Re: business perspective - Mailing list pgsql-general
From | Ryan Mahoney |
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Subject | Re: business perspective |
Date | |
Msg-id | 5.0.2.1.0.20010913212021.0336bc40@paymentalliance.net Whole thread Raw |
In response to | Re: business perspective (Gunnar Rønning <gunnar@polygnosis.com>) |
Responses |
Re: business perspective
|
List | pgsql-general |
>| > Here are a few sites that I am basing my comparison on: >| > sendmail.com >| > sun.com >| > redhat.com >| > ibm.com >| >| I find none of these web sites particularly well-done from a usability >| point of view. On the contrary, I visited the latter three of them in > >I've always liked sendmail.com, but I agree that the latter three are >not well done. I don't think it is constructive to say that one site is entirely good or not. Most every design has aspects that work and aspects that don't. For example: (standard subjectivity disclaimer here...) Sendmail.com (home page): Good - use of dramatic and striking imagery - clear, readable, professional logo - calming color palate with exciting highlights (yellow, light blue, dark blue, pink, red, black) - prominent promotion of core competencies ("Rock Solid" internet messaging) - corporate look and terminology Poor: - vague tagline (architects of internet messaging.... shall I call them if I need a message architect?) - difficult to read some type (blue on blue, light colors type on light color background) - difficult to read buttons (if you want to see the site in German you need to read size 6 type to adjust button) - too many navigational options Overall: - There is a lot of information to take in, although it is clear they are targeting "enterprise" type customers and it is not difficult to buy product or obtain customer support from their site. It is clear to see that large corporations (IBM) have put their faith in this product and that the product is actively developed. It seems as if they have made their navigational options smaller to enable more options, it is hard to read and unpleasant to look at (the navigation that is). - - - postgresql.org (home page) Good: - easy to use navigation - up-to-date information - interactive navigation (rollover effect) Poor: - muted monochromatic color scheme (blue, blue, gray) - informational glut (about 4 vertical scrolling pages of text) - no segregation of information; releases, general announcements, description all together - inefficient utilization of space (roughly 35% of first screen covered by large blue and white bars) - vague section names, "users lounge, developers corner" - I use the postgresql although I am a developer... where is the documentation again? Overall: - If you are familiar with postgresql.org you can quickly go straight to where you want to go. If you aren't familiar with postgresql.org or postgresql it may not be clear what it is, although there is plenty of text to read if you've got some time to kill. It seems to be directed toward developers. It is unclear who uses postgresql and if it is successful at what it does. The advertisement for some unrelated products (hotels? jewelry?) that are displayed on the intermediate "mirrors" are unprofessional and make it seem like the project is hosted at geocities. - - - I hope I don't appear ungrateful to those who have worked hard on postgreql.org. Obviosly a lot of hard work has gone into it and I appreciate everything that has been done - I sure have used the site enough! Design criticism is a part of the design process - if used constructively it can lead to a dialogue where we can understand better why a designer made the decisions they have and possibly how a design can be more effective. It may seem unfair to compare a site which a handful of people did in their free time to sites developed by firms that worked solely on a single product with ample compensation. I think the postgresql community is intelligent and capable enough to be competitive with the market leaders in more areas than software development. <- end rant here -r --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.251 / Virus Database: 124 - Release Date: 4/26/01
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