Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] "DOS based " Bass, Bill Mon, 25 Jan 1999 16:03:35 -0500

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Hi Mark,

You asked the question...

>
> Might anyone have a clue as to how a reviewer at Home
> Automation Systems could report ECS as being "DOS-based" ???
>

I thought I would take the time to give you a reply to this
question off-list so as to avoid starting any controversy.

First, I fully understand why you to take umbrage to ECS being
called "DOS based" when you have put so much hard work into 
converting it for windows.  I can also clearly see how
much time you have (and continue to) put into creating and 
maintaining a very flexible product.  ECS is a highly capable
piece of software!  I firmly believe that ECS deserves much
more attention in the marketplace.

Now, the flip side.  I can also see why they refer to ECS as 
"DOS based".  They are not saying that it runs in DOS, they
are saying that it has the "look and feel" of a DOS program.
In this, they are correct.  While a great deal of effort 
would be required to give ECS the current windows "Look 
and feel", it would probably pay you back handsomely.

It is unfortunate, but many people are quickly turned off 
by software that does not immediately offer them a "familiar"
user interface.  When they download something for evaluation,
that evaluation process begins with the installation (or maybe
even with the web site).  They expect a familiar "look and feel"
from the moment they click the first icon.  I work with many 
people who won't even bother to execute a trial program if 
the install didn't have the right "look and feel", they'll
just delete it and go on to the next candidate.  If you 
actually get them to execute your software, you've done well.
But in today's marketplace, John Q. Public expects every
program to use the same user interface as much as possible.
Even Microsoft has shortcomings in this area.

I firmly believe that if you could bring ECS "up to date"
with it's GUI "look and feel" that you would greatly 
increase your market potential.  To get the attention of
the retail market, you would need to make your screens and
controls look and operate like other common windows software.
As a simple example of changes that would make a difference,
several weeks ago the common windows usage of CTRL-X, CTRL-C
and CTRL-V for cut/copy/paste was mentioned on the list.  You 
seemed surprised that it mattered, but it was one of the first
things that I noticed missing when I installed the evaluation
version myself.  Please do not consider my comments as gripes
nor as being "pro Micros**t" (I HATE Microsoft).  On the 
contrary, from my evaluation thus far, ECS is great, and your
support is truly outstanding.  I don't have a problem with
ECS having a DOS "look and feel", nor does the majority of 
your *current* user base, but the larger, untapped market out 
there (from which you could profit handsomely) certainly does.

The "spousal resistance factor" to home automation is pretty 
high in my home, and I suspect this is true for many others 
as well (I am slowly making progress by adding capabilities 
to the home one piece at a time.  The greatest impression I
have made on her so far, is getting the light over the stove
to come on automatically when someone walks into the kitchen).
Unfortunately, ECS is not something I can show off to my 
wife to impress her that it is worth the purchase price.  A
slick looking GUI would certainly increase the "Gee Whiz" 
factor and make it easier for us "converts" to sell it to the
"heathens".  Meanwhile, I am anxiously "champing at the bit"
to purchase the full version of ECS as soon as she will let 
me.  I have been able to get her attention with promises of 
computer screening and TTS announcements of incoming telephone
calls.

I hope you find my comments valuable.  I would like to see ECS
achieve it's full potential in the market place.  If you have
any questions concerning my opinions of ECS, please feel free
to call me, and I will do my best to clarify.

Thanks,
Bill Bass
Sr. Consultant Programmer/Analyst
Advanced Technology Systems Inc.
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
(864) 609-4740 (days)
(864) 306-8458 (evenings & weekends)

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