The initial experience a user has in taking a new product out of the box and setting it up, in preparation for use, creates a lasting impression and constitutes an important aspect of the total user experience. We offer these guidelines and insights to help other software and hardware companies design out-of-box experiences that are productive and satisfying for users. We also offer suggestions for effective evaluation and testing of the out-of-box experience (OOBE).

Designing the out-of-box experience  The importance of the out-of-box experience.

Out of box experience design guidelines  -  How to use the OOBE guidelines  -  Elements of an out-of-box experience  -  Defining users

User expectations  The expectations of novice, occasional, and experienced users. Users' setup environments  A description of setup in the home, in small business, and in large companies. Step by step  Guidance designing each element of the out-of-box experience.

Packaging  -  Unpacking  -  Setup  -  Power on  -  Configuration  -  Initial use  -  Doing work  -  Assistance

Measuring OOBE  A process for designing the out-of-box experience.

Environment  -  Users and tasks  -  Prototype and evaluate  -  Summary

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