interesting review

[Jerry3904]

+!

[BitJam]

That left window is dense with text. Multiple paragraphs of text no more get read than the Windows EULA does.
Something like "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive" instead of the current message when the installer begins copying files would be read.

I doubt instructional words alone will fully suffice.

ISTM we should either collect the info before the big copy or put your suggested text in the right panel and make the copy progress less prominent by moving it to down on the panel below the user inputs. With the current layout, it is natural for people to wait for the copy to complete before filling in items below the progress bar

IMO that would still be confusing because people won't know if they should press "Next" while the copy is in progress.

One idea would be to keep the progress bar off of this screen and instead display your text "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive", then after they press the "Next" button, we display the progress bar.

[Jerry3904]

Something more obvious is needed for sure. Big text, bright color?

[richb]

From BitJam

One idea would be to keep the progress bar off of this screen and instead display your text "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive", then after they press the "Next" button, we display the progress bar.

I think this is worth considering. The instruction in the right hand panel is more likely to be read as it is in the workflow.

[Zeh]

That left window is dense with text. Multiple paragraphs of text no more get read than the Windows EULA does.
Something like "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive" instead of the current message when the installer begins copying files would be read.

I doubt instructional words alone will fully suffice.

ISTM we should either collect the info before the big copy or put your suggested text in the right panel and make the copy progress less prominent by moving it to down on the panel below the user inputs. With the current layout, it is natural for people to wait for the copy to complete before filling in items below the progress bar

IMO that would still be confusing because people won't know if they should press "Next" while the copy is in progress.

One idea would be to keep the progress bar off of this screen and instead display your text "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive", then after they press the "Next" button, we display the progress bar.

Agree with both.
Our brains are trained to read from top to bottom on sheets of paper or alike (equivalent to wide columns, not thinner ones); so anything put on a thin column (relative to other next to it) or on the lower part of the exposed area has a high chance of not being read and if it is read it's almost certain that it'll be only after whatever comes in the wider "column" at the the top. Having a background image under the text also contributes to make it more difficult to read, i.e. to it not being read.
I don't have any idea of how much work it'd take to change the installer layout, but if it's bearable I'd suggest to move the left column to the top making it horizontal, just above the one with the tips. And add some emphasis through text in bold or colors or whatever. The information on the actual installation process coming on the lower part of the "window". I believe would take the users to actually read the support info above.

[asqwerth]

There is a pop up window just before the installer starts writing data onto the partitions, asking "are you sure?" or something. Maybe the explanation can be placed there.

[manyroads]

That left window is dense with text. Multiple paragraphs of text no more get read than the Windows EULA does.
Something like "Please fill in your user information while the system is being copied to your drive" instead of the current message when the installer begins copying files would be read.

+1