On 30 Jun 2008 at 17:46, Dave Craven wrote: ... > > > Bad move IMO. I /hate/ a cluttered desktop - and if the install puts > > > something there, you have to check it exists elsewhere before > > > removing it. My lappy had a desktop full of clutter, simply because > > > every man jack of a software developer assumed I'd need /their/ set > > > of icons right in front of me all the time. > > > > > > By all means make it an option, like most /sensible/ software > > > installations do - start menu, quick launch, or desktop are quite > > > reasonable to ask the user about during the install, pre-selected > > > even. > > >> > > >> Just my 2 ¢ > > > > > > See your 2 ¢, raise you 2p :-) > > > > You're right; much better to have it as an option. > > Trivial things, like an over-ride for install directory and a check > box for "create desktop icons?" should be part of the standard, full > install without having to resort to a custom install. I think that > would avoid many questions to the list. Novices can be intimidated by > anything labeled "custom".
Yes. No harm at all offering pre-filled-in options (like 'desktop icons', 'install path') and saying explicitly that these are safe defaults to use. That gives confidence to the newbie to just click through - while making possible minor changes obvious for someone who's not /quite/ sure and doesn't want to risk breaking something important by going for the full 'custom' install. I'd also expand on the text in the MS file associations page - maybe check if Word is installed and pre-select accordingly, even? To an extent though, I do have to sympathize about the component options tree. You don't have to even look at it to get a perfectly usable installation - but I still remember looking in puzzlement the first time I saw one of these. You have to think a bit: but maybe that's out of fashion :-) -- Permission for this mail to be processed by any third party in connection with marketing or advertising purposes is hereby explicitly denied. http://www.scottsonline.org.uk lists incoming sites blocked because of spam [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mike Scott, Harlow, Essex, England --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
