Downloading Mozilla Is Hard
I’ve been thinking about this luxury web idea and getting users to try Mozilla over Internet Explorer. So I’m over at mozilla.org, browsing their site and wondering how we’re going to convince people to try Mozilla when it’s so hard to download the browser from their site.
When I want to download software, the first link or button I look for is one that says, “Download.” Internet Explorer’s homepage puts a download link front and center. Opera’s homepage includes a download link in the navigation.
If The Mozilla Organization wants people to use their browser, why are the download links pushed to the bottom right of the homepage, probably the last place that people look? Why not include a download link in the navigation? I realize Mozilla is an open source community, and no one is getting paid to maintain the site, but surely there’s an information designer or information architect out there willing to give mozilla.org some volunteer time.
- 4 Jun 03
- browser, interaction design, interface, open source, software
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Comments
I couldn’t agree with you more. It is clear that mozilla.org was built BY engineers FOR engineers.
Not only is the link obscured by its location, but look at the terminology on the site, “Nightly builds” “release candidates” “latest stable release”. Neccessary stuff for their traditional audience, but for Mozilla to become mainstream its site will have to speak to a mainstream audience.
Josh on 4 Jun 03
Alas, modifications to the website happen slowly and with great hassle. There’s been various projects over the years to revamp mozilla.org but none have really flown.
That said, filing a bug on the increasing the prominence/ availability of download links is a good idea.
Still, mozilla.org’s mission statement has always held that the organization does not exist to push browsers to end-users, but rather to provide a basis for embeddors (like Netscape).
Andyed on 4 Jun 03
…I encourage my regular moz.org readers to give it a read.
TrackBack from on 5 Jun 03
Yeah, never send people to mozilla.org, send them here:
http://mozilla.org/projects/phoenix/why/
stylo~ on 5 Jun 03
I have to search for the phoenix … I mean Firebird page EVERY time. If this is supposed to be such a good produt (and I use it as my default … so I think it is) - why is there no link to it from the home page? Assuming you know that the Firebird browser is a ‘project’, you might go to the Projects page (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/). There is no link from there.
If I’m completely honest, I don’t know how _anyone_ could ever find that browser without being sent a link - it’s like a masonic lodge or something - only the invited get a look in!
Not that I really want to compare using Firebird with being some weird handshake fetishist. Or something.
Ian Lloyd on 5 Jun 03
I had a similar experience…
Pain at Mozilla.org
John S. Rhodes on 5 Jun 03
I’m a bit confused… The download link shows up in the right hand column of the moz.org page. The first item in the download area is:
—
Mozilla 1.3.1
This is our latest stable release. New to Mozilla? Get this.
(…)
—
This could be in a better place (first item on the page) but it isn’t hard to find.
Jackson on 7 Jun 03
This could be in a better place (first item on the page) but it isn’t hard to find.
I realize the download link isn’t that hard to find, but I’m a information design and usability advocate. Part of my job is to point out popular websites that could be improved by design or usability analysis. Mozilla.org is one of them.
Joshua on 7 Jun 03
Mozilla really needs an PR department! I’m telling a lot of people to use Mozilla. Then I say “just go…
TrackBack from Gemal's Psyched Blog on 9 Jul 03