Documentation and/or Promotional Effort ?? ( "Looking for Jugg" )

Roy Gathercoal wrote:

> Thank you, Darrin.
>
> Jugg suggested, and Tobbe seconded, that I visit here to perhaps help 
> with some writing: documentation, promotional materials, etc. I am not 
> at all familiar with this list and so want to be careful about causing 
> any unintended insult (which I guess presumes that there might be some 
> sort of intended insult?).
>
Ah yes. I remember the thread. You, sir, have quite a way with words. I 
commend you. You needn't worry about causing any sort of insult.  We 
Litesteppers aren't much of a touchy sort. Most of us that is. *grin*

> The invitation came as response to a couple of posts in which I 
> suggested we, the litestep community, present Litestep as a solution 
> to specific issues of specific groups of potential users. That is, I 
> would think it rare for an individual to come looking for something 
> that does lots of things; people are much more likely to want 
> something that will solve a particular problem or fill a specific and 
> very present need.
>
> Tobbe asked whether I was talking about branding, and expressed some 
> concern about distributing a product whose range of features were 
> somehow crippled or restricted.
>
> Instead, I am envisioning a process wherein Litestep is presented as 
> *the best solution* for a number of potential user groups. The 
> complete package would be delivered in each case, but the *emphasis* 
> in our initial presentation would be tailored to the needs of 
> particular groups.
>
> So for example, we might present a theme that was developed with the 
> needs of a social networker in mind. This would include the full 
> unhindered version of Litestep but with buttons, drop-down lists and 
> even backgrounds created with the sensibility of social networkers in 
> mind. The examples we use in all of the surrounding materials: 
> Promotional notes ("actually there *is* a shell that does all of this 
> stuff for you and is easy to customize for your own situation"); 
> tutorial (here's how to set up buttons so that you can click on one 
> end to access ________, and the other end to go to _________. and 
> default functions ("You can even divide your screen to monitor several 
> different sites at once! See the example right here."
>
> We might also present a group of LiteStep themes designed to work for 
> ebay enthusiasts, or Sci-fi fans, or graphic novel writers, or any 
> number of different sorts of gamers. (consider the number of people 
> who plunked down more than half-a-thousand-dollars to buy a machine 
> that will play a number of games, most of which have not yet been 
> released! I would be absolutely surprised if this group could not 
> quickly come up with some great ideas for widgets, buttons and scripts 
> that made Doom or WoW or ________ even sweeter.
>
> These are only a couple of possibilities off the top of my head, but 
> because probably the greatest strength of LiteStep is its 
> versatility/adaptability, it makes all the sense in the world to 
> present it to potential users *already adapted* around their own 
> driving interest.
>
> I guess another way of putting it is this:
>
> Versatility can mean at least two very different things to a computer 
> user. (1) You can use this to do A and to do B and even to do C. . . 
> or (2) Whatever your interest, whatever draws you back to your 
> computer late at night when you really should be asleep, whatever you 
> use your computer to do, this tool will make it easier/better/faster 
> to do that thing.
>
> Most of the stuff I've seen written about LiteStep are based on the 
> first. This makes sense because to the people who are most committed 
> to developing LiteStep, developing LiteStep IS the thing that draws them.
>
> One of the very cool things about LiteStep is that it gives the 
> developer/user more control over their desktop more easily and quickly 
> than other desktop customization programs. It makes sense, therefore, 
> for these people to emphasize the aspects of LiteStep that are most 
> important to them--especially the control over the desktop and the 
> ability to quickly create features that will allow the user to do some 
> tasks that would otherwise not be possible.
>
> But this isn't what most users will drawn to. Or perhaps more 
> accurately, the biggest potential groups of LiteStep users are not 
> developers, but users: People who want to accomplish some specific 
> task/group of tasks on their computers.
>
> So if we want to see LiteStep grow exponentially we need to keep 
> refining the Litestep-tool that allows developers to accomplish a wide 
> range of tasks, but we need to talk to the potential users about what 
> is already important to them: What brings them back to the computer 
> every potential moment.
>
> Does this make sense? Does it fit with your broad history of working 
> with LiteStep, especially with potential users?
>
> Is this worth pursuing? In what ways?
>
> Vagabundus
>
> Roy Gathercoal

I understand what you are driving at. AutoCAD does the same sort of 
thing. They have several packages for purchase, such as for Civil 
Engineers, or Architects, or Electronic Engineers, et cetera. In 
reality, it is all the same program, but each package comes with certain 
presets and/or preconfigured options geared for that audience. I am not 
exactly sure if we should create totally seperate packages/installers 
geared towards such a myriad of users.

In my opinion, we only need a Core installer, with maybe additional ZIP 
packages geared towards a certain userbase. "You are this type of user? 
Perhaps you would be interested in Package A" et cetera.  Additonally, 
the vast majority of our users are into the custo scene (at least, that 
is my obvservation).  I

 sit in the #litestep room on IRC (irc.freenode.net) and most of the new 
comers are asking questions on how to customize their litestep. The 
look, the feel, what it does. Due to this observation, making prepacked 
goods seems a bit ... off? ... as most people will end up changing 
things around anyway. After all, if people were just happy 'using' then 
why are they looking for something else? Why not just stick to explorer?

Anyway, that's my two cents.






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