Re: Removing Firefox Version Number

On 8/18/2011 2:19 PM, Sailfish wrote:
> 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.
>

For one thing, the troubleshooting page offers so much information that 
a user who only wants to know his version number is going to simply 
close it without looking for the version number.  Some people are 
downright petrified by things like that.
Would the world as we know it cease to exist if a user could find this 
information more than one place?  The 'About box' is where every other 
browser puts the version information.  At least Firefox can't be accused 
of copying this time.