Feedback gathered for fedoraproject.org and get.fedoraproject.org

[Mark]

On Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 3:10 PM, Mark<markg85 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey,
>
> It was suggested that i gather feedback on the 2 sites to see what
> users experience when they want to download fedora.
> Here is the feedback. (file is here incase the format is off:
> http://fedora.mageprojects.com/fedora_feedback_anonymized.txt)
> And i have anonymized all the feedback because some people asked that
> before i started to ask questions.
> The feedback below was gathered in a few irc rooms mostly #fedora and
> #web. hiemanshu helped me gathering some of the feedback below.
> Personal real world feedback is asked from 6 persons but not given
> since fedora would't even run on there stock notebooks!
>
> Feedback fedoraproject.org and get-fedora
>
> User 1
>  - fedora main site
>  -- no issues, it's fine
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- KDE download is a bit hidden
>  -- x64 is hidden. users suggestion: perhaps 2 download buttons:
> 'download x64' and 'download x32'
>  -- user said: also add buttons for the dvd versions of tose 2 architectures
>  -- Make the gnome-kde choosable like on the mandriva download page
>  -- Ajax popup with download details (distribution, desktop
> environment, installation guide etc...)
>
>  After showing the mandriva download style he said he only missed the
> architecture option
>
> User 2
>  - fedora main site
>  -- Misses a big download fedora button, something that attracts the attention
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- Misses a big download fedora button, something that attracts the attention
>  -- Spins, where do i need them for? remove it!
>
> User 3
>  - fedora main site
>  -- 'looks oke'
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- More infor on spins rather then just one link
>  -- keep it simple
>  -- When asked for an x64 download link: "I don't think it should be
> there, as many people would download it, and it wouldn't work on their
> non x86_64 machines."
>
> User 4
>  - fedora main site
>  -- "I've been able to find everything I need on the websites."
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- "I've been able to find everything I need on the websites."
>  -- "no issues, it was pretty obvious it's the second big button"
>  -- ""Trying to download x64"" well, it seems harder because I went to
> the list of mirrors instead of just instantly getting the download
> link
>  -->also, when I got to the mirror list I had to click on a mirror and
> browse to where the iso files are for F11
>  -->we're talking 8-9 clicks at least instead of 1x
>  -->for the 3rd or 4th most common download it would be nice if it
> were shorter, but not a big deal to me
>  -->I'd like it if their was a link directly to the file you wanted on
> the mirror (if that is possible or even makes sense)
>  -->but it would be possible for it to start me off in say
> /release/11/Fedora/x86_64
>  -->yeah, that would make sense for it to do that after I click on the
> filter for F11 x86_64
>  -->yep, that seems like it would be better instead of starting at the base
>
> User 5
>  - fedora main site
>  -- seems OK, everything looks like its working, by preference I like
> a bit more of a banner on sites, but thats personal
>  -- posibly more of a note that its based on the comercial Red Hat distro
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- seems fine to me
>
> User 6
>  - fedora main site
>  -- if I'm new to linux and need help, do I click docs, wiki, get help, or what?
>  -- too much unused white space
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- seems too cluttered
>  -- leads me to wonder wtf I click on
>  -- and it lacks consistancy
>  -- if you have several options, display them in a consistent manner
>  -->that page has a couple different options in the middle, other
> options in a different style on the right (well, i think they are
> different) and then other, alternat eoptions at the bottom
>  -->could it not list all the options in one consistant list,
> explaining what each is, with the different download options?
>
> User 7
>  - fedora main site
>  -- None
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- i guess download button could be bigger, but i noticed it immediately
>
> User 8
>  - fedora main site
>  -- should have a big "download" button
>  -- Well, i think user who wants to install something *NIX'y is pretty
> advanced to find a download link on the website
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- None
>
> User 9
>  - fedora main site
>  -- and it should probably have a better link text
>  -- I mean, imagine reading it; Get Fedora 11 Desktop Edition Now
> INSTALLABLE LIVE CD!
>
>  - get.fp.o
>  -- only thing is the "download now" link might not be obvious as a link
>
>  - Other
>  -- one last thing; the layout breaks on a small viewport (4-500px wide)
>  -- should have some minimal width limiter
>  -- http://w-wins.com/images/brokenlayout.png
>
> Mixed from: UxerX and UserY (and others)
> -- the front-page of fedoraproject.org is a bit non-descript
> -- anonymous, if you will
> -- since this is mostly about getting people to use it, I'd go for a
> more "in your face" approach, have a direct download button on the
> front page, larger logo, more "THIS IS FEDORA" :)
> -- when the writing goes one word per line, things are bad
> -- no prominent logos, nothing
> -- i would have something similar to how firefox has theirs, short and
> sweet with a bit of kapow
> -- if i didn't know what fedora is i wouldn't immediately know what it was
> -- ONE sentence explaining that "This is the Linux distro for you" and
> a download button :)
> -- that little blurb needs to be more bolder or something -- stand out more
> -- I think part of the problem is that the lion image in the
> navigation dominates there, without communicating anything (alt text
> does not count)
> -- I just think if you want people to actually download it, then
> Download link needs to be the first thing that draws the eye
> -- change the lion-image with a download fedora 11 button
> -- http://www.getfirefox.com    http://www.getsongbird.com >>> take
> them as example
> -- most people who visit your site won't want a tour.  They want a
> download link.
> -- take a look at the get firefox page, i love what they have going on
> at the bottom, short snappy bits of information
> -- Make that big lion a download button, then have a tour button somewhere else
> -- Or maybe you could have two buttons in that area...top one is tour,
> bottom one is download
> -- Yeah - I think what the fedora-page need is a clear goal and plan
> for the page
> -- the ubuntu website does it well, take note of that
> -- is it a page mainly meant for getting Fedora?
> -- then emphasize that
> -- and make support, "what is" and all that other stuff less prominent
> -- and less than 50 words on the main front page blurb
> -- people are wanting immediate satisfaction nowadays
> -- they don't want to search for information
> -- they want a clear, concise text telling them what, why and where
> -- especially important for a website of this type
>

I'm hoping the website ppl could take a look at this feedback list to
see what they like of it followed by a discussion (in the next website
meeting?) to see what we can do about the main fedora page and the get
fedora page. So, time for feedback on the feedback ^_^