just aren't good at designing user-friendly interfaces, period. Being on Mac exposes a developer to Apple's HIGs (which users expect to be strictly enforced), which helps the developer realize the importance of such things. But why should a "usable application" be exclusive to the Mac platform? (BTW, I am a Mac user and a cross-platform developer!)
What I think needs to be done is for the computer world in general to start saying "Usability matters" and start educating the developer population in general on usability. For example, where's the O'Reillynet series on usability in applications? Is it less important for developers than any of the topics they do cover? Where's the required usability course for Computer Science students? Who is teaching developers about how to properly target their applications towards the average end user?
I think when you realize that the answer to that question is "very few people", like usability expert Jakob Nielson, and Apple, I think you'll begin to see why most apps look so horrible on the Mac. And if we want platforms based on UNIX/Linux to take off, truly "usable" applications could be a real killer feature that drives people from Windows. But right now, there aren't many people developing those apps, and that's because they don't know how. So I ask the folks at O'Reilly - isn't this an issue which deserves some real coverage and attention?
You could even use wxWidgets to show how the result looks on each platform and that it looks good on Mac too. :)
But who's teaching about usability?
Ooops, missed a typo. In the last paragraph, that should be "most cross-platform apps" look so horrible on the Mac. Not most Mac applications. Sorry. :)
But who's teaching about usability?
I just finished a CSc degree at UVic and we had a number of courses in UI design. Great courses if you find that interesting. Many people in CSc are really only interested in coding application logic, and can't be bothered to spend some time on learing how to design a good UI.
But who's teaching about usability?
Hmmm...
"...where's the O'Reillynet series on usability in applications?"
That's a very good question, kollivier. We might have to have a look at that idea. :)