Macromedia have released their 3rd public Beta version of their new Macromedia site based on User feedback. It is interesting to read the documentation they have gathered on the statistics and data from user feedback which they collected, namely bandwidth connection, platform, CPU, browser and satisfaction levels on interface, load time and performance.
I recalled a Jakob Nielsen Alertbox article on a similar topic to this titled “First rule of usability? Don’t Listen to Users”. Here is an excerpt from the page:
To design an easy-to-use interface, pay attention to what users do, not what they say. Self-reported claims are unreliable, as are user speculations about future behavior.
The article published in UseIt.com’s Alertbox on August 2001 is still somewhat relevant.
Reference: Nielsen J. (2001) First rule of usability? Don’t Listen to Users [Online] Available: www.useit.com/alertbox/20010805.html