The *(term) WIMP is an *(acronym) for Windows, Icons, Mice, and Pull-down menus.

This is the standard Mac/Windows *(user interface) first thought up at Xerox.

In theory, they are good for novices because they are highly _(visible). However, mice are inefficient compared to keyboards for most things; menus reduce visibility; icons are of little use but eye-candy (and have issues with affordances); and worst of all, windows are _(Modal). This means that, though it's possible that a novice might find the interface pleasant, an expert would be losing great amounts of time.

And this is considering the ideal case, which existing WIMPs fall far short of.

Basically, this _(paradigm) is tolerable for novices and awful for experts.

<blockquote>"windows are, in a sense, modes in sheep's clothing"
<br>--Larry Tesler of Xerox PARC </blockquote>