On: Mozilla to remove Firefox version numbers

[bryanlarsen]

The version number is in about:troubleshooting which is in the help menu. And Help|Troubleshooting seems like a much more logical place to go when bug-hunting than Help|About.

[xatax → bryanlarsen]

The problem with that is that we've spent years training users that the version number of a product is on its "about" dialog. That dialog will still exist in Firefox, but it won't tell you what you expect.

Now, I'm quite happy to admit that most users won't think to look there first, but Firefox is breaking from convention here, and surprising the user is rarely a good thing.

[unfocused → bryanlarsen]

I think you meant about:support which takes you to the Troubleshooting Information page.

[recoiledsnake → unfocused]

Pretty ironic that confusion is brewing even among the technically savvy crowd here. This probably proves the OP's point.

[starwed → recoiledsnake]

No? This is exactly the sort of "pedantry" the average user won't care about -- they just click on a menu item to get there.

[recoiledsnake → starwed]

Isn't TFA about removing the menu item or am I missing something here?

[starwed → recoiledsnake]

The menu item I'm talking about is "Help->Troubleshooting". The change being considered in the bug is regarding the "About" item.

[unfocused → starwed]

They should definitely get rid of about:support then. It's just not consistent from a UI perspective. And yes, like the person above mentioned, if we can get confused about it, an average user will just be really frustrated.

[starwed → unfocused]

"Troubleshooting" takes you to about:support, while "About" is the standard about menu item that pops up version info, credits, and the like.

So clearly! your point about it being too confusing is wrong... =P

[rmc → bryanlarsen]

So is it in "about:troubleshooting", "http://about:troubleshooting, "http://www.about:troubleshooting, "http://about:troubleshooting.com, "about.troubleshooting", "www.about:troubleshooting", etc.

Mundane users make this mistake. Don't rely on a large percentage to get this right.

[bryanlarsen → rmc]

You tell users to click on Troubleshooting in the help menu.

[Groxx → bryanlarsen]

I suppose Help|Troubleshooting is acceptable (didn't know about that one), but it's still sitting in an omg-everything-broke kind of page that looks like random-user's nightmare come true.