Comments on: Create your own Mac-based usability testing lab with viewing room

By: Nadyne Richmond

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:46:49 +0000

Graham – I think that you should test on whatever your user uses. If they’re a Mac user, they should get a Mac; if they’re a Windows user, they should use Windows. If you’re testing a web app, I would still do it on whichever OS the user uses, and also make sure that their web browser of choice is also available (if possible). With a Mac-only setup, you could install a virtualization application like VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop to provide a Windows environment while still using the Mac for recording.

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By: Tom Adams

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:54:25 +0000

I lead the UX team at an agency in Manchester, and am going to be faced with the same challenge when we move to a new office at some point over the next year or so.

Currently we have a slightly held-together-with-tape solution using Silverback and an IP camera, both connected over ethernet to a viewing room at the other end of the office. As a solution it works, but it’s… OKish. We’ve been lucky that the network has never died during a session.

When I get to plan in a better solution I’ll be coming back to this article – thanks.

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By: Walt Buchan

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:44:45 +0000

Hi Harry,

All excellent, particularly reading your experiences with the GoPro and the wide angle lens. I’ll be digging my POV camera out tomorrow.

Thanks,
Walt

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By: Graham Anderson

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:27:04 +0000

Interesting that the lab is 100% Mac – I found asking Windows users to do testing on a Mac affected by simple things like clicking with the single button trackpad. I ended up running out and getting a two button mouse to fix that.

Considering how tricky it can be with Windows 8 and having to completely re-learn where everything is hidden now, are they missing out on spotting problems either caused or compounded by the OS?

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