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Subject:Re: Tip 'o the day From:Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Sat, 30 Jul 2016 07:06:41 -0400
The boot screen method was what Mastering Computers used to create the
original Tip of the Day (for Windows proper) utility back in '93. It was a
hit.
It didn't have an installation routine as we know them today, and so users
invariably got confused as to how to install it. It was a Murphy's Law
problem. Mastering's CEO didn't want to invest in an packaged installer.
Tired of taking support calls, I wrote a batch file installer for Tip of
the Day using WinBatch. Most of the code was error checking; the actual
installation was maybe three lines. The resultant installer saved me a lot
of time once deployed.
On Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 5:23 PM, Kate Schneider <kateschneider42 -at- gmail -dot- com>
wrote:
> I like this on loading screens, where I don't have anything better to do
> but watch the loading. I think of some video games I play (Mass Effect
> comes to mind) where loading screens are made less painful with gameplay
> tips and tricks. Gives me something to do and teaches me stuff. This has
> proven useful for gaming. I imagine it could be useful in software, too.
>
> Kate
>
> On Jul 29, 2016 2:09 PM, "Andrew Harvie" <withanie -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > Today, I'm pondering the Tip of the Day feature, found in assorted
> > software.
> >
> > Personally, I tend to disable the feature after reading the first tip.
> > Usually because it's in my way, and it isn't relevant to what I want to
> do
> > *right now*.
> >
> > But, I can see how the idea would appeal to those who create it. If the
> > users won't come to the documentation, push the documentation out to the
> > users. Perhaps if it were more relevant to the task at hand, more
> enticing:
> > "There's a bunch of ways you can save time on this task. Come and
> look...".
> >
> >
> > Has anyone created Tip of the Whatever Time Period - style suggestions
> and
> > done it in a way that garnered positive feedback? Has anyone seen it
> done
> > in a way that they like? Or, is it always a bad idea?
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