Given all the good comments made here and Ed message of a couple of days ago, here's
my position (I asked other french-sp, dunno what they think yet) on the
www.wikipedia.org
amha (french translation for imho, nicely provided by our french linguist)
1)There's a need for a portal page stating the existence of all the wikis, a few infos
about each, and a direct link to each. This page should be at
wikipedia.org.
2)A very new comer *should* transit at least once through that page. This is very
important. I remember it took me quite a while to find out there were other langages. It
might seem obvious to english-native-sp., but the main page on the en.wiki is showing
quite a lot of information, and many foreign words at the same place don't make it
easy to find out the little link that could help toward one's langage. Directly
sending readers to the en.wiki might make us loose all those who don't know english or
feel inconfortable with it.
3)However, given that most actual users are english-native-sp, given that most users
understand english, and *mostly* given that the fewer links to get to the information the
better (one click less is a win-win option :-)), I think it essential to track that first
passage and to give direct passage to the right encyclopedia as soon as preferences are
given (in other words, at the second session)
This mean either/or/and
3a) Cookie. After the first visit, the second-time visiting user is automatically
redirected to the encyclopedia chosen the first time (most likely, the english one).
3b) Preferences options : choice of the preferred encyclopedia in the settings. Once a
user is known (with login), typing
wikipedia.org should lead him to the appropriate link
(en. in most cases). This may allow to change the settings of a person who has first
visited, say polish wiki, but now wants english as default.
4) On all wikis, the link to
wiki.org should be *very* visible, especially since it is
possible the direct links to other wikis on main pages will maybe be removed. In this
case, there should be no redirection of course :-)
This way, it should not happen very often that a user has to transit more than once by the
main wiki.
I will add of course, for those multilingal, that prefs should allow a prime choice, and
secondary choices for wikis direct access. The secondary choice should provide a direct
link to the second prefered wiki any time whatever wiki she/he is on and whatever page.
My opinion is that this main page is mostly important to unknown users to choose the right
directions. It is not important to us, who know the project, and know how to navigate
between the various places.
A relogin issue is amha *not* a argument for deciding the move or not. The Wikipedia
evolution should not only go forward our *convenience* but the final user *convenience*
(us AND others).
However, I can't figure what the problem of keeping links on both address is. This
issue is certainly more important.
Oh ! on that login issue !
I have a technical question along those lines. I am always recognised on the
fr.wiki.org
and
fr.wiki.com, so I never need to connect myself.
I am NEVER RECOGNISED on the
meta.com,
meta.org,
wiki.com and
wiki.org. I NEED TO LOGIN
for each session (not once a month). Often I start on the fr.wiki, then jump through the
link on the main page. I always have to relogin. This is mildly annoying. What are the
differences between these cases ? (same on opera and netscape)
That would be my only answer to comments such as "logging in one time is gonna be a
terrible inconvenience"
In the past month, given that I have to work with at least one window in these 3 adresses
(now 4), often 2 windows in each wiki for copy and pasting here and there, I believe I can
evaluate the number of time I have been logging in to about 10 times per days, that would
make about 300 TIMES IN THE MONTH. I certainly don't need the mailing list to remind
me my password ! I have already asked a couple of time for an idea of why it was
so....Thanks for any idea anybody could provide to solve that.
Gareth maybe ??
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