Website Review and Suggestions

**Sleeping Troll** · 07-02-2008, 12:31 PM

All of you have been a great help to me over the past couple of months!

I am tying up the loose ends now, so I figure it is time!
Let me have it!
What do you think?

http://hawksnuthouse.com

I am working on an alert that informs the user that they may browse the sight immediatley (without waiting for load to finish) I want this alert to appear on the initial load only, any ideas? no cookies!

**Foundationflash** · 07-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Here we go:
1) I think the loading of images over each other is completely and utterly pointless. In the main section and underneath to the left they appear, but the don't add anything and if there is supposed to be a rollover effect, it only works for one of them. I suggest you scrap the current system for a Flip 3D system or a free version, or possibly AJAX. This would not require a pop-up message, which is annoying, and if you do want to keep it, cookies is the only way.
2) The images to the sides are really messed up, the ladders go to far up to the banner, images such as the paypal notice are loading it behind it, along with lots more product choices, which aren't visible.
3) I narrowed my screen, works OK (nothing amazing) but then 'Your browser is not supported.' This should not be the case on FF3, and in any case, clicking OK, it still worked (except the buttons).
4) I can't click on All the Nuts, and Other delights. Are they supposed to be titles? THis is not clear, and fairly messy in any case.
5) The About Us text is written in the third person, I think it would make more sense to have it as 'We developed...' (Even if the people that run it now are not Marlene and Paul.) It helps to relate you to the reader.
6) Are the frames necessary?
7) In the UK, you would require a valid email address, not just a contact box, if you intend to sell anything. I think the same is true, or similar, in the US.

On the plus side the top frame looks good, and the page validates (not that there's much code!).

In all, 4.5/10 at present, when you've got some content it will be 6 or 7, get rid of the image thing and it will be 8 or 9.

**Sleeping Troll** · 07-02-2008, 01:37 PM

I have totally abandoned cross browser compatibility for e-commerce, It is a tremendous tax on resources to try to capture a small percentage of the market. try viewing the site with ie6 or 7. Thx for the critique, also there is a rollover effect that is not in place at present, the thumbnails pop to the foreground and bloom slightly on rollover.

**highanddry** · 07-02-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeping Troll

I have totally abandoned cross browser compatibility for e-commerce, It is a tremendous tax on resources to try to capture a small percentage of the market. try viewing the site with ie6 or 7. Thx for the critique, also there is a rollover effect that is not in place at present, the thumbnails pop to the foreground and bloom slightly on rollover.

Don't be surprised if your visitors and/or business abandons you. It really isn't that difficult to have a website that looks decent across the main 4 browsers. I don't use ie6 or 7 so why would I switch to it to view your site? In Firefox, its looking pretty wack. Good Luck though.

**LadynRed** · 07-02-2008, 03:27 PM

According to the W3C stats as of 6/28, Firefox usage was at 39% ! Do you REALLY want to alienate 40% of the population for your business ??

**Sleeping Troll** · 07-02-2008, 04:10 PM

There is an alternate site, that is just a basic order form. But I am looking for critique on this site, not a discussion of the promise of firefox. I have been involved in computer technology since 1974. It still amazes me how the technology advances more rapidly everyday, however what amazes me even more is how people with great ideas stifle them by going against the grain. It took Apple more than 30yrs to abandon Motorola.

**highanddry** · 05:14 PM

^ How ironic.

If your idea is great, then you are certainly stifling it by going against the grain (no making it viewable to over 1/3 of internet users.) You would think that in 30 years, you would understand the importance of exposure and not have such a static attitude regarding browser-compatibility.

Btw, we are critiquing your site not Firefox which is already a powerhouse browser.

**Sleeping Troll** · 07-02-2008, 06:02 PM

So I asked for a critique and got nothing but firefox defenders, sounding like a bunch of Macaniacs, How do you all feel about Obama?

**Sneakyheathen** · 07-02-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeping Troll

There is an alternate site, that is just a basic order form. But I am looking for critique on this site, not a discussion of the promise of firefox. I have been involved in computer technology since 1974. It still amazes me how the technology advances more rapidly everyday, however what amazes me even more is how people with great ideas stifle them by going against the grain. It took Apple more than 30yrs to abandon Motorola.

Great technology being stifled by going against the grain...I'm pretty sure that's how technology started. "Let's not live in caves anymore. Let's build houses out of wood." "But wood burns and swells in water" "Yeah, but caves are cold. Just cover it with mud and we'll be good to go." Also, can I get some stats to represent your "small percentage of the market" numbers?

Okay, now onto my review. And I'm not a nice reviewer. So I'm navigating through your site and all I get is "your browser is not supported!" And what I'm thinking is: it's f'ing firefox. You're joking? My bank supports firefox. And before you tell me to run out and get IE, I'm on a Macbook. That's right, I got Safari or I got Firefox. Of course it doesn't really matter what your store does and doesn't support, because I wouldn't buy from it anyways. Let's look at some other E-stores (that work with firefox!):

http://www.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx (the irony!)
http://store.apple.com/us (bet you 50 (cents) it works with IE)
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.borders.com/online/store/Home
http://www.ebay.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/

Moving on. Query: why...when your site loads, does it being to stack images one atop the other? Is there a purpose for that? The design overall is increasingly poor with gaudy images, useless textures, and a really, really, really bad logo.

Do an overhaul, and then add some content. Oh, and, splurge on the cross-browser. A "small percentage" is still a percentage. (for example, there's a small percentage of people willing to pay me to do web design work. Am I gonna turn them away? Heck no!)

**BDevil15** · 07-02-2008, 08:04 PM

I am not a firefox snob like everyone else here, I still have IE 7 on one of my computers. Also, I am not anywhere near a web designer, but I am an experienced on-line shopper and browse thousands of sites a week and with all due respect I couldnt get away from your site fast enough.

myfirst impression was... WOW... dozens of red x's loading on top of one another.

Also, there was an overwhelming feeling that I had just stumbled across a website made in the early 90's, with awkward menu buttons, busy color scheme and images that just sit on top of the background with no blending at all.

Its better than I could do but as someone who sees a ton of sites daily I wouldnt even think of using your site unless it was a unique product and I was forced to get it there.

Not trying to slam you or bash you just my honest opinion, I would say a total rebuild is called for, no saving that pig.

Good Luck,
Bob J

**Sleeping Troll** · 07-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Well geez, thx for an honest critique! The red x's are because the images are not available... yet. It is a database driven site, images menus everything. The image splashes are highly customizable and removable via database variables. The site can be browsed right away and the image loading can be done "Behind the scenes" via AJAX. The backgrounds buttons etc. are contained in libraries also under database control. It is optimized for the new flat screen (1440x900) displays but will accomadate itself very well down to 1024x768 and fairly well down to lower resolutions. (Try resizing your browser window). Allright you firefox fans, I was an early Navigator user, however Navigator took what IE was and improved on it, it did not take a different tangent. The issues in Navigator were minor compared to the issues with firefox, try browsing the site in IE.

**highanddry** · 07-03-2008, 12:53 AM

Hey man, its really not about FireFox, Its soley about how your site is in the real world. In the real world, you are cutting off 50% of users based on compatibility and 50% based on design/content... I don't know what else to tell you, let the cruel stabbing continue.