Hey all,
Recently I have been taking a look at the PortableApps.com Wikipedia pages and starting to clean them up a bit. However I have run out of time recently and more still needs to be done to keep them decent, here's a list of stuff that I think needs to be done and I would be much obliged if someone (or many people) could sort some of them out.
- Cleanup of the lists on the PortableApps.com page.
- Rewriting some of the sections on that page to make sure that they are from a neutral pov.
- Expanding some of the existing article and adding some more if possible
- Add a picture of the menu (preferably 1.1 Beta 4) to the menu section.
- Add some more references to the Toucan page to make sure it seems notable enough, there is an Information Week link available on the press page.
- Add a picture to the Toucan page.
Thanks in advance.
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I was going to add a picture to the Toucan page, but wanted to get your permission first. But I think I'm banned from uploading anywho, since my IP is shared among many inconsiderate users.
Also, I'd like to request something like a 128px logo of the PortableApps.com logo from John, as having the banner there honestly looks ridiculous.
I just wanted to reiterate my last point there. I think we should get a 128px logo to replace the current 'banner' from this site.
Thoughts, John?
And I was wondering whether we should remove the list. As our applications list grows, it may get a little out of hand. I don't know what Wikipedia's terms are on it, but perhaps it could be made into a seperate article once the original one has some more info added.
I agree, a big icon would be better and I think splitting the list out would be good too, beetter check the style manual first though.
Actually this is the sort of thing that anyone in the community should be able to do and I think it would help to improve our image as a lot of people look stuff up on Wikipedia before trying it out. I was a bit dissapointed with the lack of uptake
EDIT Oh and you most certainly can use a picture of Toucan
Hi guys, I hope you found some high profile websites referring to this application to get some notability. Without them the notability issue will remain. While PortableApps.com is one of the references, are there many more independent mentioning of this app?
Wikkiality, almost reality.
This has been discussed. How about computerworld.com, pcworld.com, nytimes.com, latimes.com, wsj.com, cnet.com. wired.com, pcmag.com, etc, etc, etc...
https://portableapps.com/about/press/news
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ah sorry, my mistake. I thought he was referring to his Toucan application.
Uhm... I was referring to this point, sorry for the confusion.
"5 Add some more references to the Toucan page to make sure it seems notable enough, there is an Information Week link available on the press page."
I just found this.
That's not a criticism, but more someone ignorant who doesn't understand we're making everything easier and more convinient for users.
Some people wouldn't know where to find half the software here if it wasn't for us, nor would they know how to extract a zip, and where to extract it to.
Well initially the statement is sorta correct as SOME applications are just fitted with a PAF installer.
And 'how to extract a zip' is rubbish. Even my mum can do it... and even kids. Sorry, but unzipping is sooo standard that assuming many users don't know how to unzip is an insult to the users. It's pretty much one of the very first things people have learned, unzipping. (Just imagine all the drivers etc. offered in zip files)
That many might not know where to extract it is partly true, mainly because a lack of documentation supplied with PAM. But eventually they will figure it out when they happen to browse through the folder structure.
Very true installers make it easier, but it's bad to assume people would not know the basic computer things by default. If they cannot figure out how to unzip, they sure can't use most of the apps
Even the most ignorant users seem to have knowledge of zip files because they download all there zip things from the net...
Most joe average users have difficulty with zip files believe it or not.
And Windows before XP doesn't support zip files internally.
The main thing is that each app that makes a 'portable' version as a zip packages it differently, with a different directory structure and a different location for the settings. Plus, many still alter the registry or leave a file behind on most PCs you run them on (Notepad++, for instance). Or they require command line options that may not be clear to the end user how to pass (most of them). Some only provide an installer that requires admin rights as the way to get the program in the first place and then multi-step instructions for making it portable after that (Pidgin, for instance).
The idea behind releasing them in PortableApps.com Format is to make it dead easy for an end user to get the app and get it setup. And to ensure that all data is in the same place for simple backups. Other projects are starting to release in PortableApps.com Format as well. Take WireShark, for example.
The ultimate goal is to get everybody using the standard PortableApps.com Format package so that it's dead easy for end users to install the software of their choice.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I work as a lab assistant- people have trouble with zip folders. They have trouble logging in (which is put on the desktop). They have trouble rebooting the computers. They have (rant)trouble putting their chairs back. So save the lab assistant and put your chairs back(/rant).
Some have trouble saving or opening. Especially amusing is when they try to open a file by saving over the file. Then they look at you like you can recover it.
I'm not complaining (other then the chairs, but that's just a friendly suggestion) but making a point- not everyone knows computer like some of the more outstanding members of portableapps.com do. I guess you could say that we're lucky.
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
Comon guys, thats 1% of people who don't know that. Not Joe Average. (Do a poll
Joe Newbie is more likely you are talking about.
Windows XP and up support it. (Windows 2000 and below doesn't)
If they have problems with zip they probably also have problems with one or more of these:
Using the PC in general, installing software, Sending email with attachment, installing a driver, updating drivers, etc, etc.
Don't think that Joe Average can't tie his own shoes guys... Give people some credit
PS thats besides the argument of things like lay-out and harder to use compared to setup though.
One year ago, I downloaded some of the self-extractors to the root of my drive after installing the menu. I clicked on the self-extractors, and pushed OK cause I though it would do the work. Apparently not, apparently I had to specify the path, which I still didn't know. I wen't into the 'PortableApps' folder, and you talk about looking into directory structure, believe it or not, that scared me.
Now I'm here today. That's my true story, and I'll say honestly as I was one.
A large number of users don't have a clue of what they're doing.
Very true, because you gotta know where to put the extracted files. That is because there isn't any clear side wide information about where the files should be put I think. I had like all of us the same problem by needing to find out where to put the files. But suggestion Joe Average doesn't know how to simply unzip a zip file and double click the exe within is far fetched.
Like the other poster said, people trying to load a file by saving. Dude, that is not the definition of the average computer user. Thats more like the average first time computer user or average non computer user.
To me the Joe Average refers to the average computer user. The Joe Average you all worry about is Niel Exception. Changes are they don't even be able to download Portable Apps menu (How to download?) or don't know how to start the menu (It doesn't autostart) or use the menu (I cant find the program after the menu faded).
And then there's Sally Stupid...
BUT... try to explain Portable App definition to the Average Developer... now there's a challenge. Where's that developer aimed info page where we can send developers to instead of arguing why their application might not be fully portable.
Yes, I completely agree with your point about Average Developer.
However the rest is still debatable.
Joe "I'm making it more complicated than it is"?
People who are messing things up because they manually change inis they shouldnt or pointing the installer to the wrong folder because they are used to sfx?
No, I'm just kidding there's not many of these.
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
enough he is also the user that put Toucan under the notability warning.
Well, much of that can't stay in the article because it doesn't have a neutral POV or it doesn't have a reference to an external article. To say nothing of being irrelevant. Sure, some people feel that way, and I suppose that is something that could be referenced in a neutral article -- but that doesn't mean it is correct, or relevant.
Zip folders are particularly hard for people to use, since they can't understand why you need to do more than click on one of the files in there. Sometimes it works, why not all the time?
The PA value-add is setting things up so they don't leave files behind on the host computer, so the settings are in predictable places and can be backed up, and so they get installed in a predictable place that ends up in a menu, all without the user needing to think about it much.
MC
Such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, etc. and see which ones do not have critiques by moderators.
If we took a cue from the wordsmithery in these wikipedia entries, we might shoo away the objections.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
Hi
after seeing the comment above about the logo, I spent a few spare moments creating one in photoshop and illustrator, but I know John owns copyright or something on the logo so wondering if it be OK to post it or not???
thanks
so they are available here http://cv.freehostia.com/index.php?id=papps