On the input box

Jaanus ponders on the disabled-looking entry field in Skype 4.0 for Windows beta version.

First, let me say that I actually would have liked to answer him on his blog but it required me to sign in. I really tried hard to think of ANY reason for doing that… but I couldn’t. Probably one of those ‘why-on-Earth…?’ mysteries. ;-)

Jokes aside though. The reason for applying blue-tinted subtle color to the input box background was to separate it better from the white instant messaging container background. You see, white on white simply does not work very often – it turned out the input box was not noticable enough. Using the standard Windows text box that only features a light blue single pixel border would have been even worse. Hence the inner shadow and a slightly tinted background.

Frankly, I agree that the end result is not perfect yet. I can assure you we’re working on making the input field better visible (and the entire instant messaging feature more IM-like) by using means other than painting the background.

— 27 October, 2008