"Reaction [beta]"
Trying vs. using 7 Dec 2006
37signals' Jason Fried explains the difference between trying something and actually using it:
"Trying something is more common than using something. That's why most products are optimized for trying.
"Trying something is looking at some screenshots, signing up, playing with it for a couple of minutes, forming an opinion, and then moving on. Trying is mainly about first impressions and surface appeal.
"Most product reviews are based on trying something, not using something. That's why many reviews are pretty thin or don't get to the core essence of the product. The real deep knowledge of a product can only come from using it. Using it is what reveals greatness or failure on an intimate level.
"You don't notice the quirks and shortcuts when you try something. Those revelations only come from real use. Eye candy shines during trial, but fades fast during use. Cool wears off quick, usefulness never does."
In addition to Jason's wise words, there are some great comments from 37s' readers too. Like this one from John:
"Habituation is a lovely word that doesn't get used nearly enough. It is essentially the process of your brain getting used to (or bored with) a particular stimulus, such that is doesn't cause a reaction any more.
"Once you've used a product for a while, you don't care about the surface effects (appearance, sound, smell, whatever) because your brain is clever enough to already know what to expect. It's not new, so it's not information you need to pay attention to. All you're left with is the interaction itself.
"Whether I'm looking at Craig's List or Stylegala, I don't care how the pages actually look, because I already know how they look. I'm just interested in identifying and digesting interesting content.
"To put it another way, a brushed metal refrigerator looks amazing for the first week, but after that I'm just interested in trying to figure out where I shoved that last beer."
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