Sometimes the simplest Weblog entries generate some of the most animated discussions. A short item from a reader questioning the placement of the Eject button on CD drives led to a debate among readers with almost religious overtones.
When Apple fans said buttons aren't necessary, PC users countered that they wanted to be in control. "I can't imagine anything more annoying than the Macintosh refusal to eject a disk unless the software feels that it is ready to do so," wrote one reader. "When anything goes wrong, you are stuck letting the software trash your disk if it wants, with no way to salvage whatever may be left. Who's in charge anyway, you or the computer? The eject button can be anywhere, so long as it actually ejects the disk when you push it -- it's the resorting to a paperclip to get a disk out when the software refuses to eject it and has hung up in a loop that infuriates me."
Only Windows users have to worry so much about ejecting CDs from crashed computers, countered the Mac aficionados. "I've been using Macs for years," wrote one. "I can't even remember the last time I straightened a paperclip. But for that matter, I can't even remember the last time my system locked up, either."
Many readers debated the engineering and ergonomic trade-offs of different locations for the eject button. "Everything depends on where your computer is," wrote one reader. "The original poster assumes that your machine sits on the floor. A lot of people keep their machines on their desk, and so they prefer the button-under-the-tray design. You want a REAL solution? The button ought to be on the DOOR of the tray. That way, no matter where your machine sits, it's convenient."
A number of other design issues came up as well. "While we're on design rants, what about one of the worst flows of all -- PC cooling fans," wrote another reader. "Nearly all blow air out of the case and draw air in through every opening or crack. When you open any PC that has been running for months, you'll find dust bunnies, cat's fur, and anything else that belongs in a vacuum cleaner bag. It's common design wisdom to blow air into the case through a filter. The case is thus pressurized with clean air and it flows out through the aforementioned openings and cracks without leaving dirt behind. That way you don't clog your CD, floppy drive, motherboard, and everything else with the local ambient crud."
10:54:11 AM 
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