PortableApps.com Platform / Suite Installer Finish Page Options (Opinions Sought)

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August 9, 2007 - 12:27am

John T. Haller

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PortableApps.com Platform / Suite Installer Finish Page Options (Opinions Sought)

I'm going to add a couple things to the end of the installer for both the platform and the Suite. On the finish page, I'm going to add two check boxes:

The first will start the PortableApps.com Menu. This one will be checked by default and start the menu up as the installer closes (I think most new users especially will appreciate this). The checkbox will be labeled "Launch PortableApps.com Platform"

The second will give users the option of changing their Firefox Portable homepage to Start.PortableApps.com. This one will not be checked by default and will be disabled if it's just a Platform install and Firefox Portable isn't found. For those that don't know, start.portableapps.com is a simple start page with a Google search on it. It's linked to from the menu when you select to search the web (but it only went live 2 days ago, before that, it was just redirecting to Google). PortableApps.com gets a cut of all ad revenue generated from searches (when users click ads in the search results).

I'm debating between a couple of labels for this one. Either "Support PortableApps.com: Use our portable homepage" or "Set portable homepage to Start.PortableApps.com". If I use the second, I may set the link in part 3 to "Preview Start.PortableApps.com" (you'll understand in a second).

Third, I'm going to add a link at the bottom to "Get more portable apps from PortableApps.com" with a link to the apps directory. (Though I may use it for the purpose mentioned in option 2).

Screenshot of the installer finish page

If anyone has any thoughts on this, please let me know.

August 9, 2007 - 12:42am

Patrick Patience

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...

Support PortableApps.com: Use our portable homepage, people will think it's PortableApps.com, and be like no, but if they no it's Google, I think more people will say, Oh, well I use Google, and I can support PortableApps.com by using their page, okay.

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August 9, 2007 - 1:00am

(Reply to #2) #3

John T. Haller

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Has to be short

It has to be short as the text doesn't wrap, so that might be tough. These will fit:

"Support us: Use our portable Google homepage"
"Support us: Use our Google homepage in Firefox Portable"

I want it to be clear that this won't affect their PC's homepage, so the word portable has to be in there.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 1:07am

(Reply to #3) #4

Patrick Patience

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Sounds funny.

But I understand Portable in there.

Debating between the two you just posted. I like the second more.

P.S. What, are you beta testing out opinions?

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August 9, 2007 - 1:13am

(Reply to #4) #5

kastro

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Here you are.

I don't think you can convey the message in a 10 word or less sentence. I suggest doing the following since it seems you have whitespace to put a blurb of text:

PortableApps.com Platform has been installed on your
device.

Click Finish to close this wizard.

[X] Launch PortableApps.com Platform

Show your support for PortableApps.com by selecting
the option below.  This will not change your system
browser homepage.

[ ] Use PortableApps.com Google as my Firefox Portable homepage

August 9, 2007 - 1:25am

(Reply to #5) #6

John T. Haller

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Can't

You don't have any control over the layout of that page. It's just a textbox with a single line of text next to it.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 1:33am

(Reply to #6) #7

Patrick Patience

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An INI

When I used an INI one time it has Word Wrap.

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August 9, 2007 - 1:35am

(Reply to #7) #8

John T. Haller

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Not for finish

I don't think you can do that for the finish page. And even if you can, I'd like to avoid doing a custom finish page as it complicates the installer and localization.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 1:36am

(Reply to #8) #9

Patrick Patience

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Oh.

I see.

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August 9, 2007 - 1:50am

(Reply to #9) #10

kastro

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Can you?

Can you put the text above the check boxes then? Basically include it with your Finish message? Then use the two options I provided?

So something like this:

PortableApps.com Platform has been installed on your
device.  Show your support for PortableApps.com by 
selecting to use the PortableApps.com Google Homepage in
Firefox Portable.  This will not change your system
browser homepage.

Click Finish to close this wizard.

[X] Launch PortableApps.com Platform

[ ] Use PortableApps.com Google as my Firefox Portable homepage

August 9, 2007 - 1:51am

(Reply to #10) #11

John T. Haller

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Yes, but

Yes, but I don't want to get too wordy (people don't ready Finish screens) and "Use PortableApps.com Google as my Firefox Portable homepage" is too long.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 1:55am

(Reply to #11) #12

Patrick Patience

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I don't!

I don't read any screen

*next next finish*

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August 9, 2007 - 1:58am

(Reply to #12) #13

kastro

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How about this... Too long?

Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use PortableApps.com Google

August 9, 2007 - 1:58am

(Reply to #13) #14

Patrick Patience

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Personally.

It doesn't make sense, people would understand that that will change the home page.

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August 9, 2007 - 2:31am

(Reply to #14) #15

gmatyola

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Can't break the text up into

Can't break the text up into two lines with an "\r\n" combo? If not, I like the second better...

(I think nsDialogs, new in 2,28 might allow better fine control of pages/dialogs for you, if you're willing to experiment.)

August 9, 2007 - 7:55pm

(Reply to #15) #16

consul

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Do you need "Firefox Portable"

as is? I can link to the start.portableapps.com from any browser, right?

"Support PortableApps: Set Firefox to use start.PortableApps.com Google"

if it has to be firefox, otherwise, I'd say "... Set browser ..."

"... respect, all good works are not done by only good folk. For here, at the end of all things, we shall do what needs to be done."

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August 9, 2007 - 8:26pm

(Reply to #16) #17

ZachHudock

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well we wouldnt want to

well we wouldnt want to hijack the host pc's homepage. firefox portable is the only truly portable browser out there, so it would make most sense to use that
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August 9, 2007 - 2:04am

#18

kastro

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Set by default?

John,

Is there a specific reason why you don't just change the homepage without giving the user the option? It really isn't that hard for a user to change the homepage if they don't like what they see when they open the platform. Besides, this would guarantee maximum number of clicks...

August 9, 2007 - 2:08am

(Reply to #18) #19

Patrick Patience

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Yes.

I already asked him, it was his original intention, but he lost the privilege during licensing negotiations.

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August 9, 2007 - 2:19am

(Reply to #19) #20

John T. Haller

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Not Lost

More like it was originally on the table, but then as the negotiations wore on and the higher level staff at Mozilla got involved, every possible thing to make Firefox Portable et al self sufficient was deemed "not allowed" as it would change the user experience.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 4:56am

(Reply to #20) #21

Patrick Patience

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Lol.

I figured you'd comment on that, I knew that didn't sound right, but I didn't know how to word it.

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August 9, 2007 - 2:38am

#22

kastro

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Okay.

Here's my last stab at this:

Support us: Use our Firefox Portable Google Homepage
Support us: Change my Firefox Portable Homepage
Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google Page

I like my last one the best.

August 9, 2007 - 4:45am

#23

MarkoMLM

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One problem with the PA-Google page ...

... it's the English version of google.
Most of other native lang people prefer google in there own language.
The Firefox google pages are localized, the PA version is not

That's why i vote against a preselected option to set the PA google page as Firefox
portable start page.

Regards
Marko

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What You need is OSS!

August 9, 2007 - 6:20am

(Reply to #23) #24

dlittl13

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Its not even that it is the

Its not even that it is the English version as Marko pointed out, it is the US English version which spits out different results from say the UK version for example like the amazon or ebay sites where the US engine will have .com's at the top where the UK engine will have the .co.uk's at the top.

I REALLY like this idea mind and the search page looks good but if it could be localized it would make it all the better. In respects to the pages it should not be all that difficult to setup and an option could be included at the beginning of the installation to to select which country to use rather than what language if this is at all possible with NSIS.

As for word choice on the installation i think

"Support us: Use our Google homepage in Firefox Portable"

"Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google Page"

put across the clearest message

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August 9, 2007 - 6:30am

#25

Simeon

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My thoughts

I think its good to have the option to start the menu directly. For the second checkbox, I would either use your second suggestion (Set portable homepage to Start.PortableApps.com) or"Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google Page".
If you use your second suggestion, I would set the link to preview it, although a "get more Apps" link would be cool, too. Can you make 2 links or would that be too confusing for newbies?

“I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong.” - Richard P. Feynman

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August 9, 2007 - 7:25am

#26

RedCider

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Question for John

Hmmm I personally use the Searchbar of Firefox when it comes to do a search and don't use a startpage at all.

So my question: Why not include a searchengine-plugin (the ones you can choose in the searchbar), too and set it as default? Would that be possible? If yes, you could get searches and thus support even if the user doesn't use the PA Google version as default page.

Just my 2 cents...

I like this option "Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google Page", because it tells that its the Firefox PA page and that its a modified google version.

August 9, 2007 - 9:30am

(Reply to #26) #27

John T. Haller

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Can't / No Yahoo

I can't bundle additional search plugins due to Mozilla's licensing.

I can't use Yahoo anything anyway since they don't make a version of their searchbox with revenue sharing like Google does.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 9, 2007 - 11:41am

(Reply to #27) #28

youngheart80

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My Thoughts

I also really like "Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google Page" if it fits. I think it's straight forward and makes sense.

That being said, I am in exactly the same position as RedCider--I don't ever use home pages/Google page for searches. Just the search bar, and I do tons of searching. Maybe it's not something you could bundle with the package, but is it still possible to do a searchengine-plugin that we could add after the fact? I for one would love to support PA with something simple like this, but it would be a lot nicer if it were easily integrated into the habits I already have (translation: I'm lazy).

August 9, 2007 - 12:18pm

(Reply to #28) #29

LittleUnkn0wn

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Solution

There is an addon for Firefox called "Add to Search Bar". You can add any search page to the search bar, thus you could add Start.PortableApps.com.
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August 9, 2007 - 3:13pm

(Reply to #29) #30

Simeon

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Ryan has made one

here but I am sure there will be an "official" one.
“I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong.” - Richard P. Feynman

"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate

August 9, 2007 - 9:36am

#31

Kevin Porter

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If I had to go with one of

If I had to go with one of your options, I would go with "Set portable homepage to Start.PortableApps.com". Though, I would like something more like "Set portable homepage to PortableApps Google search" or something like that.

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August 9, 2007 - 5:36pm

(Reply to #31) #32

xrxca

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If I saw that I'd ignore it

I hate anything changing my homepage, and am pretty sure I'd interpret a few of these suggestions as changing my main homepage, I think the 'Firefox Portable' has to be in there.

Support us: Use our Google page in Firefox Portable

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August 9, 2007 - 11:45am

#33

millarrp

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I like something along the

I like something along the lines of "Support us: Use our Google homepage in Firefox Portable".

It would clearly identify which browser is going to be set with the new home page.

August 9, 2007 - 1:03pm

(Reply to #33) #34

kastro

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Shorter Variations

Support us: Use our Google page in Firefox Portable
Support us: Set Firefox Portable to use our Google page

August 9, 2007 - 5:19pm

#35

MaxxApps

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Start Page

John, I think you should consider using the red banner, along with the same colors of text as the website. Also a little bigger text size would be nice. I think this would help with the whole name recognition! But, just my opinion. Awesome job and thanks to everyone!

Helping To Maxximize Applications!

August 9, 2007 - 6:01pm

(Reply to #35) #36

xrxca

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Seconded

Even if it wasn't the entire width.

And the Donations seem orphaned down there, not sure if it's because of the alignment or what.

Suggestion: Preview (OK borders of banner would be better, but I did this in about 30 seconds) And the banner should probably be a bit smaller, but I went with the screen capture off this page...
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August 9, 2007 - 6:36pm

(Reply to #36) #37

ZachHudock

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That looks great. I like it

That looks great. I like it
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August 9, 2007 - 8:22pm

(Reply to #37) #38

MaxxApps

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xrxca's idea

I like it, but what about placing the "Make A Donation" a little lower so those viewing don't get a feeling of wanting money? I just think a little lower placement, will take the edge off of the want of the $$$$! Just an idea.....

Helping To Maxximize Applications!

August 13, 2007 - 7:00pm

#39

Aciago

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default.-

It's your App so, why don't put start.papps.com by default in a first install? I think is nothing bad with that... but let the installer check if that was changed in a previous version of PFirefox then ask first...

I think there is also a search addon for PApps somewhere... (yes there is... I have it... lol) why not add it also?...

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and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
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August 13, 2007 - 7:02pm

(Reply to #39) #40

John T. Haller

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Nope

Changing people's anything without asking is a bad idea. And I think it should default to off. It's about respecting the end user.

And the search plugin can't be added by default either.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

August 13, 2007 - 7:19pm

(Reply to #40) #41

Aciago

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I said in a first install, if the installer is updating then ask... can't be done that way?

and the plugins I didn't say as default... it looks on PApps.com not on google...

August 17, 2007 - 12:45pm

(Reply to #41) #42

gmatyola

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Remember...

If you've ever bought a computer from D***, etc... How many little changes you've got to undo, and how annoying these all are.
(Does it show I'm in the middle of a rollout?)

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