Start Button = Lame
05-18-2007, 05:33 PM
#181
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Originally Posted by st_rage,May 18 2007, 11:32 AM
No problem, I just don't check back on s2k every day. Good posts deserve positive feedback.
I'm an engineer that works with designers to design consumer and industrial products. Having seen the process from the inside, it's becomes possible to see in many products where marketing/ID/engineering won particular battles. In well designed products it's almost invisible, as it is to me on most features of the s2k.
I certainly respect all of the R&D that the military puts into UI, as pretty much all of the data and research we use came from them. Of course the military doesn't care as much about the aesthetics and marketability of their equipment, so the UI design arguments are between UI designers who have similar goals. My complaints with the S pretty much boil down to knob>button for making both fine and gross adjustments and the channel button needs to allow incrementing both up and down scale. In my mind these are textbook rules, but then I'm the engineer and not the ergonomist.
After driving the S a few more weeks I've basically stopped using the auxillary controls and just reach for the head unit. I had preferred the aethetic of keeping the door shut, but the novelty has worn off.
I'm an engineer that works with designers to design consumer and industrial products. Having seen the process from the inside, it's becomes possible to see in many products where marketing/ID/engineering won particular battles. In well designed products it's almost invisible, as it is to me on most features of the s2k.
I certainly respect all of the R&D that the military puts into UI, as pretty much all of the data and research we use came from them. Of course the military doesn't care as much about the aesthetics and marketability of their equipment, so the UI design arguments are between UI designers who have similar goals. My complaints with the S pretty much boil down to knob>button for making both fine and gross adjustments and the channel button needs to allow incrementing both up and down scale. In my mind these are textbook rules, but then I'm the engineer and not the ergonomist.
After driving the S a few more weeks I've basically stopped using the auxillary controls and just reach for the head unit. I had preferred the aethetic of keeping the door shut, but the novelty has worn off.
I don't play the radio enough to remeber which buttons do what most of the time, but when it's on, I generally use the dash controls. Some day I hope to be able to use a Modifry DCI to control my ICPC and maybe even come up with a way to reprogram the controls to some extent, but the stock setup works well enough for me.
In any event, the Start Button is one of the little elements that help define the S2000, so I'm more than a little surprised to learn that some owners don't like it. It just goes to prove, yet again, that no matter what you do, you cannot please all of the people all of the time.
05-18-2007, 11:13 PM
#183
Originally Posted by st_rage,May 18 2007, 05:28 PM
I'm disappointed only because everything else seems so perfect. Granted, I'm not a track/autocross enthusiast, so the start button lore is evidently lost on me, but I am a student of design. I'm just a bit offended that a majority of commentors seem to think that the a dislike of the start button = a dislike for the car. My comment is aimed a bit more broadly than you in particular, but I think you were definately on the same side of the fence that I tossed that grenade.
I understand why the start button has value on the track, but it still doesn't excuse (to me) the radio controls. I've gotten over it by just not using them and going straight to the head unit.
Happy motoring.
I understand why the start button has value on the track, but it still doesn't excuse (to me) the radio controls. I've gotten over it by just not using them and going straight to the head unit.
Happy motoring.
Yeah, I hear ya, as I don't bother with the radio controls either, and just go straight to the headunit. I never really found the dash controls useful, and as for the start button, well...I think it's a really cool gimmick, but I can go with or without it...
05-26-2007, 06:34 PM
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05-26-2007, 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by RED MX5,May 26 2007, 06:34 PM
Everyone get into the way-back machine and visit 1999.
Please right-click and save-as.
Please right-click and save-as.
05-26-2007, 09:50 PM
#186
Mine has a kick start. Nice retro nod to it's motorcycle heritage.
1. Put key in and turn on electrical system.
2. Press and hold the big red button.
3. Start car by pushing down on the clutch pedal/kick starter.
1. Put key in and turn on electrical system.
2. Press and hold the big red button.
3. Start car by pushing down on the clutch pedal/kick starter.
05-27-2007, 03:52 AM
#187
Are we still on this? 
Seriously... I'm all for new ideas and making improvements, but sometimes things just are the way they are. Like it or don't, buy it or don't, change it or don't. But arguing about it on the Internet seems like a waste of time...............especially when "everything else seems so perfect."
I suggest it's time for some to go outside and
their cars. 
Seriously... I'm all for new ideas and making improvements, but sometimes things just are the way they are. Like it or don't, buy it or don't, change it or don't.
But arguing about it on the Internet seems like a waste of time...............especially when "everything else seems so perfect." I suggest it's time for some to go outside and
their cars.
05-28-2007, 06:43 AM
#188
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Originally Posted by RED MX5,May 26 2007, 09:34 PM
Everyone get into the way-back machine and visit 1999.
Please right-click and save-as.
Please right-click and save-as.
05-28-2007, 03:14 PM
#189
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Originally Posted by KenS2K,May 26 2007, 09:50 PM
Mine has a kick start. Nice retro nod to it's motorcycle heritage.
1. Put key in and turn on electrical system.
2. Press and hold the big red button.
3. Start car by pushing down on the clutch pedal/kick starter.
1. Put key in and turn on electrical system.
2. Press and hold the big red button.
3. Start car by pushing down on the clutch pedal/kick starter.
