Hi Graham, and everybody else who is still with us ;) ,
First, to all, I would like to see others to join the discussion if they
are interested in something besides aesthetics, the actual content and
information to be presented.
Graham actually convinced me that downloading OOo can be made easier for
the internet newbie (who doesn't necessarily have to be a illiterate
when it comes to using e.g. a spreasheet program of one of our competitors):
1. http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/
Average user sophistication level would be quite high, considerably higher
than the average OOo user.
and later on...
Firefox requires a certain level of Internet user sophistication to simply get
to the point of having enough knowledge to know what a browser is.
I asked a group of my students once. "What is a Web Browser." No answer
until one lady put up a hand and said: "A blue 'e' ?"
I questioned why it was wrong, since obviously download should become
clear from context:
But the context is there, these buttons are/could be surrounded with
OpenOffice.org, OOo-symbols, branding elements, etc.
True but context has to be "read in", that takes time, arguably longer than
reading a simple statement. especially to an internet newbie
2. http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.aspx
Erk it hurts, but this I think is quite good.
However: Sophistication requirement level again is quite high because your
average user buys from the local shop
Best thing: Dynamic content, seasonal changes. This gives people the
impression of immediacy like they are being talked to right now
I'd say it was quite good but I doubt it is used at a significant level
Hard to score, I'll give it a 5 but it's hard not to be biased, add 2 to
compensate for that. ;)
Graham, I would say I get overwhelmed with the website, it is hard to
decide where to start, not minimalistic, which I would at least favour.
Have you been rating the site for the less sophisticated internet user?
3. http://www.apple.com/itunes/
OMIGOD WTF what a bloody bombsite..
Too many decisions
I was shocked by this site as well...
4. http://www.apple.com/iwork/
Nobody at apple has dialup, that is obvious.
:)
Not bad, still requires reasonable level of web sophistication.
Non intuitive links, slow loading graphics.
But give it a 7
because?
Smart remark on the inapplicability of these sites:
One difference between OOo and MS and Apple is that the unsophisticated Web
user can go buy the latter's product from the local shop.
[snipped some practical demonstration
www.gimp.org
audacity.sourceforge.net
www.inkscape.org/
but I wouldn't say that these are hallmarks of usability, would you, nor
would I consider these applications to be suited for 'fun' editing. Gimp
is no replacement for iPhoto
http://www.real.com
On dial up the first thing you see is the "Download" Button everything loads
after that. Little blue button on black BG. Smacks you in the face. I
don't whether it was deliberate but the way it works is very cool.
Or these have to be two of the most visited download pages on the net
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
Well, most browsers nowadays install these plugins almost automatically,
especially when it comes to flash.
"I want to download OpenOffice.org"
"I want to learn more about OpenOffice.org"
"I have OpenOffice.org, but need help"
"I have OpenOffice.org, but want to help"
or "I want to help OpenOffice.org"
Indeed, in fact all your statements come in under the 8 word phrase
Actually yes they would likely work better.
I just thought of adding, I have OpenOffice.org, but want get more out
of it"
This should then refer to the extension page.
The need in each statement is to connect the " I " with OpenOffice.org in the
Users mind, through an action. The above fulfills that
So then I questioned, how does it fit in with the user requirements (
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/User_Pages_Requirements ):
- international users (you have indeed the map, but why should this
follow the same approach)
??
- we want to promote extentions, should we add "I have OpenOffice.org,
but want to extend it"
Next level? Not sure. Sophisticated Users recognise tool bar type links
easily in the same way we have now. Perhaps we gear the links up there
toward that market.
You could have
Issues | Native Language | Uno | Extensions | Forum | Login | Search
I think you are skipping hear a group, enthousiastic people, who know
that Office suites can do more, and think computing can be fun as well.
Those people want new fonts, images, cliparts, or want a small program
that can help them with their household finance, and then I have left
out this discussion the interest of companies, who might be interested
in what can be done with OpenOffice.org after some more advanced
tweaking using extensions they might create themselves. However those
users shouldn't yet be bothered with Issues, Uno etc. Btw., why is
Native Language there? There is a large non-English audience...
- do you think it is still appropriate to include some lines explaining
in very global terms, e.g. "OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and
multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with
all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and
distribute. "
Yes and No. It's about prominence on launch and so long as it is readable but
not the most prominent thing when the page launches. However the above
statement is clear and concise and relevant and gives our casual "Foot
traffiic" client one more nudge to hit the "I want to learn more...."
button / icon / link. I'm more in favour than not
I think it is wise to include it, since a click is a cost in which we
may loose some user already. Also better for search engine optimization.
- What do you think about the one-click download issue?
[...]
"I want to Download OpenOffice.org Now" links to download.openoffice.org with
the ability to choose language and OS and so forth pretty much as is right
now.
"I want to learn more about OpenOffice.org" links to why.openoffice.org which
does OS + Language + JRE check then the "Download" link on the why page is a
single click. As soon as the download starts and while it is happening the
contributing page displays.
That's two clicks for a new user
I do not see a difference in the why.openoffice.org should behave
different? Why should only why.openoffice.org have this check? because
these users are less literate?
But as it seems to me, you are not that religious about one click
downloads -> it should simply be easier.
I removed the bit about optimization of the page download... we should
see about that when visual design is near completion, and about to
converted to HTML.
Something different though,
you have always said that buttons on the main page could directly refer
to the most appropriate subdomains. I think this is a bad idea, and I
would keep things more under control of one 'authority', being this
group. Only then we can guarantee style consistency, which is important
for the user experience as well. Maybe you don't think this is that
interesting, but I don't think the landing on the why page, which has a
totally different lay-out than the normal OpenOffice.org website (~first
page ;) ) is communicating quality. Imho, this years redesign should
include subpages for the main buttons, thus including learn, download etc.
g.,
Maarten
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