Updated version of our website

I agree. Avoid using frames completely.

codepath

background.

internet related stuff for a major auto supplier, in addition to doing some side work. So take my advice as you see fit!

First glace, I like it. It's friendly to resizing the browser size since the text wraps based on the width of my window. The graphics are clean, and fairly easy to read.

Couple things I would change.

It's been shown that online reading is something like 50% slower than reading from paper copy. To make things easier on your users, put more whitespace in the main copy (i.e., more spacing between lines). I generally use around 150% line spacing, but it all depends on the font used.

I'm not big on the animated menu. I like the popout feature, but the animation isn't adding anything to the site.

Don't change the background to yellow. That's nuts.

Put some space between the copy text and menu. The text edges right against the right side of the menu. Put around 20-30 pixels between the two.

What's going on with your Contact Us page? Your phone numbers are all screwed up. In fact, the phone numbers at the bottom are messed up on each page. The phone numbe wrap at the hyphen. I also absolutely can't STAND "Under development" messages. ALL pages are always under development. Get rid of it.

For your own protection, I'd be wary of having your e-mail address on the page. You're going to get flooded with spam. Just put a form on your contact us page that users can fill out. If you reply to them, they will then have your direct e-mail address.

Ok, that's it!

Not sure I agree with this. Most major companies still develop for

Not a bad idea, although JS has very little security risk, especially compared to java, active x, and flash.

I just tried the sites I mentioned above with javascript turned off, and most require it. Ford.com doesn't come up, GM gives a warning message. Ibm checks for it and offers a different version of the web page (probably the best solution), with MS you loose some graphical functionality.

The developer, however, could check for it and put a message up that his site requires it if it's not on. That's what GM.com does. Or you could just offer static menus if scripting is turned off.

The floating DHTML was just a lark, I'll probably go with a static menu partially integrated with the graphics at the top.

There was space about that size there. It's not a concern though because when I go to a static menu, it won't be a matter.

Maybe that accounts for the 150 plus spam posts a day I get. I'm in the process of making a contact page, just haven't got to it yet. I need to read up on the POST feature for that and I'll be converting most of the website to PHP when I can find the time to learn that too.]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I think the .mp3 file for the music is so large that was still loading. I went through the whole site, and came back to the main page several times. Apparently this stuff is for sale, but could not find any prices, ordering and shipping info, etc. I noticed that a .mp3 file was still loading when I moved on.

I suspect there is little point in promoting this site in rec.woodworking. The items displayed are all rather simple craft projects, well within the capabilities of even our newbies. They are the things we MAKE, rather than BUY.

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 11:12:01 -0800, "codepath" scribbled:

True enough. I went to Mike Hide's site on Tripod the other day and my computer froze. Not even ALT-CTRL-DEL could get it going again. I had to shut it down on the power bar switch. The same thing happened on someone else's site on Tripod again yesterday, so it's not Mike's fault.

I run Windows XP and Opera as my browser, with cookies, pop-ups and everything else turned off. OBWW - Lee Valley is the only site I allow to put cookies on my 'puter.

Luigi Replace "nonet" with "yukonomics" for real email address

As a general rule, I avoid like the plague sites at Tripod, Geocities, or Angelfire. I can't avoid them completely, and it's a lot better since I started using Netscape 7.xxx but there's just too much crap that those domains throw at you to make it worth visiting anything there.

- - LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

You might want to check out Avant Browser. Not a true browser, but a "skin" that seemlessly lays over IE, (Not sure whether it's Netscape compatible.)

I'm in love with it because a.) it has a built-in "block pop-up" feature, b.) it allows for multiple page openings, which can be c.) arranged-- "cascaded", and d.) somehow it _really_ improves the speed at which I can surf.

A freebie I wouldn't be without.

Michael

Mease Communications at

I haven't explored every page in the site, but it appears that once he got a basic page template he liked, he rigourously maintained the look no matter which "services" page he was displaying.

In the finest tradition of website authoring, maybe there's an idea or two there you can steal. :)

Michael

Unfortunately, now that spammers have your email address, it will never end. Wow, 150. I get ZERO. If you have control over your email addresses, I'd dump the current one and make a new mailbox.

Looks nice except that JavaScript error it throws.

"Michael Baglio @nc.rr.com>" >

How about a link to it?

"Michael Baglio @nc.rr.com>" >

Michael Baglio

Almost sounds like Netscape 7.xxx!

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 13:46:57 GMT, Michael Baglio scribbled:

Same with Opera. Once I got over the learning curve (like figuring out how to get Lee Valley's cookies to work, but not others'), its great. Much faster, multiple pages at once, total control over everything. You want to allow javascript for one page, just click on "Quick preferences". Can be obtained free if your are willing to put up with an unobtrusive banner ad in the top right corner.

Luigi Replace "nonet" with "yukonomics" for real email address

A link to Avant Browser? You trollin' me boy? :)

Uh, you brought it up, dude. I had never heard of it before.

So then, did you troll me?

"Michael Baglio @nc.rr.com>" >

Nope. Just figured it was obvious, or would be if you'd typed the name into your browser and hit "enter." Regardless, I've found it useful. If you do, cheers.

Michael