Any Screen Size or resolution

mtheory · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 12:20 AM

This isn't so much a specific site review request but a review of a design style.

Liquid interface renders the screen size resolution dilema moot.
Web Site Design and Development - MTheory - Branford, CT

davebarnes · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 10:56 AM

Uh, no, it does not.

When I viewed the site with my usual browser window size, I had both vertical and horizontal scroll bars.
When I went to full screen, I saw a completely blank black page. Except for the word "block" in the lower right area.

You must accept and deal with the fact that some of us use: Firefox and Adblock Plus. Flash movies are often invisible.

janeth · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 11:25 AM

It worked for me in Firefox but the design and look of the site did not impress me.

mtheory · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Uh, no, it does not.

When I viewed the site with my usual browser window size, I had both vertical and horizontal scroll bars.
When I went to full screen, I saw a completely blank black page. Except for the word "block" in the lower right area.

You must accept and deal with the fact that some of us use: Firefox and Adblock Plus. Flash movies are often invisible.

Your 1000th post congratulations. What screen res do you use and how large do you keep your browser window?

davebarnes · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtheory

What screen res do you use and how large do you keep your browser window?

I have my Firefox display area set to 1000 pixels wide x 830 high. That is not fixed however as I change it by small increments constantly to accommodate various websites.

My screen res is 1900 x 1200 on a 24-inch iMac.

mtheory · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:26 PM

I missed the line where you mentioned adblock plus.

IMHO, I think you may be depriving your self the experience of some dynamic and provocative web content. I understand there are some bad apples out but I find it strange that a marketig professional such as yourelf would be blocking ads.

I appreciate your conservative attitude and value your opinion, but this term keeps coming to mind with your take on Flash and progressive web devlopment "Cutting off the nose to spite the face".

davebarnes · #7 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtheory

I missed the line where you mentioned adblock plus. I find it strange that a marketig professional such as yourself would be blocking ads.

Mark,
Not a single one of my clients run ads on their websites.
I only block 3rd-party ads such as those delivered by DoubleClick. I don't block "local" ads.
,dave

mtheory · #8 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Mark,
Not a single one of my clients run ads on their websites.
I only block 3rd-party ads such as those delivered by DoubleClick. I don't block "local" ads.
,dave

I just feel any kind of censorship tends to be counterproductive to progress and growth.

Embracing change and new technology is the driving force of the internet.

As Mr. Dylan put it "The Times They Are A-Changin"

tcbad · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:32 PM

I assume this test was used to simply demonstrate a method for tackling how to conquer the various screen resolutions... I think you created a nice little demo that shows one of the many strengths of flash and a great way to accommodate any screen size. I tested this on a few browsers and screens and resized and refreshed and it works well and the images don't pixelate. Way to go!

Cheers,

T.C.

Dubbya · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtheory

I just feel any kind of censorship tends to be counterproductive to progress and growth.

Embracing change and new technology is the driving force of the internet.

As Mr. Dylan put it "The Times They Are A-Changin"

The vast majority of advertisements are completely unrelated to the page content and add no significant value to the user experience. They waste valuable screen real-estate and add nothing but "room noise".

If the user isn't interested in embracing change, growth or new technology, they'll simply leave the site just as they would use a remote control while watching TV. Now THAT is censorship!

Give them what they came for as quickly and easily as you can and they'll stick around. That's what the internet was designed to do, THAT is the driving force.

BossWebmaster · #11 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 05:01 PM

Oh yay, I love the flash blocking debate. I will begin by making bold proclamations that are true but will tick a large percentage of the WPW viewers off who are too close minded to admit they have really bizarre web browsing habits.

The only people who block flash ads are complete nerds! They make up like less than 1% of internet users. There is nothing wrong with using flash on your site. You may not want to make it entirely in flash but a little flash is perfectly fine.

Let the flaming begin.

SisterSledge · #12 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 05:21 PM

First, let me state that I like flash and I'm usually interested in seeing ads. I don't think I have anything blocked on my computer.

Normally I use FF for my browser (with quite a few plugins applied) but I did check out this site in IE as well. First load on FF was very slow, but it loaded quicker with IE. Everything displayed properly (and looked very nice) in both browsers on first look. However, if I resize either of those browser windows with the corner-drag tool, I don't get a horizontal scrollbar at all and the vertical scrollbar isn't active.

iany · #13 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 06:52 PM

Interesting exercise. The site loads fine at the "home" page but on clicking the thumbnails, although the "large" picture loads, the page itself takes minutes to completely load and I have fast Broadband.

This in itself would limit this particular design's value.

I guess we are always going to be at odds with mtheory and his love affair with Flash. Like others who have expressed themselves very eloquently on this subject, I believe that Flash can be a very creative element in web design, (see Galleri Sand - Representing Vebjørn Sand, Øivind Sand, Aune Sand and Marianne Aulie for some really creative flash), but as you can see it can also be very limiting in terms of load times and navigation if used on the whole page.

davebarnes · #14 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 10:24 PM

As someone who lives in his basement, I resemble that remark about blocking Flash=Nerd.

I don't block Flash.
I block ads delivered by 3rd parties.
I think Flash is very useful and use on a number of my customer's websites.
I don't like 100% Flash websites because they are not flexible.
And, I despise people (e.g., Galleri Sand) who try to control my browser. What gives you the right/presumption to take over my screen?

mtheory · #15 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes

I don't like 100% Flash websites because they are not flexible.

Please enlighten me on the inflexibilities of Flash.

iany · #16 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes

And, I despise people (e.g., Galleri Sand) who try to control my browser. What gives you the right/presumption to take over my screen?

I think that is missing the point big time, Dave and a somewhat fatuous remark, if I may say so. Surely the moment that the background colour of a site is determined it has "taken over" your browser. This is really no different. It is any designer's right surely, to build a site in any way he/she chooses, after all if you don't like it, and I guess this is the kind of site that you wouldn't visit in any case, you can always move on to something else.
BTW, I did not build Galleri Sand) - wouldn't know where to start.

keywordguy · #17 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 06:15 AM

It's been awhile since I've posted here at WPW. I got a chuckle when I started reading this thread at how intellectual sounding we are trying to make this conversation.

When we are talking about viewing a web page in any format, it's all about your target audience. I think the site in question is a purely artistic site and will appeal to an audience that is drawn to artistic design and technical ability.

I primarily work on business sites now that generate millions of dollars each year and we apply the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). From a business and purely Internet / Marketing perspective, some of the most successful (and profitable) sites are simple in design and format.

Does the site in question have its place on the web? Sure! but it's not a design format that I would choose.

davebarnes · #18 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iany

Surely the moment that the background colour of a site is determined it has "taken over" your browser. This is really no different.

Quite different, in my opinion.

When you change the background color of a site, it takes place within the browser window size that I have chosen. I can resize the window if I want or need to. I can leave the site if I don't care for the color scheme.

When you change the size of my browser window--especially when you expand it to find my entire 24-inch screen for no good reason--you cause me to waste time resizing the window back to my preferred size. That is what I object to.

davebarnes · #19 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtheory

Please enlighten me on the inflexibilities of Flash.

How can your clients change the text in a Flash-only website?
I have a number of customers who use Dreamweaver or Contribute to make minor text changes almost every day.

ran_dizolph · #20 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

change the text in a Flash-only website?

this is one of my anti-flash site arguments as well...updating Flash can be quite pain.

Not to mention the SE issues that are raised using text in flash that is the equivalent of an image.

mtheory · #21 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes

How can your clients change the text in a Flash-only website?
I have a number of customers who use Dreamweaver or Contribute to make minor text changes almost every day.

Not really a valid point not to use Flash. It's yours and your client's decision to settle on a different approach for ease and economics of use.

I have many clients who know the value of an aggressively designed site and don't mind having updates done in Flash. I even have clients who learned simple Flash to update on their own as not to comprimise thier presentation.

Another thing maybe you're not familiar with the ability to load dynamic content from simple text or xml into Flash rendering your argument moot. Actually a Flash cms is much easier in the lo