JargonFile/entries/for the rest of us.txt

for the rest of us

adj. [from the Mac slogan The computer for the rest of us] 1. Used to
describe a spiffy product whose affordability shames other comparable
products, or (more often) used sarcastically to describe spiffy but very
overpriced products. 2. Describes a program with a limited interface,
deliberately limited capabilities, non-orthogonality, inability to compose
primitives, or any other limitation designed to not confuse a naive user.
This places an upper bound on how far that user can go before the program
begins to get in the way of the task instead of helping accomplish it. Used
in reference to Macintosh software which doesn't provide obvious
capabilities because they are thought to exceed the capabilities of
average users. Becomes the rest of them when used in third-party reference;
thus, Yes, it is an attractive program, but it's designed for The Rest Of
Them means a program that superficially looks neat but has no depth beyond
the surface flash. See also WIMP environment, Macintrash, point-and-drool
interface, user-friendly.