Hi, I am brand new to this project (I just heard about it and signed up yesterday), but I've been working as a tech writer for about 20 years or so (and a technical illustrator for about 3 years or so). I think I am also a member of your target audience: I have (significant) computer experience, but not specifically with Ubuntu. I've done things with Linux (Red Hat), and even UNIX and X-Windows at previous jobs, but it's been so long ago that I've forgotten most or all of it - and I've never installed any of these OSes before anyway.
How about this (or something like it) for the title: Ubuntu for Everyone (if you need to explain specifically what is in this manual, you could also have a subtitle that gets very specific) This title is "friendly" and I think brings an emotional component and certainly embodies inclusiveness. Best regards, Wendy Sheridan -- Wendy --- wendyshandmade.etsy.com www.wendysheridan.net www.sheridanmultimedia.com www.twitter.com/wendydesigns On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 2:10 AM, Benjamin Humphrey <humphre...@gmail.com>wrote: > *Todo (not only) for the design team: > * Mission statement / strategy > * Audience, Context, Tone, Message > (tone and message also pertaining Ubuntu) > * Title, "Manual" vs ? > * Work out possible means of expression regarding the above > * Layout considerations > * Understanding the current layout and font choices > * Work out A4 and Letter layouts, single and double sided (?) > * Implementation > * Handling title page translation* > * > Anything to add?* > * > * > *That sounds good. Perhaps we need to start thinking how we're going to > handle screenshots too.* > > *Mission statement > ================= > > To create and deploy[!] a document that is suitable as first point of > reference regarding the use of Ubuntu by beginner-level users. > > In addition to the system software, it shall also discuss a few selected > applications that are part of the default installation, as there is > assumed to be a common interest among beginner-level users. [Note: risk > of scope creep.] > > The document shall be ready for the upcoming Ubuntu 10.04 release and be > updated for every following release (6 month cycle). > > The manual is being written and to be maintained by the Ubuntu Manual > Team. > * > *I like the first paragraph. The second one needs to mention that we don't > *just* cover software in the manual - there are many other things like > history of ubuntu, philosophy etc.. well, you guys know the ToC. Other than > that, that's good - it's simpler than my current summary on the wiki front > page. > * > *Justification > ============= > > There seem to be no documentation that combines the following desired > characteristics: > * free of charge (also free of advertising) > * kept up to date and released in sync with Ubuntu > * detailed > * written as introduction > * highly internally consistent > * translated into many languages > * community based* > > Once again, that's a lot better than the existing documentation. It doesn't > take a poke at the other doc teams ;) > > *Next > ==== > > Now I'd like to read everyone's thought on > * a closer definition of the target audience > * context: how/where/when/why do users come across our document? > * What should the title page say, factually and emotionally? > About our document and about Ubuntu? > * Alternatives to calling it a "Manual"? > * Layout and fonts, if you can say something already* > * > * > I think the only way we're going to get a good target audience definition > is by eliminating who we AREN'T aiming the manual at. So, little kids, > *very* old people, computer-savvy people, IT gurus, Linux developers, Comp > Sci students/graduates etc... > > ... so that boils down to something like: > > * New people to Computers in general, but who might already have an > understanding of the keyboard/mouse > * Migrants from Windows who haven't really used Linux before or don't know > what it is > * People converting from other desktop environments? (KDE, XFCE etc.. > although they're probably more likely to use Gnome first before KDE) > > Feedback? > > I think the title page needs to basically say what the document is, who > it's for, why you'd want to read it, what (manual) version it is, what > Ubuntu version it's for and who it's written by. But at the same time it > can't be too cluttered :P > > As for emotional - I'm not too sure. I've never thought about > manuals/publications in an emotional mindset. I would say that it needs to > be welcoming to all types of people. > > Alternatives to calling it a manual? Well, "Ubuntu Quick Start Guide", > "Ubuntu Beginners Guide", "Ubuntu: A Beginners Guide", "New to Ubuntu? Read > this!!" etc etc... > > Layout and fonts - I am *fairly* certain that our current layout and fonts > is what we're going to run with. Maybe some refinements with font colours > and indentation, but overall it looks professional but still welcoming. > > Cheers, > Benjamin > > _______________________________________________ > Mailing list: > https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual<https://launchpad.net/%7Eubuntu-manual> > Post to : ubuntu-manual@lists.launchpad.net > Unsubscribe : > https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-manual<https://launchpad.net/%7Eubuntu-manual> > More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp > >
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