Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 10:41:35 +1100 From: Stuart Tanner <stuart@sigterm.com> To: Jim Freeze <jim@freeze.org> Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: I bought your system and am not so happy! Message-ID: <20020305104135.E1002@osiris.sigterm.com> In-Reply-To: <20020304074902.A35545@freeze.org>; from jim@freeze.org on Mon, Mar 04, 2002 at 23:49:02 %2B1100 References: <20020304181911.C483_osiris.sigterm.com@ns.sol.net> <005201c1c34f$f6b0f730$6f830acf_gdennyj@ns.sol.net> <200203041132.g24BW5g50751@sheol.localdomain> <20020304074902.A35545@freeze.org>
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I agree with Adam's statements, but I also think that it is reasonable to expect someone to at least read the section on installation in the Handbook. There are not many products that are shipped without some sort of instructions. Anyone here a pilot? Even my toaster came with instructions. The "intuitive" UI doesn't exists. What people mean when they talk about it is "familiar". Windows is easy to install because the processes are familiar to people. Most people, these days, hit FreeBSD and attempt to use their previous experience (as humans are wont to do in a new situation) to understand how the sysinstall works. Unfortunately, no amount of Windowsing is ever going to prepare the new user/installer/admin for sysinstall. As such, asking that they consult some documentation to assist their FreeBSD journey is not an unreasonable request. If the FreeBSD community wants users to be able to draw on their past experience to help them with the install process then the installer must be designed to fit the user. As to WIMP or no WIMP, it really doesn't matter. A well designed UI should adhere to some simple rules. Context. The user must know at all times where they are inside the application. The magic number 7 +or- 2. Menus or choice should be made from around 7 items. If there are more then they should be subdivided into categories. For a linear process like installation, Progress. The application should indicate to the user how far along they are in what they are doing. Unambiguous language. English is terrible for it's ambiguity. Correctly structured language. Never detail action before consequence in a dialog. Consistency. If you are going to put "Accept" in the lower left corner and "Cancel" in the lower right corner, stick to that convention. The installer for an OS is often the users first point of contact with it. Those first couple of hours are going to colour the rest of the users experiences with the system, regardless of how easy it is to use after it is installed or how well designed it is. It is in the best interests of the FreeBSD community to ensure that those first hours are as painless and as simple as possible. On 2002.03.04 23:49 Jim Freeze wrote: > >From time-to-time we see these types of responses to the > questions list. In my opinion, they are happening for two [SNIP] > feeling guilty, maybe FreeBSD should listen and begin > incorporating suggestions from others where it is appropriate. > > $0.02 > > -- > Jim Freeze > "Give some people an attoparsec and > they'll take 16.093 Tera-angstroms" > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > -- Stuart Tanner <stuart@sigterm.com> An elephant is a mouse with an operating system. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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