> Compare the subjective wait for the spinner and progress ar in this demo: http://jsfiddle.net/gUkgX/1/embedded/result/ > Notice how much longer you seem to wait with the spinner? Watching a progress bar fill up with a definite end feels way faster.

No it doesn't. I agree they "feel" faster than the no feedback scenario, but I perceive no difference between the spinner and the progress bar in this case.