Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Mac Security => Topic started by: dword on October 07, 2008, 11:32:32 PM
-
I spent quite some time trying to relicense my free Mac Home version.
Q: Why couldn't I do it? A: It's not free any more! Comment: I must have missed the email announcement.
Q: Was I tempted to buy it? A: Yes C: I'm new to Mac, but I'm learning it's costlier than PC.
Q: Why didn't I buy it? A: The other OSs are still free and I don't think it's usable enough to pay for. C: I knew enough to change the file that kept raising the email error since I use web mail. Would my wife?
Q: Any other reasons? A: The interface was non-intuitive and the manual, er, those few pdf pages, only helped a bit. C: That's OK for beta, open source, hobbyists, etc. but not OK for production sw especially for a fee.
Q: Why didn't I get a clean uninstall? A: Unknown, but the forum replies showed where some of the pieces I missed were residing. C: I haven't noticed that with other Apple software.
I liked your product, but it's not good enough to pay for yet.
Keep up the good work. I'll check back from time to time.
Dword (yes, I once did Assembly Language programming)
-
I spent quite some time trying to relicense my free Mac Home version.
Q: Why couldn't I do it? A: It's not free any more! Comment: I must have missed the email announcement.
Q: Was I tempted to buy it? A: Yes C: I'm new to Mac, but I'm learning it's costlier than PC.
Q: Why didn't I buy it? A: The other OSs are still free and I don't think it's usable enough to pay for. C: I knew enough to change the file that kept raising the email error since I use web mail. Would my wife?
Q: Any other reasons? A: The interface was non-intuitive and the manual, er, those few pdf pages, only helped a bit. C: That's OK for beta, open source, hobbyists, etc. but not OK for production sw especially for a fee.
Q: Why didn't I get a clean uninstall? A: Unknown, but the forum replies showed where some of the pieces I missed were residing. C: I haven't noticed that with other Apple software.
I liked your product, but it's not good enough to pay for yet.
Keep up the good work. I'll check back from time to time.
Dword (yes, I once did Assembly Language programming)
Hallo,
thanks for your opinion. Just, could you be more specific what do you find non-intuitive in the interface?
regards,
pc
-
Fair enough.
I can't see it now, because I uninstalled it, but as I remember, there were 6 large icons that appeared in a rounded rectangular window. To me, that signifies equal importance to each. The "Virus Chest", good name, by the way, was a bit scary and I never opened it. A typical "Don't make me think" user would be daunted for sure. That same user would be unclear about which of 6 equally important options to chose. OK, I grant you descending importance from left to right, but I think the regular menu is sufficient and easier to use like any other program.
Maybe folks just expect a graphic interface and yours does resemble an mp3 or dvd player skin, in size, at least.
My advice: Don't show anything on startup or background execution except an unobtrusive message like "Updating . . ." or "Running . . . " with a counter and a "show details" button. On opening the app, just show a "Scan where . . . " selection dialog and a "More options . . . " button where all the preferences, schedules, and other gritty stuff reside.
At my old going rate, I would have just paid for that year's subscription I griped about, but it's really just my 2 cents worth. Hope I helped or at least stirred a brain cell.
P.S. The report window was better. That's were I saw the connection to the "Virus Chest" explained.
-
Fair enough.
I can't see it now, because I uninstalled it, but as I remember, there were 6 large icons that appeared in a rounded rectangular window. To me, that signifies equal importance to each. The "Virus Chest", good name, by the way, was a bit scary and I never opened it. A typical "Don't make me think" user would be daunted for sure. That same user would be unclear about which of 6 equally important options to chose. OK, I grant you descending importance from left to right, but I think the regular menu is sufficient and easier to use like any other program.
Maybe folks just expect a graphic interface and yours does resemble an mp3 or dvd player skin, in size, at least.
My advice: Don't show anything on startup or background execution except an unobtrusive message like "Updating . . ." or "Running . . . " with a counter and a "show details" button. On opening the app, just show a "Scan where . . . " selection dialog and a "More options . . . " button where all the preferences, schedules, and other gritty stuff reside.
At my old going rate, I would have just paid for that year's subscription I griped about, but it's really just my 2 cents worth. Hope I helped or at least stirred a brain cell.
P.S. The report window was better. That's were I saw the connection to the "Virus Chest" explained.
Yes, with next version, the default mode will be "hidden mode" - with icon only in the dock. The idea behind the GUI was "the most used features should be accessbile via one simple click" (and those clickable big buttons are also grouped that way - scan actions on the left, maintain action on the right). i agree with your point of view, but on the other hand, features that are accesible via menubar only are not directly visible - and some user might complain too (for example, license change dialog, accessible through menubar only, was reported by some users as non-intuitive action).
regards,
pc
-
As always, there is probably a middle ground that, while not pleasing everyone, will be the least objectionable.
Thanks for your response and good luck.