I think this speaks to the point I was trying to make the other night as
well...though when I read my e-mail later it may not have been so
clear...one of the most valuable services that could be provided to me as an
admin of a Midgard powered site are resources to support my
minions...er...designers and editorial/content providers. I think that
Midgard is the best thing going largely because it allows me to put content
control back into the hands of the people who have the content...twice
already, though, I have had to beat back people who want to pull the plug on
midgard and go back to static pages because they thought it was too
complicated and that people who wanted complex text layout should not have
to deal with HTML...the in-line editor that Alan Knowles has been working on
is one answer to that but simple educational materials would also be great.
For example the website could have a section that says "Midgard for writers"
( I refrain from using the dummies term here) with a simple explanation of
what midgard is doing and how to interact with it to put information in or
get information to flow into a page (for my minion designers). These are the
people who can make or break a Midgard installation in the long run, in the
short term it would be great marketing for people, no matter how techie, to
see that the project can offer them support as they, in turn have to support
an information creation/management operation....
kp
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Armand Verstappen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 1:41 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [midgard-user] What do you want to do on the Midgard site?
>
>
> Hi enrique,
>
> > I am one of the "non-techie" users described above. I read the mail list
> > daily and am totally lost most of the time, but I still browse the
> messages.
> > I feel a bit out of place, but I also feel welcomed when I post my
> > questions. I wish I had more knowledge of Linux, php, mysql,
> and midgard,
> > but I don't. I'm a newbie, and I can't apologize.
>
> And you don't have to apologize.
>
> > What I mean by keeping it simple, is to make sure that the basic program
> > works flawlessly and that the user interface is so intuitive,
> that an end
> > user who only knows how to browse the web can make sense of the
> program.
> If
> > the user interface can't accomplish this, then a help system needs to be
> > accessible from the current displayed screen.
>
> > Here's an example. When I go to the Midgard web site I should see on the
> > index page links to the demo site, download page, help section,
> faq, and
> a
> > statement as to what the software does. The only things currently on the
> > main page is a link to the latest version, and a "Content Management"
> > heading with a statement about liscensing, and other applications. The
> other
> > links do not seem to show the demo site. I know its there
> somewhere, but
> if
> > I was a new visitor to the midgard site, I would be lost from
> the get go!
>
> > When I am considering software to install on my RaQ3, I look
> for what the
> > software does, then I head straight for the demo to see if it is easy to
> > use, and whether the program does what I am looking for. If it passes
> these
> > two simple tests, then I start looking for installation intructions, and
> > download site. Once I have successfully installed it, you've got me
> hooked!
> > I then start using the how-to's and join the mail list, and so forth.
>
> > So I hope that I am not coming across as being rude. I'm being honest,
> and I
> > hope that you guys understand that I really like what midgard is
> attempting
> > to do. If it wasn't for you techies, there would be no open source
> programs!
>
> I do not see this a rude at all, but as valuable feedback.
>
> > So thanks for all you have done to date, and I look forward to
> seeing and
> > experiencing the Midgard Way! I don't know if I can be of any help, but
> if I
> > can get through the 1.4 upgrade, and begin to learn what I can do with
> > Midgard, then I will be happy to help in my nontechie way ;-)
>
> This post is a great help. Us techies need to have our eyes (re)opened to
> the nontechie point of view now and then. Much in the same way it is hard
> for you to keep up with our technical approach, it is hard for us to
> envision the wishes of the newby and nontechie user. But be assured that
> we are targeting at all levels of users, and that we welcome any comment
> that could improve the product.
> As always you are welcome to call for help with your upgrade to 1.4, and
> I hope you will help by pointing out our weaknesses as you experience
> them
>
> Armand.
>
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