At 2002-10-16 14:32 -0400, Poor, Edmund W wrote:

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2. That www.wikipedia.org be the language-neutral front page,

with links to the wikipedias of each language.

This seems to be a really good idea. Let the opposing three convince the rest that it is a bad thing to do.

I don't know if it's still the case, but a non-content front page used to be able to loose 20-40% of visitors to a site.

Imran

There seems to be consensus on user requirements (rather than on solutions):

1. First time visitors get an enticing content page (TBD: what language should this be?)
2. Logged-in contributors get their favorite language site; after they choose it from their preferences page.
3. English language shouldn't appear domineering.
4. One URL (like www.wikipedia.org) for the organization itself, which explains the international wikis (with English as "just another language").

Please also consider that on any serious site well over 50% of the new visitors get in via the sub pages from a search engine.

I often see website designers (and advertisers) think that every visitor comes in via the 'official entrance' of the site, but that is usually not the case. I often go to a site, because of a link to a sub-page and when I want to learn more about the nature of the site I peel layers off of the URL until I get relevant information.

Greetings, Jaap