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Archon · 01-27-2011, 07:00 AM

Hmm while I would agree with you Pinecone that some people will not search the forum I would disagree with your broad generalization.

#1 They found this place somehow - that is to say, they most likely did a Google search on the internet with their question and they got the mobileread forum as a hit.

#2 People ask questions about easy stuff because they don't want to sift through 100 pages of a manual to find out how to set the clock on the microwave. "Easy" stuff by definition doesn't need a manual so therefore it should be intuitive or be in the quick start guide. Harder stuff will take some searching and learning. People get frustrated when they can't easily navigate a site and find their answer so they give up and post a new question. They all know how to use Google well enough to get here and the question they found might be similar to theirs but the thread is 2 years old and they don't know if it is exactly their situation.

#3 There are basically two groups of people, those that want an appliance and those that want a tool. That is why every piece of equipment now comes with a "Quickstart" guide for the "button pushers" who want an appliance and an Owner's Manual for the Geeks who want a tool. If you want a piece of software to be ubiquitous it has to be easy for "Cletus The Button Pusher" to use or he will go elsewhere. (Hence GPS 'cause he can't read a map).

Personally, I think the forum changes are a grand leap toward making the forum easy to use and allow people to find answers on their own. I think you will drive traffic toward their own answers and see a reduction in repeated questions for the "Easy Stuff". Hierarchical menu structure is a tried and true interface that is pretty intuitive.

If they took the trouble to type a search query, and a question in the forum, and are willing to take the time to read the answer to the question in the forum they shouldn't have any problem reading a short FAQ or watching a video (great idea BTW). This explains the popularity of the "DIY" videos on Youtube, no one wants to read the manual.

Remember, necessity may be the Mother of invention, but laziness is definitely its Father.

That is why we all love a great piece of software that makes the tasks we wish to accomplish sooooooooooooooo much easier.

Huzzah to the Calibre Development Team
Archon

01-27-2011, 07:00 AM	#126
Archon Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 5176 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Mac OSX, iPad, iPod, & Nook	Hmm while I would agree with you Pinecone that some people will not search the forum I would disagree with your broad generalization. #1 They found this place somehow - that is to say, they most likely did a Google search on the internet with their question and they got the mobileread forum as a hit. #2 People ask questions about easy stuff because they don't want to sift through 100 pages of a manual to find out how to set the clock on the microwave. "Easy" stuff by definition doesn't need a manual so therefore it should be intuitive or be in the quick start guide. Harder stuff will take some searching and learning. People get frustrated when they can't easily navigate a site and find their answer so they give up and post a new question. They all know how to use Google well enough to get here and the question they found might be similar to theirs but the thread is 2 years old and they don't know if it is exactly their situation. #3 There are basically two groups of people, those that want an appliance and those that want a tool. That is why every piece of equipment now comes with a "Quickstart" guide for the "button pushers" who want an appliance and an Owner's Manual for the Geeks who want a tool. If you want a piece of software to be ubiquitous it has to be easy for "Cletus The Button Pusher" to use or he will go elsewhere. (Hence GPS 'cause he can't read a map). Personally, I think the forum changes are a grand leap toward making the forum easy to use and allow people to find answers on their own. I think you will drive traffic toward their own answers and see a reduction in repeated questions for the "Easy Stuff". Hierarchical menu structure is a tried and true interface that is pretty intuitive. If they took the trouble to type a search query, and a question in the forum, and are willing to take the time to read the answer to the question in the forum they shouldn't have any problem reading a short FAQ or watching a video (great idea BTW). This explains the popularity of the "DIY" videos on Youtube, no one wants to read the manual. Remember, necessity may be the Mother of invention, but laziness is definitely its Father. That is why we all love a great piece of software that makes the tasks we wish to accomplish sooooooooooooooo much easier. Huzzah to the Calibre Development Team Archon Last edited by Archon; 01-27-2011 at 07:03 AM.