geekhack

geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 19:49:33

Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 19:49:33: I just updated my website to a little more modern design. What do you think? It probably won't look good unless you have a resolution of 1280x1024 or higher. Comments or suggestions? Design tips?

Most of it was done in NotePad++ with some finishing touches done in Dreamweaver CS3.

link: http://zacherymaloney.exofire.net/ If it isn't working my webhost (I tried hosting on my home 768k/128k line, it doesn't work) is trying to foil me again.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: sandy55 on Sun, 04 January 2009, 20:35:39: zwmalone, where did you get an image "ALPS.png" listed in download>geekhack?
Want to read the source page if it contains detailed information about ALPS Leaf spring switch.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 20:39:15: That is the patent image. I believe I found it in the GeekHack tshirt thread so you may find a link there.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sun, 04 January 2009, 20:42:11: that diagonal stripe has to go or make it so it just borders the content like on here (like 10-15pixels or so)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 20:43:34: What should I replace it with?
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 20:55:01: Quote from: sandy55;17062
zwmalone, where did you get an image "ALPS.png" listed in download>geekhack?
Want to read the source page if it contains detailed information about ALPS Leaf spring switch.

This may be of some use:
http://www.patents.com/Click-type-push-button-switch-improved-leaf-spring/US5004880/en-US/
http://www.wikipatents.com/5004880.html
(http://www.wikipatents.com/us/5004880.png)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: iMav on Sun, 04 January 2009, 21:35:14: You've got issues.

Check it (http://www.trustedsource.org/query/zacherymaloney.exofire.net). Probably due to other *.exofire.net sites...I would ditch that webhost if I was you.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 21:36:24: Woa, I guess I'll be switching Web hosts. Thanks iMav.

Now I just gotta find a decent free web host... Anybody know a good one?
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: bhtooefr on Sun, 04 January 2009, 21:41:57: While it's technically not free... freeshell.org is good, IMO.

($1 to activate the account by mail, $5 to activate it by PayPal.)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 04 January 2009, 21:57:48: Thanks bhtooefr. I just created an account.

I think I qualify for this:
Quote from: Freeshell.org join page
Allows an enrolled student at an accredited college or K-12 to be validated by a qualifying 'instructor'. The account provides a student with the 'USERS' benefits, as well as development tools of the 'ARPA' membership. The student retains this access join the 'ARPA' membership or are made 'USERS' after the semester.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: bhtooefr on Sun, 04 January 2009, 22:08:20: Sounds like it's not quite the full ARPA membership, and using it as a webhost, you won't get the ARPA benefits.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: sandy55 on Sun, 04 January 2009, 23:39:16: zwmalone, thanks for the large image.

Though the image is a white/click switch ( which is a variation of linear switch used in lowpoly's Toshiba T5200 board ) and is not the one for alps leaf spring switch in you page, the link you introduced is very useful. It even corrected my thought.
I think I'd better get an account of patent com to obtain full data.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 05 January 2009, 01:14:47: Quote from: zwmalone;17072
Woa, I guess I'll be switching Web hosts. Thanks iMav.

Now I just gotta find a decent free web host... Anybody know a good one?

Geocities

:)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 05 January 2009, 01:19:46: Just look up the patent number on Google Patents. :)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: lam47 on Mon, 05 January 2009, 03:58:34: Sorry I honestly couldn't look at it for too long the diagonal stripes are horrible.
Might be because I have a large screen I don't know but it physically hurt, sorry.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 05 January 2009, 04:09:44: Ditto on the stripes. I damn near had to go on a killing spree after looking at your page for a minute. Good thing the pizza came.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: andb on Mon, 05 January 2009, 04:34:49: Yeah, look for a more attractive, subtle background. At least reduce the contrast on these stripes, but either a solid or a less strong image is in order. Check out http://colourlovers.com/ for background images. You need to work on your box model. Padding + Border + Margins aren't set right. Example, the body text should have some space from the grey containing div.

BTW, dont use dreamweaver if you really want to be good at design. Make it in photoshop. Write the HTML, at first you should largely stick with known good templates, because interbrowser compatibility requires a lot of odd stuff. Then add in the CSS and cut up images from photoshop to get your end result.

Go step by step, don't try to learn it all at once. For example, take a PSD from a template site and try to make it into the html / css. Or make a PSD and ask for feedback if its good. After all, there really are two distinct phases of site creation, the creative impulse and the technical realization of the idea.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Thu, 08 January 2009, 22:27:14: Found new hosting:
(http://i42.tinypic.com/14vjvw2.jpg)
A friend of mine is a reseller for Epik-Host so I got the business package for a one time flat fee of $7.50!!!
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: djones on Fri, 09 January 2009, 17:34:26: Quote from: iMav;17071
You've got issues.

Check it (http://www.trustedsource.org/query/zacherymaloney.exofire.net). Probably due to other *.exofire.net sites...I would ditch that webhost if I was you.

:confused: What is that site? Who cares if some random site says your site is suspicious.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: iMav on Fri, 09 January 2009, 18:10:55: Quote from: djones;17665
:confused: What is that site? Who cares if some random site says your site is suspicious.
That's not just some random site. That's TrustedSource, the most comprehensive Internet host reputation system in the world. His hosting service is flagged as malicious because it has been identified to be hosting phishing sites and malware.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 09 January 2009, 18:21:55: I think thats where the stripes come in...
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: andb on Mon, 12 January 2009, 04:39:26: The problem with budget hosting is just that - its cheap. Not only in the sense of price, but also in quality. The best thing to do is find a buddy who runs his own server and have him server your pages. Its not like you are getting slashdotted or anything.

With any professional service you get what you pay for. Would you use a cheap heart surgeon? Of course setting up a VPS with slicehost (which is the lowest end of what I'd consider doing for webhosting) isn't for everyone. But do keep in mind - you get what you pay for.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 14 January 2009, 15:22:31: It lives!
ThinkServer (ThinkPad 600 w/o Keyboard, LCD, battery):
192MB of PC100 SODIMM RAM
300MHZ Intel Pentium II Mobile
12GB 2.5" IDE HD
RedHat Linux Server 5.2 w/ Apache, MySQL, ProFTP
45W Wall adapter
802.11g/b Wifi Adapter
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 14 January 2009, 15:24:43: It lives!
ThinkServer (ThinkPad 600 w/o LCD, keyboard, battery):
192MB of PC100 SODIMM RAM
300MHZ Intel Pentium II Mobile
12GB 2.5" IDE HD
RedHat Linux Server 5.2 w/ Apache, MySQL, ProFTP
45W Wall adapter
802.11g/b Wifi Adapter

It's not set up yet though :p
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: DMuk on Thu, 15 January 2009, 15:21:10: Hi. If your site is intended to appeal to paying customers, it's very poor. Here's why:

1. The stripes are awful and likely to scare away any potential customers.
2. The About page. Customers are not going to be interested in your 'rig' or your love of gaming. It's not relevant to them.
3. The Contact page makes no sense. You say you will reply within in two days unless you can't! Why not just say you will reply as soon as possible? You then shout at me that you I must NOT attempt to contact you by any other means. Like what exactly - astral projection?

I know you are only fifteen, but if you want to make money, you have to look at things from the customers perspective. Good luck.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Fri, 16 January 2009, 15:39:37: I've taken everybody's criticisms and I'm creating an entirely new div container based in lieu of a table based design that I'm currently using. The stripes will be gone (but what to replace it with?) and I'm going to go with a more colorful layout (Gray, Orange and ?). Hopefully it works out a lot better this time.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: iMav on Fri, 16 January 2009, 15:42:45: Quote from: zwmalone;18432
I've taken everybody's criticisms and I'm creating an entirely new div container based in lieu of a table based design that I'm currently using. The stripes will be gone (but what to replace it with?) and I'm going to go with a more colorful layout (Gray, Orange and ?). Hopefully it works out a lot better this time.

I actually like the stripes. :)
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sat, 17 January 2009, 00:11:16: since some people like the stripes and others don't why not make them flash on and off!!

not being serious of course, haha
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: xsphat on Sat, 17 January 2009, 00:13:57: How about this: Stripes - goatsie - stripes - goatsie, flashing.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: DMuk on Sat, 17 January 2009, 15:23:37: Customer: Hi. I'd like a new website please.

zwmalone: Sure thing. What thickness and color do you want the diagonal stripes?

Customer: Erm, any chance of NO stripes?

zwmalone: No stripes? Quit wasting my time! Next.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sat, 17 January 2009, 21:21:26: I've taken the stripes to a whole new level just for you DMuk :p

Finished the basics of my new layout:
http://zacherymaloney.exofire.net/WIP/

What do all the web experts think?
It's still very much a work in progress (only have the layout finished) and the CSS isn't done yet for things like links, header tags, etc.

Just a side note, none of the links work yet :p
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sat, 17 January 2009, 21:26:55: Quote from: xsphat;18459
How about this: Stripes - goatsie - stripes - goatsie, flashing.
I'm trying to run a web design business, not a shock site!

EDIT: This is my first entirely CSS based design. If I did anything wrong please tell me.

If you missed the link (I posted again and it went to the 3rd page) it's http://zacherymaloney.exofire.net/WIP/
I'm gonna try to get it moved onto my makeshift server tomorrow...
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sat, 17 January 2009, 21:56:42: the subdued stripes look a lot nicer
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sat, 17 January 2009, 22:00:12: Thanks. Did you notice any errors in my CSS? I'm trying to get all the problems worked out before I finish it.
Edit: For anyone who is interested, the css is here: http://zacherymaloney.exofire.net/WIP/main.css
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sat, 17 January 2009, 23:41:41: I don't have any experience with that so I can't help you with that, sorry!
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: lowpoly on Sun, 18 January 2009, 07:07:59: Quote
Did you notice any errors in my CSS?

http://validator.w3.org/

The logo.png is a bit blurry?
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Sun, 18 January 2009, 11:25:32: It validated in Dreamweaver, I was just wondering if there was a more "correct way" to do things.

As for the logo it has a drop shadow and outer glow. It's really just filler until I can create a more fitting header image.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 21 January 2009, 16:14:50: (http://www.cubeupload.com/files/b76800hosties.png)
I got new hosting :D Business class! No more free hosting for me!
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: cmr on Wed, 21 January 2009, 17:35:14: i think this div needs padding: 4px
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 21 January 2009, 17:35:53: I'm not using that design anymore.
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: cmr on Wed, 21 January 2009, 17:40:49: ah okay. found the new one, it was on the only page i hadn't checked (oops)

stripes.png doesn't appear to tile properly:
Title: How does my website look?
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 21 January 2009, 18:01:00: I finally got moved to the new host: http://zwmalone.dabananabunch.com/