To Joomlart staff:
The last time I did a thorough check on the features, many of the ones that are critical are not functional. It has been more than a week since I posted that
JM Mesolite is not ready for Public Consumption
apparently Hung does not like it, and decided to relegate it to where no one is likely to read it. I revisited a few of them again, and they are still not functional.
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Latest News:
Clicking on the links, for example this:
gives you this:
http://magento-themes.joomlart.com/jm_mesolite/#
nothing (or the Homepage) as default. The same is tru with:
Today Blogs
try them, if you do not believe me. These links seem to be just fillers, but it is important to be able to view them to get an idea how the text-rich sections look.
This is also the case with the
Newsletter
It is true that it will be by subscription, but the webmaster must get an idea also how they look. A dummy login should have been created, or if visitor registration is allowed, a demo template would be shown to those who registered. This way, the the webmaster would have a chance to view exactly what sort of Newsletters (s)he would be sending out — and not find this out only when (s)he already bought a license to the template.
Browser compatibility
By the way, does Joomlart ever take the time to test that their template do indeed work with different browsers? There are programs that are free to do that, just type your URL to the site in the internet — and you can literally check how it appears in any version of IE, Safari, Firefox, etc. in a Windows, Apple, Ubuntu and other computers.
This is one of the complaints of many customers. For example, JM Mesolite layout is messed up in Safari 1.3.2, an old version — creating a gaping one foot high white space between the slideshow, and the products shown on the Hompage. Also the slider does not show at all
Safari must not be ignored by Joomlart because it is by default, the browser in mobile computing, like the iPhone and iPod touch, at least 30 milion now and expected to go as high as 100million by 2010 — not too far away.
There are more, but you get the point. If I were to review JM Mesolite in another online site, I would state the good layout and other features of the template, but I would also provide a more thorough presentation of my impressions of what I observed when I tried to use the Demo page.
I do not think the above observations would be considered biased, as they are the first impression of someone who cannot have access to the detailed Manual until they buy it. Since for now, the forum I believe is still public, I would direct the readers of such a review to the Forum.
Frankly, if I were shopping for a Commerce template and read such a review in a more objective "Templates Review" site, I would likely not consider buying JM Mesolite, especially because they are not cheap.
Is this worth $200?
I have not looked really at the equivalent JA Commerce templates, but the JM Magento templates are supposed to be premium templates that cost $200 if you just want JM one template and would not want the Joomlart copyright showing.
Sure they are not custom template but I still expect to see a Demo that would be almost equivalent to what I expect to see when the equivalent "Quick Start" kit is installed — including a demonstration of the Merchant purchase interface.
I would not claim that Teline iI, or some of the better prepated JA templates are perfect, because they are not, but among those JA templates I even bothered to analyze, they have been prepared much better than JM Mesolite. And, I can get unlimited JA templates for as low as $40 for all of them.
The introductory price is likely to deter many potential customers, and more so with what I see right now with the Demo.
More than likely, Hung may decide to move this thread again, or even delete it outright.
But, let me be frank that if I can get enough people who would be interested to help set up the "website creators page" I have in mind, one of the features would be some sort of a "consumer report" analysis, e.g., in this case review of templates. Rest assured, it will be as fair as possible, but do not be surprise if you will read reviews like this, or even some more scathing if that is warranted. It would also include evaluation of the manuals and available tutorials that go with each template. Since such a "webmasters page" would likely include members of Joomlart, as well as other template companies, it would be easy also to have polls to get feedback from respective members. And, unless I get banned from Joomlart itself (or for that matter, other template companies), I should have a sense of the sentiment of the membership in the template companies that I am currently a member; thus, speak as needed whether a .company is maligned unfairly — as I deemed fit to respond to some post in this forum that I deemed unfair to the situation here in Joomlart.
Cornelio
8 answers
I read it, and now? Don’t like it, don’t buy it!
I read it, and now? Don’t like it, don’t buy it!
Well, if you are part of Joomlart, maybe you can make them functional. Or, if you already bough the template, you can create a website showing a functional JM Mesolite and include all the things you have learned from the Magento site, including the Merchant extension to actually complete the purchase of a product.
Cornelio
- I don’t have a use for it, why should I buy it?
- I am not JA, why should I try it?
- Whenever I look for something I want to buy, I first look if it works like it should in the demo. When it does not and I accidently purchased it, I will claim a refund, when this is not possible, I checked before I buy with the customer service already and asked for my specific case, what I will get in detail. (Via email, live chat, and all this in less than 10 lines with simple wording))
- When I get no satisfying answer, I will not have bought it, when I get an answer that satisfies me, I already purchased.
- When I do not like the price, I do not buy it.
- When I can’t negotiate the high price, and I may have a use for it, I still do not buy it.
There are many other templates out there, when you do not like it, than buy another one. People here may be very satisfied with it, as they have a use for it, like the design, have the money to try it and so on. When you have such severe interest in seeing if it works like it should, than try it. Most of the demos anywhere are not 100% set up sites where all articles are linked and all that, and later you will have to do your job and do it, otherwise, pay somebody who does this for you or hire a designer to make a theme like you want it and pay 1000$ for it. Like you want it but I see no sense in your resumee, It is too long that customer service would take it as something serious and will see you more want to talk about it but do not have a strong desire to purchase. This is the reason you may get no answer, honestly.
including the Merchant extension to actually complete the purchase of a product.
Can I ask if you even ever once were on the Magento site, downloaded the system and tried it?
It seems not, as than you would know that you apply here a theme to the Magento you get there (and this is done in a hurry and those are butit on never changing any core files, so that you can still always update the system via MagentoConnect without deleting anything on the theme and I would wonder a lot when a template will change anything in the checkout process or anything else. It seems the demo has the function disabled manually.).
1. You install the sample data in case needed for the template to function like it should, when your system is set up correctly, there will be no errors while importing 1 sql file to the MySQL you will later use for your Magento. When there are errors, than do not get angry on the system or the developers, call the host when you have regular hosting or a managed server, when you have a server the host will not do anything one, you must call a pro to set up your server the right way to function with Magento. (Some hosts are not compatible to Magento and will not allow changes on your account that you would need to run Magento)
2. You do the install via the Magento downloader for example, so you copy some few files to your server, start the installer and you will be asked to confirm the download of the latest Magento version directly from the server of Magentocommerce.com.
3. When the downloader has downloaded all the files, you will be asked to go to the next step
4. You set your locale settings and confirm it
5. You add your MySQL DB coordinates, of the DB you just imported the Sample Data into, will have to make some minor click here and there, like if you use SSL or not and some other simple things and confirm it to go to the next step while the system loads the data and connects with the MySQL
6. Last step: You add your name and email and admin access etc. and confirm it
7. You chose "Go to admin" and a new tab or browser window the admin will show up, you also hit "Go to Frontpage" and will see the shop in a another tab or window.
8. Now you upload your new theme to the server as described plus the media wise sample data files too.
8. You open go System —> Design and apply the new theme.
You are done. I do not know what you mean, but when your Magento is set correctly and you have not disabled the store or registration, the store should work also with the new theme. Remember my note in the beginning of this post like (and this is done in a hurry and those are butit on never changing any core files, so that you can still always update the system via MagentoConnect without deleting anything on the theme and I would wonder a lot when a template will change anything in the checkout process or anything else. It seems the demo has the function disabled manually.).
When the store only works with the default themes and not the new one you purchased and installed correctly, then is this bad and you must figure out if you have done everything right or contact customer support etc…
Much fun with it!
- I don’t have a use for it, why should I buy it?
- I am not JA, why should I try it?
- Whenever I look for something I want to buy, I first look if it works like it should in the demo. When it does not and I accidently purchased it, I will claim a refund, when this is not possible, I checked before I buy with the customer service already and asked for my specific case, what I will get in detail.
- When I get no satisfying answer, I will not have bought it, when I get an answer that satisfies me, I already purchased.
- When I do not like the price, I do not buy it.
- When I can’t negotiate the high price, and I may have a use for it, I still do not buy it.
There are many other templates out there, when you do not like it, than buy another one. People here may be very satisfied with it, as they have a use for it, like the design, have the money to try it and so on. When you have such severe interest in seeing if it works like it should, than try it. Most of the demos anywhere are not 100% set up sites where all articles are linked and all that, and later you will have to do your job and do it, otherwise, pay somebody who does this for you or hire a designer to make a theme like you want it and pay 1000$ for it. Like you want it but I see no sense in your resumee, honestly.
That is where we differ. I want to buy it, but if I have to buy it, I must make sure that the template is ready and worth $200. As it is now, I do not consider the effort done for the template worth $200, or even $100. I want to do that everything works up to the last step — the actual final purchase of the product.
Your argument that I should start with Magento site is moot. If I have to do that, I consider those as extensions.
Then if the onus is on me to make it work with a Joomlart template, it would be easier for me to just make it work with templates that I know already works. There is nothing unique with JM template.
To lecture me by detailing the steps is as absurd and borders ridiculous, if you have never done it yourself — integrating the extensions and the template. How will you know that you will get a functional site? Can you give me assurance? But, you cannot be an authority on it because you never did install the JM Mesolite, there could be bugs and all sorts of incompatibilities.
So, do not attempt to be the all knowing person -- ready with all these cookbook recipes. When you have actually done it, and you have something more concrete to share with us, who actually are interested with the template, I will listen to you.
For example, there was supposedly a detailed procedure that was released for Teline II, it was released in April 2008. There were so many bugs, and so many problems that arose. The reason why there were more than 6,000 posts for Teline II by the Summer of 2008 was because of all these problems.
Joomlart essentially kept users of Teline II struggle to speculate and attempt to solve all the issues that arose. There were so many conflicting solutions that would work in some instances, but not in other situations. Most of the problems and the initial solutions that were fundamental that resulted eventually in a functional Teline II were done by customers. It is true that Menalto and Hainn helped especially after the causes of the major problems have been identified, so that it was easier to find the solutions, but those contributions were provided much later.
It was not until the latter part of September-early October 2008 that the fundamental problems associated with Teline II were resolved. That is almost six (6) months, after Teline II was released.
If you collectively add the cost of the time spent by all the members to solve all those problems, it would be in tens of thousands of dollars. No including all the frustrations and bad blood that ensued.
Even now, it is mainly customers who are providing the technical support because the manuals are not clear enough for non-technical members. We created some simple tutorials so that they are easy enough for some members to understand.
There are actually customers who spend their time, based from their actual experience with specific templates, to answer questions confronted by members.
Why should custommers be doing all these? Should these not be part of the service that Joomlart have provided: good manuals, easy to read tutorials, etc.?
If you have all the time to do as you suggested, then feel free to do as you intend to do. I have no plans to do that.. Not after my experience with Teline II.
Cornelio
Sorry, I do not have the time to read all your words. I have opened a new thread shortly addressing the issue with the demo and it would be nice when you simply wait for someone to fix it and do not add another post to it, as it is really enough to keep it short, there is an error and should be resolved by the staff.
THANKS!
If I knew ahead of time we had to endure with Teline II — customers doing all the work — it might have been cheaper, for one of us to have bought a Developer license — $500. Each of us who wanted to use the Teline II template could then chip in however much is needed to hire a competent programmer (most of the problems encountered were scripts issues). We could even have employed a webdesigner to create variations of the Teline II, as desired by those who would have joined.
Note that a Developer has a unlimited license to a template. Provided that developer adds value to customers, and not just "redistribute" the template, the developer has the license to use the template for an unlimited number of clients.
We could have our group as the Developer, and pay the cost of website installation and creation to the Developer — with regular maintenance even. Joomlart cannot find fault in such an arrangement — unless it provides more strict definitions of what a developer can and cannot do with what they can with Joomlart templates.
If the plan of Joomlart is for customers to do the same, as suggested for JM Templates, then I would rather explore an alternative way of setting up Merchandise site.
Cornelio
Sorry, I do not have the time to read all your words. I have opened a new thread shortly addressing the issue with the demo and it would be nice when you simply wait for someone to fix it and do not add another post to it, as it is really enough to keep it short, there is an error and should be resolved by the staff.
THANKS!
Then stop speaking for Joomlart, or if you cannot back your lectures with real work, and if you have no plans to use the template at all..
Or, are you just one of those who wanted to argue for the sake of the argument? I have no time for that.
Again before you make generalizations, learn the history, know that many who used the Teline II template have years of experience with Joomla, some are experts. I am not, but I can almost install a Joomla CMS, almost even if I am too sleepy. The errors are those of Joomlart scripting. Even Menalto recognized that. Even Hung publicly accepted that the first release have bugs.
So, do not lecture us as if we are all idiots.
You make proclamations sometimes that show your ignorance of what transpired here at Joomlart long before you were a member.
This will be my last response to any of your posts that I deem irrelevant. And, for your information, I seldom respond to any of your posts. I respond to a thread, that you might have been involved, it would be more to respond to the issues raised by others. But, for the record, until you have been acceoted as a Moderator by Joomlart, do not be too presumptous to set the rules. Maybe when you have your own company and your own Forum, then you can do what you want.
As I will not make the rules as to how many templates you can download, try to refrain making decisions for me — on what I should or should not do.
Sometimes it makes me pause, esoeciallt when your words
- I am not JA, why should I try it?
- Whenever I look for something I want to buy, I first look if it works like it should in the demo.
contradict your actions. But, I have no interest to discuss your lectures, especially if you cannot follow them.
The only recourse is for us to ignore each others posts. At least, I will follow that.
Cornelio
This question is now closed
