Installing pre-beta Vista SP2 (Pre-beta Vista SP2)

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All questions up front, then just do it!: This is another example of a lot of software that asks question on separate dialogs, each after some processing, so that you end up having to wait around while each part is complete.

For example, I could accept the conditions as a checkbox on the first dialog, not have to wait until the third (after some checks have been done) as it does not depend upon whether the software can actually update. It is only a consent.

Install designers, please think that a user does not want to have to hang around unnecessarily and so try to get as much asked up front as possible (without clutter).

Which brings me to the other beef I have. Dialog texts used to be short enough and with direct selection of options by buttons. Now the prompts are very wordy, so that instead of being able to snapshot and immediately understand the question (because it was just a few succinct words), I now have to READ multiple sentences (which is so much slower), check an option, then click the OK button. If the sentences are too long, they are not as easily remembered as something that has been seen before, so require re-reading again, and again, ad nauseum. This is severely disruptive to workflow.

It am a technical writer, but I believe there are times when grammatically-abbreviated language is much better than wordy prompts. Users need to be educated about the consequences of choices, but NOT if it gets in the way of every user, every time, even those who are making the same choice for the umpteenth time!; Posted by: Patanjali Posted on: 10/23/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use