Re: [tdf-discuss] A better idea for a download package.

Bandwidth is not the only reason for a smaller installer, and I'm not even
sure it's a significant one.  Users with dial-up internet, slow DSL
connections, or bandwidth caps are used to long, long downloads.  The
difference between 3 minutes and 10 minutes might be significant to those of
us with fast connections, but the difference between 3 hours and 10 hours is
not as important.  It will just be another overnight download, the same as
every other large installer that they've worked with.

However, let's not forget that many users also have monthly download caps,
often just a few gigabytes.  Downloading the current LibreOffice installer
could be 10% of their monthly internet use, regardless of how long it
takes.  The need for a smaller installer still stands.

Perhaps the installer could be replaced by a small configuration
application, which would allow the user to select the components they wish
to install, and would then download the selected components?  Ideally,
re-running this configuration app later would allow the user to add language
packs, plugins, and modules like Draw, Base, or Math which had been left out
the first time around (assuming this code rewrite happens).  This would
simplify the configuration process (avoiding user confusion, they'd know
what they selected in this step), would decrease server bandwidth (many
users would choose not to download some parts of the application), and
reduce the time before a user experiences LibreOffice - Instead of waiting
for their browser to finish the download, they'd be interacting with the
LibreOffice installer right away.
-- 
Kevin Vermeer


On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 2:44 PM, Robert Derman <robert.derman@pressenter.com
> wrote:

> With all the discussion of the size of the download package and the
> difficulty of including things like manuals I suddenly realized that perhaps
> we are going about this thing entirely wrong!  Perhaps what we should do is
> offer a CHOICE of several download packages, not just one take it or leave
> it package.
>
>  A basic download package with just the core LO Office Suite, like what we
> have had up to now, and as an alternative, a Complete package including
> users manual(s), templates, extensions, clip art, fonts, anything else that
> should be in a complete package.  Perhaps we could even offer a Writer Only
> package without Calc, Draw, Impress, Base, or Math, and with just a BRIEF
> users manual for Writer.  I suspect that there may be many home users that
> just want a word processor and aren't at all interested in the rest of the
> suite.
>
>
> Different users have very different internet connections, some are still
> dial up.  Some are DSL, and some are Cable and have huge bandwidth.
> Offering only a One-Size-Fits-All package may no longer be the best idea.
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