Advanced search

Message boards : Server and website : Improving the "Join us" page

Author Message
Jacob Klein
Send message
Joined: 11 Oct 08
Posts: 1127
Credit: 1,901,927,545
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 33210 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 4:13:38 UTC
Last modified: 26 Sep 2013 | 4:20:08 UTC

I just saw on Facebook, recently, a user tried to join GPUGrid, but had problems, and I believe they gave up entirely. They had followed the "Join us" page, which told them to "Get CUDA drivers", but the "[Download]" link goes to the download page for the "CUDA toolkit", instead of to the regular drivers download page.

Also, the link on the word "required" takes us to a forum post that has outdated driver information.
Can't we instead simply refer the user to:
http://www.nvidia.com/drivers ?

Also, the links to download BOINC refer to a very very old version, 6.12.34.

Can't we not list a version, and instead just simply refer the user to:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php... for current machine, and
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download_all.php... for all BOINC versions?
This way, we don't have to maintain the links, version information, etc.

We can make this easier, for our users to join, and ourselves to maintain. It should never be so difficult that a user gives up in frustration.

Would you please consider improving it?

Thanks,
Jacob Klein

Profile nate
Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 11
Posts: 124
Credit: 2,928,865
RAC: 0
Level
Ala
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwat
Message 33215 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 10:03:59 UTC

Agree 100%. It should never be as complicated as it was. It is now obvious why that other use was having problems. The changes have already made. Thanks for pointing it out.

Jacob Klein
Send message
Joined: 11 Oct 08
Posts: 1127
Credit: 1,901,927,545
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 33216 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 11:30:04 UTC - in response to Message 33215.

Great response!

I still think the instructions could be a tad clearer.

For step 4, how about:
In BOINC, add the GPUGrid.net project, creating a new account if needed.

Then there is no need for step 5; in fact, there is no need for the user to ever "enter http://www.gpugrid.net".

Perhaps step 5 could now be:
BOINC should now be downloading and processing GPUGrid.net tasks!

One final thing: Need help?
The FAQ hyperlink on that page is busted.
Currently: http://www.gpugrid.net/forum_index.php?id=4
Should be: http://www.gpugrid.net/forum_forum.php?id=4

Profile nate
Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 11
Posts: 124
Credit: 2,928,865
RAC: 0
Level
Ala
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwat
Message 33217 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 12:38:01 UTC
Last modified: 26 Sep 2013 | 12:40:05 UTC

More good suggestions. Regarding Step 3/4, do you think we should include a reference to BOINC Account Manager (BAM), so that users new to the BOINC world can be well informed? Or is that adding unneeded complexity?

Admittedly, it seems we have a lot of stale links and other issues. I will have to do a full review of the site soon. Thanks again for the input.

Jacob Klein
Send message
Joined: 11 Oct 08
Posts: 1127
Credit: 1,901,927,545
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 33218 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 12:48:48 UTC - in response to Message 33217.

I personally think the steps to join should be a simple as possible, to just get a user started. I consider "using a BOINC Account Manager" as something an "Advanced" user would do.

Maybe you could have a separate set of steps, right below the simple ones, maybe in its own section called "Optional Advanced steps", that include things like:
- Adjust your GPUGrid.net project preferences
- Recommended BOINC settings
- Setting up an Account Manager (like BAM!)

Another idea:
The best resource a user could have, on how to use BOINC, is actually at:
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/
It's already set up quite nicely, including a link for adding an Account Manager. I'd recommend us including a link to that site.

Profile nate
Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 11
Posts: 124
Credit: 2,928,865
RAC: 0
Level
Ala
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwat
Message 33219 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 12:57:43 UTC

Ok, I'll keep the simple changes for now, and save anything else for a future update, when I have more time to review them. Less risk of breaking too many things at once.

Jacob Klein
Send message
Joined: 11 Oct 08
Posts: 1127
Credit: 1,901,927,545
RAC: 0
Level
His
Scientific publications
watwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwatwat
Message 33220 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013 | 13:00:08 UTC - in response to Message 33219.

Cool - Thanks Nate!

Post to thread

Message boards : Server and website : Improving the "Join us" page

//