Hi; I hope I have found the right list to subscribe to. I would like to help. I first wrote the following comments a few days ago and posted them to the [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list. I wrote these comments not to complain or be simply critical but as introductory talking points that can be used so I can find where I might best help. I have read through the submissions made since September on this list and am not sure if I am too late or not.
I have looked for and been unable to find: 1) A listing of research done by OOo showing the best types of interface with site users that relates to the sites objectives; 2) A list of the sites objectives; 3) A discussion of the above 1) & 2); 4) A decision process for major changes; 5) A list of problems with the site that have been gathered from various sources 6) Definition of intended/expected users: ie. Explorers; First time Downloaders; Upgraders; Developers; Participants etc. 7) I have seen no strategies on how to accommodate those various users of the site; At least that is the kind of thing that goes through my mind as I look at this area. I would think the above outlined kind of process should be completed before the validity of my original comments quoted below can be considered. "I have been on the OOo users list for some two years and using OOo for as long. I went to the www.openoffice.org site just to see why there is so much confusion for newbies (OOo beginners). Even I was flustered. Being flustered the first time one downloads, installs or uses a new application and/or operating system is something that can happen to us all -- no matter how intelligent or techno-savvy one is. It is an emotional state brought on by FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). Microsoft and others may spread and enhance FUD in order to keep their clients from trying another OS or Office Suite, but they do not create it. It is a normal human emotional reaction to gambling on something that *may* have a steep learning curve; *may* be (to them) completely non-intuitive; *may* cost them all their time and money invested in learning something like Word; *may* have formats not shareable with others; and *may* put years worth of documents and other work at risk. Often there are also time pressures involved. At www.openoffice.org I found: 1) the so-called download button didn't look like a button; 2) the support tab (page) was confusing, giving far too many unnecessary choices; 3) no tips; 4) no explanation of the difference between downloading and installing; 5) no reassurances as a newcomer proceeds; 6) even finding this Discussion mailing list was filled with FUD. 7) The best ( and it lacked appeal ) "Sales Page" was buried two links in under the link "fully-featured office suite". No new comer would find it. 8) The absence of marketing words that are known to work universally a) NEW b) IMPROVED c) FREE d) TIME LIMITED. They could be used to overcome FUD. etc. etc. No Excitement -- not even on one page !!! Never did find the questions email site that inserts "YOU MUST GIVE A SUMMARY HERE". I have no idea where people with problems are finding that site. I recently gave a short talk about Linux to a group of 20 non-tech MS users. The Q & A afterwards, from all 20, turned primarily into questions about what would happen to their Word documents if they migrated to Linux and OOo. *I* know the answers. I gave them the right answers. It still didn't reduce their FUD very much. From their prospective, too much was at risk. I can see, given the flustered factor, why so many people are having so much trouble with the basics. I don't have the answers. But somehow the www.openoffice.org site has to be re-thought and the first impression of OOo has to be greatly improved if OOo wants to challenge MS Office." Hoping the above is helpful and not just a PIA. P.S. I just realized that a copy of this post ended up on the cvs site. I don't know how that happened. I am resending it to the dev site. I hope it got there. -- Regards Bill --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
