So now we have a whole ado since zipped builds are being dropped for releases. While dropping the zip files seems like a good idea, it cleans up the immediate problem, it is still not a good solution to the actual problem.
The real problem is not that beginner users are confused and are downloading zip builds that do not work as expected. The real problem is that beginner users are looking in FTP directories at all to download builds. FTP directories are a bad way to find what you want. GUIs, on the other hand, are a good way to find the correct build for a particular system, version, and configuration. This brings me back to an idea that I've discussed on several ocassions in the past: download.mozilla.org.
Basically, download.mozilla.org would provide a menu of products (Firefox, Thunderbird, Seamonkey/Mozilla Suite, Camino, maybe even Bugzilla, etc...) with short explanatory text next to each product. This would in turn lead to a page for the selection of version, OS (autodetected with an option to override), and language, somewhat like the old netscape.com download page, only better and not hidden as a tiny button on top of a portal. There would be a big honking "DOWNLOAD" button on the mozilla.org homepage, leading users to all the build options, including zip files for those who know what they are doing and want them.
A download site would solve the real problem here and make it easier for people to get the builds they want.
Posted by zach at March 23, 2005 5:18 PMNice one.
Posted by: Laurens Holst on March 24, 2005 1:16 PM