Re: Removing Firefox Version Number

My bloviated meandering follows what Adam Kowalczyk graced us with on 
8/18/2011 11:48 AM:
> Asa, here is a bird's eye view of the situation as I see it.
> 
> You say the objective is to change the users' perception of Firefox's 
> release model and to make them not pay attention to version numbers.
> 
> The point of contention is the question of whether users need to check 
> the version number in this new release model.
> 
> I think I can present a way out of this deadlock: it doesn't matter what 
> the answer to that question is.
> 
> If users DO NOT check the version number in the About window then they 
> probably don't pay attention to it. If so, removing it does little to 
> help the objective of changing perception. As there are some known 
> disadvantages to the removal and it has become an extremely 
> controversial change among the community, it's just not worth it. The 
> potential gains are small, the community is already highly strung about 
> the new release model. Pick your battles.
> 
> If users DO check the version number in the About window then removing 
> it would indeed influence their approach to versions. However, it would 
> achieve it by hiding something they are actively looking for. They would 
> open the About window looking for the version number and they wouldn't 
> find it. Training users by frustrating them doesn't sound like a 
> particularly sane UX technique.
> 
> Either way, the conclusion is that this is not a good idea. Am I missing 
> something?
> 
Why is moving it from the Help>About screen to the Help>Troubleshooting 
Information... causing so much angst? First, the latter one is a more 
appropriate place for this type of information and second, that screen 
provides a wealth of more information that may help someone looking for 
version information and third, why the big out-cry at having to learn a 
new location for this information.

Furthermore, those who fall back on what other programs use the About 
screen for fail to note that those said "other programs" don't have a 
Troubleshooting Information... screen so the About box is where they've 
chosen to stick the version information. That doesn't mean that a more 
appropriate place for it couldn't have been designed, as Firefox has 
clearly done.

-- 
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