I think the installation is not too user friendly...
If you are a n00b, and you want CHDK, you go on the wiki thinking "Oh boy! I'm gonna get CHDK. I dunno what it is, and what it does, but it sounds cool so I want it!!!". So you see the front page. Some green box, then a slogan, then news. You think "What the heck? How am I supposed to get this hack anyway? Where are the instructions? I feel too n00bish, I am not even gonna try CHDK". And you leave the site, and miss a great program
. Now say you are less n00bish, or more patient I should say, you see the main page, and think..."Oh god...where is that install manual...", you visit FAQ, "Oh GOD this is long!", you visit CHDK in brief, "Ok...that's nice, but HOW DO I GET IT ON MY CAMERA!!!!!", you see downloads, "what's a build?
who's GrAnd? AAAAH! What do I do?
".
Now the even less n00bish user, comes to the site, after half an hour of searching finds the FAQ "Q. How do I get CHDK onto my camera's SD memory card?". Downloads CardTricks, then is completely confused... "WTF is Bootable?! What's a binary!? What buttons do I press. Where is that stupid lock switch? Is it on the card? Ooooh GOD, why did I even waste my time on this!?"
Then a somewhat-techie comes on the site, somehow figures out how to get CHDK on the card. Then he says "Finally! Ok...how am I supposed to get into the options? How do I read the raw files. AAAGH! This must be broken. I can't open this in Photoshop!!!!" or "Where are all the features they promised? Why is my battery indicator acting funny? How am I supposed to get to the book reader? Why aren't my pdf's working?!" gives up...
You probably might be laughing right now, saying "Oh come on, that is just absurd. Installing CHDK is easier than tying your shoelaces!". Well believe me...I worked with "average" people. They will not get past step 1. You guys have been using comps all your life, so its second nature. However, if you want CHDK to be able to be used by an average buyer of a Canon Camera, you REALLY have to simplify the process for them. Most people will not go past the front page, from my experience. You need to put everything they need to start, on the main page,on top, big letters, maybe little images to go along. Here is how I propose you should start:
I suggest on the front page, having a BIG install link, maybe with a picture of "installation" next to it, something users will see. When they click on it, they will be faced with a series of menus:
Brand (maybe if it works on other brands of cams later on) -> Series -> Model
So for example I would click
Canon -> S -> S5
Then I would be directed to a page which says:
CAMERA DETAILS
Your OS: DryOS
Latest Firmware: <Link to Allbest's Build>
FEATURES
* What features of CHDK Will Work on the Camera
MANUAL
* Link to Manual
INSTRUCTION
BEGINNER
You may install CHDK using a little program called CardTricks (btw, it is a tiny program, strore it right on the server! or as an attatchment someplace), (hyperlinking to Cardtricks).
To install:
* Download CardTricks and Your Build (links included)
* Take the card out of your camera
* Place it into a CARD READER
* Start CardTricks
* Click on the memory card icon, and select your memory Card
* Click on the Format as FAT button
* Card Will Start Formatting. You may view the progress in a command prompt window that opens up. It should take a few minutes depending on the size/speed of your card and card reader. Typically it takes around 3-5 minutes for a 2GB standard card.
* After the formatting finishes, click "Make Card Bootable"
* Click on CHDK->Card (in Copy CHDK binaries to card section)
* Select the CHDK zip you downloaded before
* Take your card out
* Flip the switch on the card to LOCK
* Place into your Camera
* Your camera should now have CHDK. You will know because it will show the build # when you start it up in a blue box
ADVANCED
<The advanced instructions go here>
AFTER INSTALLATION
* Battery Voltage Values (hmm...what are they for S5?)
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Another thing, CardTricks is a great program, however it could still be simplified further. What I suggest, is bundling CardTricks with every build. Here is how the user will see it:
1) Front page
2) Click BIG install button
3) Select Camera
4) Click BIG download button
5) CardTricks Opens Up
6) CardTricks Says "Hi
You want to install CHDK on a Canon S5! If not, please go to (install page) and select your model!"
7) CardTricks Says "Take your memory card out of your camera. Now put it into a card reader. If you are confused see (card readers)."
CardTricks detects automatically the new USB drive with a card in it. Says "OK, we found a card! Is this the right one? "H:/" Yes/No"
9) CardTricks says "Great. Now just wait a while, and we will install CHDK on it."
10) CardTricks formats the card, then makes it bootable, then dumps the S5 build on it. A little progress bar would be nice
11) CardTricks says "ok! Done. Now take the card out, and flip the Lock Switch to ON." Shows little animation. "when you are done. Place it in your camera.
THEN
1) User starts up the camera.
2) There is a big notice saying "CHDK IS INSTALLED!!! VISIT <shortdomain>/start for instructions
3) User says...hmm alrighty, goes to the site
4) User sees BEGINNERS GUIDE...How to organize that, will take me hours to explain. But look at the canon "Basic" manuals. Structure the CHDK manual like that
If somebody makes a version of CardTricks like that, anybody can do it, if they find the site that is
