Quote:
Originally Posted by philzgr8
Niall,
Thanks for allowing me to trial the software and I must say it's an excellent job. Without wanting to be overly critical though I think I have decided not to buy at this stage. It's not that it doesn't do the job but I guess I've decided that before I'd part with that sort of money I think I'd need to feel it was something I'd use all the time. The truth is I find it's not quite what I want. Everything I want is there mind you but I reckon I want a single screen that gives me all the basics (Today/5 day forecast/radar/Satellite/Tides) without having to navigate or possibly with some toggles for imagery.
In truth I reckon MCE navigation is a bit clumsy at the best of times but it's generally not a problem because you don't actually do a lot of it. The problem with Weather 2 is I find that I have to do a fair bit of navigating to get everything I want and without wanting to sound too lazy, I just couldn't be bothered. So sadly I think I've decided not to proceed at this stage but if you were to take my crit as constructive and rearrange things a little I might be tempted down the track. I'd be more than happy to give you some detailed input if you're interested.
Cheers and good luck with it.
Phil
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Hi Phil,
Thanks for the constructive criticism - and I'll definitely take what you have said on board.
Please do try to appreciate however that Big Screen Weather v2 is a '10 foot application' (remote/family friendly - large fonts - visible on old tv's both letterbox/widescreen and/or for people with bad eyesite etc). - not a '2 foot application' (mouse/small text/etc).
I think the feature set you described is available right now on
www.bom.gov.au and can be accessed in your web browser (where a plethora of information belongs - in HTML) - so on that - I don't think a VMC addin is actually what you are asking for.
If anyone has better suggestions by example - ie. would love someone to mockup/send me a screen design that meets the '10 foot requirements' (thats SVGA Letterbox through to 1080i Widescreen - and controllable only with your thumb) - and somehow manages to fit all of the above on a single page. (personally I really don't believe thats possible without it being a complete information overload / or at best unreadable + confusing for most users). If you have a play however - you'll notice that almost all of the 'other' information is available within 1-2 clicks (4 day forecast, and detailed observation are available with no clicks whatsoever). I'm also happy to send through links to documents/suggestions by Microsoft on good vs bad 10' design (which was derived via huge amounts of money being spent on focus groups etc)..
Now onto one of your other points there about the "because I wont use it every day and doesn't meet 10/10 of my requirements - I can't justify purchase of $19.95"... Not meaning to attack/criticize (and yes I'm going to have a rant here) - but thats really a poor/poisonous pov - and that sort of sentiment is probably the #1 reason the vast majority of MCE2005 addin makers completely dumped the platform and you've been offered virtually nothing for Vista MC on the addin front. (and believe me almost EVERY commercial developer I know will only consider freelance/per hour type work if they are going to waste it on VMC related activities.).
I'm not in any was saying that you should/shouldn't buy my software (
its completely your choice and I respect that) - but I seriously hope that at some point in time you do consider the ramifications of not purchasing 3rd party VMC software for whimsical reasons - and considering that $19.95 is 'too much' - whilst at same time spending megabucks on fancy cases / hardware etc etc (I'm sure you must have spent $200+ on your case alone - the one pictured in your signature - and thats before we even get to all the insides and bits/pieces). Did you know that we are seriously talking about a cost of around 2 cents a day - probably what it costs you just to switch on/power up your plasma/lcd tv set (and if you used it once a week - that would be 14cents a week - less than the cost of a SINGLE phone call.)...
So anyhow - you all saw what happened when users sat back and didn't contribute here when it counted... well... think of a world now with no commercial addins for VMC (and most of the freeware offerings right now are
seriously breeching IP belonging to large companies - and could disappear overnight with a single c+d letter - or a lack of enthusiasm/time from the developer - so don't put all your faith in those).... so anyhow - enough said on that point... if you don't want my software I'm fine with that - but just make sure you're doing the right thing with the software you do feel is worthy of purchase.
So anyhow - no hard feelings Phil (i do mean this seriously) - and I do appreciate your feedback - but sometimes also need to put in my 2 cents worth.
cheers
Niall