OT: Site suggestions/Mac check

Hi,

I'm almost done redesigning my own site
http://www.geekministry.com/index.php but I could do with a little help.
My main concern is the "sidebar top image" above the search box. Should
I try to use a more "readable" font and what about the colors... or lack
of colors.

Also the "tabbox" below the image in the sidebar... is the coloring OK
or too pale?

Finally... would you hide the "skip menu" or do you think it's OK they
are visible (well kind off)? (jump to links and allow pop up windows
within the site)

Does the site look OK on Macs?

Any suggestions appreciated.

--
Kim
---------------------------
http://www.geekministry.com

I'm almost done redesigning my own site
http://www.geekministry.com/index.php but I could do with a little help.
My main concern is the "sidebar top image" above the search box. Should I
try to use a more "readable" font

It's legible, and the URL is there, so I think it's OK. I'd personally go
with a beefier face, but that's really personal preference.

and what about the colors... or lack of colors.

I like it.

Also the "tabbox" below the image in the sidebar... is the coloring OK or
too pale?

Well, it seems that 'are you up to date' is an important tidbit you want
people to read. As such, I'm not sure I'd hide it behind a tab to begin
with.

Finally... would you hide the "skip menu" or do you think it's OK they are
visible (well kind off)? (jump to links and allow pop up windows within
the site)

There's no right answer to this. Many say it should be highly visible for
those that prefer keyboard navigation. Other say making it visible only
confuses others. Personally, I don't think it's a big deal either way and
until someone does some hard research on the issue, do what you please.

Does the site look OK on Macs?

FYI, now that Safari is out for the PC, you can easily check it on your PC.

And it looks good to me in Safari.

-Darrel

Hi darrel,

Well, it seems that 'are you up to date' is an important tidbit you want
people to read. As such, I'm not sure I'd hide it behind a tab to begin
with.

Not really sure what I want in there yet. But you're right about the
importance in "are you up to date"

There's no right answer to this. Many say it should be highly visible for
those that prefer keyboard navigation. Other say making it visible only
confuses others. Personally, I don't think it's a big deal either way and
until someone does some hard research on the issue, do what you please.

I should probably have mentioned that it was the design aspect... would
the page look better if it was not there (as in hidden) or should I make
it even more visible?. (I've already made up my mind on what's right and
what's wrong)

FYI, now that Safari is out for the PC, you can easily check it on your PC.

That's a beta... right? I've heard that it's not reliable compared to
the "real" Safari.

And it looks good to me in Safari.

Thanks for looking Darrel.

--
Kim
---------------------------
http://www.geekministry.com

I should probably have mentioned that it was the design aspect... would
the page look better if it was not there (as in hidden) or should I make
it even more visible?.

If you're asking on pure aesthetics...well...I guess I could go either way.
Sorry, that ain't much help. ;o)

That's a beta... right? I've heard that it's not reliable compared to the
"real" Safari.

It's pretty much a mirror image of what I see in Safari on my Mac.

-Darrel

do you really need the google ads on the right side? i can't imagine that it's going to bring in that much cash and it seems out of place on a business site.

hi, kim. i think if you're going to have the skip menu visible, it might be a
good idea to make it just a tad darker. it's nearly invisible on my monitor!
and maybe i'm missing something, but i don't understand why you'd have the skip
menu and then hide it. is it common to have an invisible skip menu?

although, now that i'm thinking about it, i'm not sure i see the need for the
skip menu to begin with. doesn't seem to me like there's enough stuff between
the top of the page and the content or menu to need to skip to it. you're
basically just skipping the logo graphic. again, maybe i'm missing something,
but what's the point? the pop-ups option is cool, though.

also, the "p" in "Are you up to date?" gets cut off and looks more like an
"o."

and, this is probably just my personal preference, but i would capitalize all
of the words in your headings. for example, Danish Web Design, instead of
Danish web design. and the same thing for the About me link in your nav. i'd
have it say About Me. but, again, that's just my preference. probably because i
used to proofread reports where capitalized headings were generally a good
practice.

other than that, i think it looks good! very clean.

Hi nhc,

hi, kim. i think if you're going to have the skip menu visible, it might be a
good idea to make it just a tad darker. it's nearly invisible on my monitor!
and maybe i'm missing something, but i don't understand why you'd have the skip
menu and then hide it. is it common to have an invisible skip menu?

Well the whole purpose of having a "skip menu" is to make it easier for
people without a pointing device. Try to tab your way through the site
and see how annoying that gets the 8 time you have to jump from the
address bar to some link in the content.

although, now that i'm thinking about it, i'm not sure i see the need for the
skip menu to begin with. doesn't seem to me like there's enough stuff between
the top of the page and the content or menu to need to skip to it. you're
basically just skipping the logo graphic. again, maybe i'm missing something,
but what's the point?

Besides the above there is also the matter of screen readers. I'm no
expert on the subject but as far as I understand the concept screen
reader users can call up a handy list of all the links on a page, so
those in the skiplinks menu section would also be presented in that list
which makes it much easier to to jump from bottom of content to top of
page to skipmenu to sidebar. Try it using your tab button.

the pop-ups option is cool, though.

It's Michael and Thierry's divaPOP
http://www.divahtml.com/products/divaPOP/open_popup_windows.php with a
little php

also, the "p" in "Are you up to date?" gets cut off and looks more like an
"o."

Thanks. But it's gonna be replaced with something else.

and, this is probably just my personal preference, but i would capitalize all
of the words in your headings. for example, Danish Web Design, instead of
Danish web design.

Good idea. thanks

and the same thing for the About me link in your nav. i'd

have it say About Me. but, again, that's just my preference. probably because i
used to proofread reports where capitalized headings were generally a good
practice.

I'll think about it and you're probably right.

other than that, i think it looks good! very clean.

Thanks

--
Kim
---------------------------
http://www.geekministry.com

Not really. I need to figure out what I want in the sidebar on the sub
pages... until then google adds looks better than nothing.

joeq skrev:

do you really need the google ads on the right side? i can't imagine that it's going to bring in that much cash and it seems out of place on a business site.

--
Kim
---------------------------
http://www.geekministry.com

i see! i didn't realize that it was for screen readers (i had a feeling i was
missing something!). i've never designed for them, myself. i should probably
start learning!

you can ignore those comment then. : )

Your comments where welcome. I *was* asking from a design aspect. So
thanks

BTW... you'll find at least as many that will tell you that skipmenus
are useless and "not worth it". I only know what I think is the right
thing to do... and that is to have them.

n h c skrev:

i see! i didn't realize that it was for screen readers (i had a feeling i was
missing something!). i've never designed for them, myself. i should probably
start learning!

you can ignore those comment then. : )

--
Kim
---------------------------
http://www.geekministry.com