Re: Rant... please let me help you fix the user interface

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

How well have you familiarized yourself with the user
base for this product?  In many cases, old products that
seem "dated" and "clunky" may have loyal installed user
bases that have been using the product for years, have
formed a sort of cult around it and will scream bloody
murder if the company does much more to the UI than
just adding new features to existing ones, and the 
company has to weigh the possible alienation of a loyal
update/upgrade customer population against the possible
increase in new users.  I have seen niche products that had
previously limped along at low levels of profitability 
for years suddenly sink because radical changes caused
more existing customers to walk away than the new ones
that were drawn in.

The first step in trying to sell the concept of revamping
the product needs to be understanding why management
doesn't seem to want to.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Starr" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>


> It's a niche-marked product that's been holding its own in the 
> marketplace but it's definitely dated looking and "clunky".


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.