DIDS.COM v6.0 Critique - Give it to me!

They have: 5,633 posts

Joined: Jan 1970

Hey all! Well, DIDS.COM v6.0 is almost complete! We hope to release it within a week or so. We wanted your opinions and suggestions on it before we do release and we have the final layout complete.

http://165.90.193.133/

Some of the sections still are not complete but the main page is the overall layout of the entire site so you can give us your suggestions, comments, ideas, etc. on it. If you follow links, don't be surprised to find a "not found error" and you will be logged in our database Smiling

One question that I would like your opinions on: What should I do for the "text" navigation? You can see the main navigation buttons at the top, but my graphic designer said we should add some text links as well. You can see the sub-navigation in the left column but I also put the main navigation links there. As you surf to different sections of the site, the navigation will expand to show the sub-navigation of the section you are in. I also added the main links at the bottom... Tell me what you think of each of these and if we should keep one, both, none, etc.???

Thanks in advance and we look forward to all your opinions, comments, and suggestions!

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Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
UNIX and Windows NT Hosting

They have: 677 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

Pretty good design i like it.
The Text links look alright to me, and i love you table design! Good site.
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Ken Prescott
http://www.21studios.com

Ken Prescott

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

Hi Chad,
Love your layout, colors, navigation bar, sub navigation and their placement on the pages. I still think a graphic trademark/logo would be good but I'm guessing your working on that Smiling.
"Welcome to Dynamic Solutions" section is really long for a home page, the info is very important so i'm not sure how or if you could/should change it. Maybe highlighting some of the great features in that section or making text links to the details pages might make the text look brighter, more inviting.
Im curious if this is a typo:
Free Domain Name Registration of Transfer (details page)
it's worded "or" instead of "of" on home page. Wasn't searching for typos just absorbed in your features Smiling.
All in all I think you've done a very thorough job of providing all of the important, well written details.

take care,

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

They have: 42 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

I like it, it looks much better then the current dids.com design.

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

Phew, ok (again, I apologise -- think i was up too late last night)
WOW, I really like this new design, logo looks great Smiling. Added texture is a big + over the last design.
I'm thinking that the bar on the left (home page only) looks a little wide/empty, but as I look through your other pages I see how it's necessary to have it that wide. I'm guessing you have plans to add some things under the (webmaster forums link).
there is a black border above and below that forums link that doesn't look like it belongs there.
I like the text links on the bottom, I think I would either move them down to that bottom bar or get rid of the textured background (possibly just use the blue "newsroom" colored background or leave it white.

have a great day Smiling

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

They have: 5,633 posts

Joined: Jan 1970

Carolyn,

Thank you for pointing out that typo - it is a typo... I have placed it on my list of things to do (what a list).

Actually, the circle image is our logo - does it need something more??? I am worried since you didn't associate it as being our logo. I really like it but I am open to suggestions.

Yevlesh, Ken,

Thank you both for taking the time to review the site!

Other suggestions or comments are welcome!

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Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
UNIX and Windows NT Hosting

They have: 5,633 posts

Joined: Jan 1970

Carolyn,

LOL - No problem, I forgive you Smiling I was really worried when you said we needed a logo!

The bar on the left is in deed going to have additional buttons/banners - So it won't be so bare JP Smiling - But we have to leave it at the width that it is. We are goingt to fill it in with several different banners/buttons/awards.

I haven't taken a look at the site in Netscape for about two weeks now and didn't notice the black line - It isn't there in IE. I had planned on looking in Netscape within a couple days but I just did and I see the line as well... I will see what I can do about that. Everything else looked (amazingly) the same - I don't know how I did it!

OK, I am going to make an adjustment to the links at the bottom - the box. I will just make it a bordered box. I will let you know when I make the adjustment and you can tell me what you think.

Oh, one more thing - did you think the text on the main page needed to be shortened still?

Wait, one more thing - I don't think that typo is in the new versino Smiling ... I haven't checked yet but I don't think it is.

JP,

What do you mean "What happened to the beta design I saw two weeks ago?" - Isn't it the same? I can barely remember what it looked like a week ago (it has changed a lot folks).

I am thinking it needs some pictures in the text as well. I will put it on my list as well.

The first table cell is against the top because if viewed in 800x600 which it was designed for (I didn't want to but we had to to fit all the information we needed) it would just fit square with all the margins but I think I may put a space between both the top and the bottom like you mention.

I don't understand what you mean with the black line? I don't see any black lines???

Already explained the left menu. Wink

Thank you both Carolyn and JP for the reviews... I will let you know when I update it (hopefully today) with all these changes!

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Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
UNIX and Windows NT Hosting

They have: 2,390 posts

Joined: Nov 1998

Chad,
The black line 'should' go above the buttons near the top as there is a black line at the bottom of these buttons.

I seem to remember you showing me a design similar to ultrascripts.com .
Glad I was of help...
JP

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The Webmaster Promotion and Resource Center.
http://www.what-next.com

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

HI Chad,
in regards to the paragraph looking too long now, No. some of the info before "features" were repeated on the very text intensive right listing which isn't there anymore, text length looks fine as is. if you want a very simple nice design/graphic solution to highlight the text how about just repeating one elipse/circle design from your logo in green--as, say bullets or with dropcaps to start off the paragraphs?, just a thought Smiling (let me know if you need me to be more specific about that.
amazing about everything looking so close to the same in both browsers (please tell me your secret Smiling).
I'll take another look in IE then compare

take care,

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

They have: 2,390 posts

Joined: Nov 1998

Hey what happended to the beta design I saw two weeks ago?

- I don't think the first table cell should be up against the top.
- the top graphics shold have a black line above them as below.
- left menu looks empty.
- I would use a picture or two to break up the text.
JP

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The Webmaster Promotion and Resource Center.
http://www.what-next.com

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

Chad,
Please forgive me, I reviewed the wrong site!!! thought it looked a lot like the last one Smiling.
Ignore my last post except for the typo Smiling.
I will be back!!

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

They have: 2,390 posts

Joined: Nov 1998

A few point, I like the "" but do feel they are over used as I got bored with seeing them.

I don't like the bottom text menu green box. Looks out of place.

Otherwise very nice Smiling
JP

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The Webmaster Promotion and Resource Center.
http://www.what-next.com

They have: 5,633 posts

Joined: Jan 1970

Hello again! I wanted to bump this thread up and get your final opinions on the final layout of the site. I have made the changes that everyone suggested. The site will be launched August 1.

The site can be reached at http://165.90.193.133/

If you find any problems in any browser, let us know. Last minute graphic suggestions probably won't be implemented because we couldn't in time but we will do our best.

We did not add any pictures to the text like was suggested because we wanted the main page to load as fast as possible. We may be adding a couple at a later time but none as of now. I have checked it over with Netscape and it appears to look very good... Let me know if you find glitches though. A couple sections are still in the works so you may find 404s or other weird errors. Also, don't take ANY information on the site as what is stated until August 1. We had several people when we posted the first message trying to order using the site and it didn't work Smiling

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to review the site once again.

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Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
UNIX and Windows NT Hosting

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

Hi again Chad,
Site is looking good Smiling.
Hey I'm wondering if the text on design page is supposed to be light grey?
Love the menu!! Is that css? Im still learning here Smiling.
I still think the left bar is very wide on the home page and a few others. Squares on subheadings look unfinished/empty to me, I think the rounded elipse shape would tie in better with the design--I know you said you wouldn't be changing the graphics but I just wanted to add that.
A couple of tiny blemishes on that border texture 1.where the side meets the bottom and one little spot next to the rounded bottom corner. --->picky carolyn observations Smiling.
All in all it's a very professional looking web site and the layout suits your hosting service very well. Very thorough, very informative, nicely done.

take care,

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

They have: 5,633 posts

Joined: Jan 1970

Carolyn,

Thanks for the review!

The text on the design page is in fact supposed to be gray... It has been that way since we started on the new site and things have gone up around it but it has remained the same... We haven't done much work on the design section yet.

Which menu are you talking about when you say "Is that css?"? The text menu on the left is css. The top one using graphics is a JavaScript roll-over affect.

We will be adding a domain name check box to the left column which should make it look a little filled in.

The sub-heading squares are supposed to look that way Smiling ... Give it a feel for a "modern" look or something... I don't know. I was just playing around and I came up with them... I thought they looked cool. I think your idea about using the elipse concept is good but like I said, we won't have time to add more graphics right now.

We know the blemish on the background occurs... There is nothing we can do about it. It happens on some pages and doesn't happen on others. It depends on the length of the page. I don't see the other blemish though. Care to elaborate?

"Picky carolyn observations" hehe. That is what we like! Thanks again!

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Dynamic Internet Solutions : http://www.dids.com
UNIX and Windows NT Hosting

They have: 327 posts

Joined: Mar 1999

ok, 6th stripe from the top of the bottom b/k image --- right at the corner -- the darker stripe is just a "tiny" bit lighter then the others --not the whole thing but only about 30 pixels wide. like I said, "picky carolyn thing". low low low priority fix Smiling.
As far as the squares, they really aren't bad, they do remind me of the "" on my monitor when I'm unable to view a character.

have a great day!

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Carolyn Jones
icq# 5351437

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