I don't know of any statistics per se, but I think what really matters is context. At risk of being self-referential yet again, I'll provide this little anecdote.
Generally, I don't use the print page function for most sites. Where I do use it, it is in direct response to needing it offline. For me, this occurs when I'm looking at a long research report that I want to read with a cup of coffee and a pen. Another case in th esame context is when I expect it to be useful and I want to keep it at hand for constant reference. This are less common to me, but they are cases where I like a print function. In both cases, I would probably like an MS word option too. But as an option, not exclusively. The other case, which is much more common, occurs when I use Google Maps for directions. Here, I need something offline so that I'm not trying to navigate by text directions on my astrolabe, er, cellphone. So, I hate to say it, but it depends on the context of use. Longer, prosaic information may benefit from having an ms word export (I would downgrade the feature to be simply rich text for broadest compatibility). I'd nearly always prefer this to having an Adobe PDF export since it gives me more latitude for cutting, pasting and annotating the information. On a somewhat related note, I need to air some grievances. I personally despise blind mailto: links that open up my email client. Equally so, I hate blind PDF links. Both hijack my flow without warning. So, be aware of the repercussions of having an MS Word export option. Label it clearly, so that expectations are set in advance. Cheers, Todd On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 5:34 PM, Christine Boese <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I use it on every single site that gives me information of value that I > wish > to save, or read on the subway, or in the bathtub. I do a lot of research > online, so that means I use it a lot. I hate killing the trees, but I am > ALWAYS printing. > > And it makes me absolutely SCREAM when I encounter pages that are > impossible > to print effectively. > > That may not be the data that you are looking for, but I've never heard of > anyone calling a site's Print versions useless before. The very idea makes > me break out in hives. > > Chris > > > On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 1:44 PM, Bob Sampson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > > Does anyone have a link to any good R&D on the usage of a "Print > Friendly" > > link on a website. If it's used at all, if 1% of people click on it, etc. > > > > There's a discussion on the guidelines of it's usage... > > http://www.ixda.org/discuss.php?post=28529 > > ...but no discussion on IF it's actually used. > > > > I just notice that I see it in a lot of mockups we get from ad > > companies(the kids of design companies that don't do many websites), and > I > > just don't put a "print" link into any of my mockups, since I figure it's > a > > pretty much useless function. > > > > Wouldn't an "Open in Word" be more useful? Stripping the template out, > and > > having a nice word doc with the content in it. > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Try Chicktionary, a game that tests how many words you can form from the > > letters given. Find this and more puzzles at Live Search Games! > > http://g.msn.ca/ca55/207 > > ________________________________________________________________ > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > -- ____________________________ http://www.oombrella.com oombrella /a/ gmail.com ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
