Comments on: Balsamiq Mockups: UI screen design tool

By: Rocky Design

Rocky Design — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:13:49 +0000

Hi Dan!

Another tool for “sketchy wireframes” like balsamiq is http://www.pidoco.com. In addition to the sketchy look (it has also a “straight” view) there are several interesting usability testing features integrated. One is for remote usability testing where moderator and testuser are connected with a shared screen and a phone. Cool!

The software (as far as I can see) is completely web based and therefore features easy real time collaboration. May be worth trying!

Thanks!
Mood

By: Efraim

Efraim — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:26:03 +0000

Hey Dan!
You’re right, indeed sketching is sometimes faster than software, since you’re not limited to the tools available.
I prefer using Mockup Magnets (http://www.MockupMagnets.com). It reserves the speed and flexibility of paper, adds collaboration and is perfect when meeting with clients. Check them out!
-E

By: Nathanael Boehm

Nathanael Boehm — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:01:20 +0000

Hi Christian, thanks – I got your email too. I’ve played with FlairBuilder a few times but haven’t yet had the changed to really give it a work-out … but my initial impression is that it’s less sketchy that Balsamiq … so more for high-quality final UI designs; an alternative to OmniGraffle, SmartDraw and Visio.

By: Cristian Pascu

Cristian Pascu — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:25:02 +0000

Hi there,

Very nice review. Balsamiq Mockups is my second favorite after pen and paper. :-) For wireframes that resemble more closely the intended design, in both behavior and layout, allow me to point you to FlairBuilder (www.flairbuilder.com). It aims for more detailed wireframes and, especially, prototypes with basic and also advanced interactivity.

There is an online demo on the website, for you to get a better idea.

Cheers,
Cristian

By: Nathanael Boehm

Nathanael Boehm — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:40:46 +0000

I wouldn’t recommend Balsamiq or any current digital tool as some sort of all-in-one replacement. I still use pen and paper, whiteboard and other quicker and tactile sketching methods. Balsamiq is just good for an intermediary between rough paper sketches and final UI specs – so when your screens reach a level of complexity that takes too long to do on paper, needs to be emailed around or would be unreadable as a rough sketch due to the number of elements and annotations in it.

By: SlideShare_Dan

SlideShare_Dan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:15:32 +0000

Just got recommended Balsamiq from one of the SlideShare engineers. Still sticking with pen and paper for now though. Just quicker and something I feel comfortable playing around with while I think. I don’t do enough mock-ups to justify trying to go into a digital solution