[TYPO3-english] Major background issues

[marina t]

Dear all,

I have followed with increasing desperation the exchange started by 
Jigal van Hemert a couple of days ago.

When I came across TYPO3 in my research for a usable alternative to 
WordPress, I really thought I had found what I was looking for: as a 
"Webmaster", with a lot of experience with hand-coded static 
Websites, the descriptions at <http://typo3.org/about/typo3-the-cms/> 
promised all I needed. And I loved the ethics behind the product, as 
well as Kasper's story and the general "community feel" that come 
through from the Website.

Now, a few weeks later, after spending many hours trying to get TYPO3 
installed (please don't ask or insinuate - I have read the docs, 
tried all the scripts, tried to find all the answers online!), I 
discover it's been all for nothing. Apparently, if I wanted TYPO3 to 
work for me, I'd have to hire a specialist developer.

There's nothing wrong with the idea of paying someone else to install 
TYPO3 for me. It's just that that was not clear from the start!

So could I put forward a suggestion, or a request if you like: could 
those who have access to the Website make it clearer that TYPO3 
requires specialist support for installation and general setup. And 
for this reason, it requires substantial money investments by 
"ordinary Webmasters" (like me) and anybody who is not a fully 
trained application programmer.

This will enormously help those who, like me, land on TYPO3's Website 
thinking it is fundamentally as accessible and "usable" as WordPress 
is.

Once more, I must say I am disappointed at how so-called "free 
software" ends up being a lot more expensive than "commercial" 
applications - both because of the time invested into getting 
nowhere, and of the ultimate consequence, which is the requirement of 
hiring a specialist for (possibly never ending) installation and 
support services. This, of course, not to mention the time wasted by 
core developers in listening to the moans and groans of the ignorant 
(would be) user base...

Thank you for reading this as a suggestion to make life easier for all!

marina