SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hey guys, Im toying with the idea of building an unraid server. I made a test server, and altho the functionality is pretty cool, and would work well. It just looks so old and outdated. Do you think you would get more of a audience if you made it a bit more shiny, and modern? Not being a hater, im just saying my first impressions were a little muddled as I couldnt get over the 1995 look. Quote Link to comment
jowi Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 They dont want to hear this, but offcourse you are right but, take a look at the SimpleFeatures topic. SF is a modern, shiny alternative to the '95' look According to the kind of nerdy techy linux command line die hards for which unraid seems to be built, a intuitive, ergonomic gui is something nobody should want, but for us normal people, we want to work with and look at something nice SimpleFeatures topic: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12698.0 Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Now that just look a million times better... Literally. Why cant they incorporate that into the actual install? The work has been done. Ask permission from the creator, and use that as the new GUI from install. Quote Link to comment
boof Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 According to the kind of nerdy techy linux command line die hards for which unraid seems to be built Quite the opposite I think. Unraid is *meant* to be used from the GUI and treated as a black box appliance. Unfortunately the stock feature set wouldn't get you much at that point so the nerdy techy types have *had* to go via the command line to bolt on all the extra functionality you enjoy Otherwise agreed on all points. Stock interface is poor (though 5.x isn't *too* bad) and simple features is light years ahead and a complete must have. Why more community features and bolt ons haven't been integrated with the stock deployment I couldn't say - perhaps more complicated than I'm crediting. It would seem to be a good idea though. Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Agreed... I also have a feeling that the user base would increase a lot more if it did. My first impressions were really really poor. I only tried it out because a mate recommended it. But as soon as I loaded it up, as was really let down. Also if you had that nice SimpleFeature as the main GUI, then you could take some nice screenshots to show off on the main http://lime-technology.com homepage. As currently there are no images, or videos of what it looks like, and what it can do. Look at freenas for example, they have a nice GUI, and show it off, and show off with images and video on how to do stuff. I think unRAID is missing a step here. Quote Link to comment
jowi Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 According to the kind of nerdy techy linux command line die hards for which unraid seems to be built Quite the opposite I think. It was a sarcastic note Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hey man. Can you help a newbie install that simpleFeatures? Quote Link to comment
nars Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12698.0 Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Ye but I dont get how to install. Got to the part of wget http://unraid-simplefeatures.googlecode.com/files/SimpleFeatures%20Plugins.zip But dont know how to unzip? Or how can I copy from local machine via Telnet? Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Got it to work. installplg was what I was missing. Looks nice now Quote Link to comment
limetech Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 It's a NAS device. You set it up in a closet or basement. Once in a while you check in to see everything looks ok. You use it via network shares. You have some peace of mind that if something does blow up you won't lose everything. How sexy does it need to be? But I understand the sentiment. Quote Link to comment
JackBauer Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Sometimes elegance wins over function. Right now Tom has function to worry about. Once V5 is out, and the 64 bit edition is released, then it might be very prudent to make it look nicer, as aesthetics can sell. Quote Link to comment
Ice_Black Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 It's a NAS device. You set it up in a closet or basement. Once in a while you check in to see everything looks ok. You use it via network shares. You have some peace of mind that if something does blow up you won't lose everything. How sexy does it need to be? But I understand the sentiment. Trust me man, you will get a lot more customers if you could change the website design more modern.. I think you should grab SimpleFeatures web design, you should ask him - I think he will let you Quote Link to comment
CrashnBrn Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 It's a NAS device. You set it up in a closet or basement. Once in a while you check in to see everything looks ok. You use it via network shares. You have some peace of mind that if something does blow up you won't lose everything. How sexy does it need to be? But I understand the sentiment. Trust me man, you will get a lot more customers if you could change the website design more modern.. I think you should grab SimpleFeatures web design, you should ask him - I think he will let you I have to agree, it took A LOT of convincing to get SavellM to give it a try. My initial reasoning was function over appearance, I use it to access data and don't really care how the GUI works as long as everything is working. But. For people that are not willing to do a lot of research or do not know anybody who is a unraid user I think it's a big turnoff for them. Don't get me wrong I've been using unraid for years and always recommend it, but I think it would help with new customer growth if the website had some pictures and if the unraid GUI was a bit more updated. Though as said earlier obviously releasing 5.0 is more important Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 As Crash said. If it wasnt for him I would have totally overlooked unRAID. Ye the functionality is awesome, but that info is hardly on your website. It has no pictures of the product itself, it has no video tutorials. But then again, it looks really dated, there isnt much to show off. As I say, the functionality is awesome, and I totally understand you Tom about getting 5 out the door. But really I think you should think hard about doing the product justice and updating your website design and product GUI. People judge products based on first impressions, and first impressions are the hardest to get over. My missus just said if she looks at a dated website she doesn't even bother looking further. Not that your site is totally dated, but it doesn't hold much relevant information. Sorry Tom, you have a great product, but could do with some design flare Quote Link to comment
dalben Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Double edged sword though. More users means more revenue - good thing More users means more support issues - not great A More sexy frontend with a well designed and implemented plug in manager will attract more non-techy users which will the level of support needed will increase. In the short time I've been an unraid user I've seen the type of support questions move from the more technical to more how to type questions. I'm worried limetech won't be able to cope with both support and development if there is an effort to sexily the GUI and make it easier to install non-core plugins. But without the ability to install plugins I would probably have moved away from unraid already. Quote Link to comment
Juzzotec Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 SimpleFeatures webgui should really be the standard skin for unraid. This is coming from a newbie point of view but the website should have more screenshots and videos. This product is gold, lift the appeal Quote Link to comment
SavellM Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Thats where you promote some really helpful members that have the best for unRAID to become support. Or you have a dedicated support forum section, which you do and people can post there. Then we can all help newbies out. I wouldn't have got very far if it wasn't for others. Also you can do some really nice easy video tutorials and everyone can benefit. Look at FreeNas for instance they have easy to follow video tutorials. I installed FreeNas and didnt have to ask for any support at all as its all already done and documented. Support solved. Quote Link to comment
dalben Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Thats where you promote some really helpful members that have the best for unRAID to become support. Or you have a dedicated support forum section, which you do and people can post there. Then we can all help newbies out. I wouldn't have got very far if it wasn't for others. Also you can do some really nice easy video tutorials and everyone can benefit. Look at FreeNas for instance they have easy to follow video tutorials. I installed FreeNas and didnt have to ask for any support at all as its all already done and documented. Support solved. Plenty of ways to skin a cat but Tom needs to work out which way is best for him and his plans for unraid. The fact is the support numbers and type of support will increase with a more BDU friendly frontend. Quote Link to comment
CrashnBrn Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Double edged sword though. More users means more revenue - good thing More users means more support issues - not great A More sexy frontend with a well designed and implemented plug in manager will attract more non-techy users which will the level of support needed will increase. In the short time I've been an unraid user I've seen the type of support questions move from the more technical to more how to type questions. I'm worried limetech won't be able to cope with both support and development if there is an effort to sexily the GUI and make it easier to install non-core plugins. But without the ability to install plugins I would probably have moved away from unraid already. I'm not telling Tom how to run his business by any means, let me say that first. But isn't that the next step? Once you have enough users you need to support them, hiring a couple of people to provide support, even part time would alleviate the issue and help grow the company. Especially with a products that people pay to use and to store critical data. Quote Link to comment
unevent Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 My vote is to keep it as a plugin. If I want an ipod interface I will grab an ipod. This is nuts and bolts NAS with the primary mission of stability. Those that want frills and the risk of instability, use/create a plugin. Quote Link to comment
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