initial splash screen instead of file

[Per Bothner]

When I first tried out CVS emacs, I was confused/surprised
that I got the splash/intro screen instead of the contents of
the file named on the command line.  There is a line saying
"Type C-l to begin editing your file." but I don't think it's
prominent enough.

Some ideas:
* Have a time-out: if the user doesn't type/click anything
within the time-out, then automatically switch to the user's buffer.
The risk is the user will think Emacs is just slow starting up.
So perhaps you need a *visble* countdown timer:

Type C-l to begin editing your file.
Will switch to your file in N seconds unless you type a space.

where N counts down from (say) 10 to 1.  The countdown draws
attention to it, so people don't just think Emacs is slow.

* Use split screen: The splash screen in one window; the user buffer
in another window.

* Use bigger emphasis for the "Type C-l to begin editing your file.
line - perhaps a bigger fond and/or bold and/or flashing.

Maybe input from some user interface experts would be helpful here.
--
        --Per Bothner
address@hidden   http://per.bothner.com/