The Webmistress — Sat, 14 Jul 2001 07:36:42 +0000

It does take a little too long to load and that's with me on an ADSL connection. I don't mind splash pages if they load fast and look nice.

On the first page there is just too much writing in one block, it put me off reading it (I know it's an information site but big blocks of text are harder to read through). I would say that if you feel you have to tell people what sections are what split it up.

Or as Abhishek Reddy said change the link "Form" to "Add info" as this explains better what the link is for and then you don't have to tell people how to use the site. I would then put the tip of the day and a nice cactus picture on that page.

I do prefer the green & white colours though.

On the encyclopedia page don't center the list as it makes it look unprofessional and harder to read.

TheGizmoid — Sat, 14 Jul 2001 03:00:23 +0000

NS4.6, IE4.0, 800x600, Mac, 33.6

Your site did not even load in NS for me. Run it through a validator such as http://validator.w3.org/ and look for missed table tags. NS is very fussy about them, so I suspect that's your problem, since the page loaded just fine in IE.

Like Abhishek Reddy, I'm not a big fan of pointless splash pages. Make someone wait through a page downloading only to tell them they have to "click here" to get anywhere?

Three frames, when all the bottom one does is display a colored (black) border? It's robbing the available on-screen real estate and doesn't serve a purpose.

Black and brown? Personally, I don't think it's a good color choice. I lived in the Arizona desert for over ten years. Desert-native plants like cacti and succulents are generally a lighter shade of green. In the desert the sun is bright, things are light colored. Your eyes can hurt if you don't wear sunglasses to protect against the brightness and glare. Black and brown just doesn't suit the subject, IMO.

not bad...

Abhishek Reddy — Sat, 14 Jul 2001 00:31:06 +0000

hi cactiinfodotcom,

the site looks really good. i like the colors, but only you can tell if they go with the subject.
i do have a few pointers:

never have an intro page where the user has to "click to enter". especially if the site is info-packed, like yours.
do not have any "small talk" on any page. i.e "Welcome to my site....Click there to do that, and here to do this......oh, and that is not here, this in not there...". users do not like it. replace that with useful news or something about the subject, not the site.
if something in the site doesnt work, then don't put a link to it. add the links only when its done.
don't make the user think. everything on your page should be self-explanatory to the extent that almost all instructions can (and should ) be eliminated.

Quote:
from your site
This form can be used to submit information about a typicall succulent plant to the administrator of CactiInfo. All submitted information will be included on the 'Encyclopaedia' section as soon as possible.
You can fill in this form by covering all the numbered sections of the form one at a time. When you reach the end of the form, just hit the 'Submit this form' button at the bottom. Try to fill in as much sections of this form as possible. If you feel the need of help, just click on the '?' signs at the right of each numbered section of this form.

that is much too big. just say something to the effect of "submit your own information to be included in the encyclopedia..."
also change the link "Form" to "Add info" or something. it explains better what the link is.
finally, what exactly is the bottom frame there for? if it doesnt help the user, it should not be there.

a site with information like yours should be easily accessible, fast loading and only discuss the subject. thats what the user is there for.

m0dulus — Fri, 13 Jul 2001 15:05:31 +0000

To tell the truth, I really didn't deep farther than 2 pages - the loading time took too long, even on my Cable modem.

Megan — Fri, 13 Jul 2001 15:01:08 +0000

Please read this - it's the announcement at the top of the critique forum:

http://www.webmaster-forums.com/announcement.php?forumid=10

Thanks!