213443 - Need to Simplify the Installer: One Click Install

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Marketing :: General, task)

Description

[Jason Parker]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.5a) Gecko/20030720 Mozilla Firebird/0.6
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.5a) Gecko/20030720 Mozilla Firebird/0.6

When Installing Mozilla, it would be good to use a small, web-based installer. 
The installer should remain similar to how it functions now, however with one
main difference.

When running the installer, the first dialog one is presented with simply
contains two buttons.  It says "Welcome to the Mozilla Installer!  This program
will install Mozilla on your computer. How do you want to procede?"  You then
look down and see the two buttons.

1) One click install (easy)

2) Custom Install (regular installation)

When you click on One click install, it is, literally, a one click install. 
Much like IE's installation, Mozilla would essentially take over and perform a
default install.  One progress meter would show the entire progress, and
absolutely no questions would be asked.  A few minutes later, a user has Mozilla
up and running.  No problem.

Custom install is the regular installation procedure for experienced users.

:)

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:

Comment 1

[Jason Parker]

Forgot to mention, this is marketing because it allows mozilla to be reached by
new users more easily.  It allows Mozilla to more effectively compete with is
primary foe, IE.  :)

Comment 2

[Jason Parker]

An addition to my plan:

Create banners and buttons linking to a new site, get.mozilla.org

At this site you see is big letters:

"Congratulations!  You've found Mozilla!"

Then maybe a screenshot, and a small list of Mozilla's features.  In any case,
there would be a large buttons saying "Download" that would start the new one
click Mozilla installer for windows.  Two total clicks and Mozilla installed. 
The whole get.mozilla.org thing would become Mozilla's Windows marketing strategy.

Comment 3

[Brant Gurganus]

I think the installer needs to be platform-specific to best utilize OS features
and blend in.  For example, on Win32, we can use the NSIS2 installer with Modern
theme.  It is easy to script and it is open source.  It does not require C hacking.

I don't know what kinds of installers are available for other platforms.  I'd
stay away from Java installers though.  They are cross-platform, but they are
slow and require that the user have Java.

Comment 4

[Jesse Ruderman]

Here are the steps in the current installer:

1. [Verifying integrity...]
2. Welcome. Please close other programs.
3. MPL
4. Browser/Complete/Custom. Destination Directory.
5. Select components (if "custom")
6. Select start menu folder (if "custom")
7. Quick Launch
8. If you are satisfied, click Install.
9. [Installing...]

To turn this into one-click install:

1. Kill it.  This should happen after I click "Install", so all the "wait for
the computer to do stuff" parts of the installation process are together.
2. Kill it.  Does anyone follow these CYA instructions anymore?
3. Kill it.  If users want to know under what conditions they can redistribute
Mozilla, they're not going to look in the installer.
4. ---
5. --- (if "custom")
6. --- (if "custom")
7. Kill it.  Ask the user about quick launch the first time they exit Mozilla,
not while they're installing.
8. Kill it.
9. Make it not open and close so many windows.

Comment 5

[Daniel Wang]

-> installer owner

Comment 6

[Jeff Walden [:Waldo]]

My thoughts re comment #4 and overall scheme:

First dialog box:
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Mozilla Installer                              _  []  X |
|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Welcome to the Mozilla Installer!  This program will    |
| install Mozilla on your computer. How do you want to    |
| proceed?                                                |
|                                                         |
| Note: by installing Mozilla you agree to the the terms  |
| and conditions of the [a]Mozilla Public License[/a].                         
                           |
|                                                         |
|  [One-click install]  [Custom install]  [Exit Install]  |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

Notes on above: we probably can't omit mention of the Mozilla Public License (or
does it ONLY deal with copying the program and not using it?) so just include
the text with a link.  Or is this still too intrusive?  Most programs throw some
licensing message, so a link like this isn't really that unexpected for Joe
Random Newbie Computer User.  The link would just open up a new window with
license text to scroll through and with an OK button to click when done.  Also,
some sort of Exit button is necessary for those who for some reason don't want
to install (usually if they for some unknown reason don't like the license).

Then, if they click One-click install, just install Mozilla (showing the
progress dialog) which when finished disappears and then display this box:

+----------------------------------------+
| Mozilla Install Complete!              |
|----------------------------------------|
| Your Mozilla installation is complete. |
|                                        |
| You can run Mozilla by clicking on the |
| desktop icon.                          |
+----------------------------------------+

The above box displays for five seconds or so (long enough so user can read it)
and then disappears, at which point either install is finished or Mozilla starts
up - either way seems fine to me.

Only issues I see with anything discussed is accessibility: one-click install
and other references to clicking aren't friendly for those using alternative
interfaces (screen reader, etc.).

Comment 7

[irongut]

Not a a marketing bug.

Installers should follow platform standards and this idea doesn't.