bhuvan wrote:
>
>
> Matthew Thomas wrote:
>
>> bhuvan wrote:
>>
>>> ...
>>> messages for multiple accounts. A checkbox in each (POP and IMAP)
>>> server panel with pref "Log onto this account at startup of mail"
>>> ...
>>> (66460 ), having a checkbox on the AccountCentral page that says "Next
>>> time, take me to the Inbox directly" or something similar would help
>>> ...
>>
>>
>>
>> This seems like a gradual process of repeatedly adding features, each
>> one designed to patch up the problems caused by the previous one. I
>> wasn't here at the time, but I would guess this is the same process by
>> which the UI of the Search function and the Forms Manager in Navigator
>> got into the embarrassing states they are in today.
>>
>> You are gambling that each new addition will improve usability, but
>> since you are adding complexity, you are gambling at worse and worse
>> odds each time.
>>
>> Problem:
>> Some people are confused when they first open the mail window, the
>> account is selected in the folder pane, and nothing is displayed in
>> the thread or message panes.
>> Implemented solution:
>> Design a high-falutin' `Account Central' page, which duplicates
>> functions in the menus and toolbar -- with the inevitable result
>> that some users will be permanently slowed by forever thinking that
>> they *have* to come here to access those functions. (That wouldn't
>> be bad in itself, were it not for the fact that going to Account
>> Central to do these things is vastly slower than accessing them by
>> any of the other methods.)
>
>
> You also have to remember that Account Central can help lot of people
> who are sophisticated enough to browse through menus and use toolbars
> effectively. So, effectively we are improving the usability from their
> perspective. Those who can use menus effectively would never conclude
> that the Account Central is the only way. They will select the most
> appropriate route for them to access the various features. Usability
> studies suggest that people are having trouble finding certain features
> and performing certain actions. Like all other features, Account Central
> will also go through a round usability studies and will be modified
> based on the feedback we receive.
Well, here is a little unsolicited usability feedback, having just
started using Mozilla 0.8 nightly builds (Linux) about a week or so ago
after years of Netscape 4.xx and earlier.
One of the things I repeatedly have run into is the odd way some of the
settings are split up. Since I have only recently started using Mozilla,
I have gone back a number of times to change settings. Many settings are
in the "Account settings" dialog, but for some reason a few have been
stuck into another dialog which, as far as I have so far found out, is
only accessible by right clicking on the account (the account
"properties").
In my case, I always right click on the account first. Discovering that
this does not have the settings I am looking for, I was the first couple
of times startled, sure that this dialog used to be a lot bigger with a
lot more stuff in it. The next place I always check is the edit menu.
Since I find the dialog I am looking for there, I don't get around to
checking account central. Sorry, but Account Central does not fit into
any computer use paradigm that I am accustomed to, though maybe it makes
sense to someone completely new to computers.
So I really think all those settings should be in one dialog, even if
the dialog is accessible from several different places. Other opinions..
Account central has an item labelled "Compose a new message", located
less than 2 inches from a big button labelled "New Msg". Account central
has "Search my messages" right below a menu labelled "Search".
I have a hard time imagining that even a complete newbie can have a hard
time finding these very basic functions in the buttons at the top. And
if they do have a hard time with that, then how are they going to find
account central if, as has been suggested elsewhere in this thread, it
is not the default screen upon opening?
One more usability issue in mail/news, though not account central.
Sorry, but I have not figured out bugzilla yet (a half hearted attempt
to use it was not very successful), so this may already be listed. I
read several news digests. Someone decided, no doubt trying to improve
usability, to have Mozilla make signatures an unreadable light grey.
This would be a good idea if it could realiably figure out what is and
is not a signature, but it can't. So more then half of the messages in
the news digests are almost unreadable. And again, I have so far not
found a way to disable this feature.
Hmm, I just discovered there is no spell check button. Well, I assume
this feature is coming later, so hopefully I don't have too many errors
here.
--
My real email is akamail.com@dclark (or something like that).
