Comments on: a1 thus far http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/ The occasional brainshot Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:35:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: ewhac http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13105 ewhac Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:35:33 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13105 Arrogant Technocrat Schwab sez: Ignore IE. It's a piece of shit, always has been, and you shouldn't waste your time trying to make a piece of shit behave. It's incumbent upon the users to equip themselves with working tools, and Mozilla/Firefox have been superior -- and free -- for ten years. Pragmatist Schwab sez: Offer an alternate stylesheet that IE won't barf on, and have this be selectable through user preferences, or a cookie. This stylesheet would have substantially diminished gloss, but it would still be functional. The CSS Zen Garden may offer hints on how to approach this. Schwab Arrogant Technocrat Schwab sez: Ignore IE. It’s a piece of shit, always has been, and you shouldn’t waste your time trying to make a piece of shit behave. It’s incumbent upon the users to equip themselves with working tools, and Mozilla/Firefox have been superior — and free — for ten years.

Pragmatist Schwab sez: Offer an alternate stylesheet that IE won’t barf on, and have this be selectable through user preferences, or a cookie. This stylesheet would have substantially diminished gloss, but it would still be functional. The CSS Zen Garden may offer hints on how to approach this.

Schwab

]]> By: ewhac http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13107 ewhac Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:46:59 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13107 General style comments on the prototype: The caption font appears too small on my browser. Granted, this appears to be a chronic problem with Linux, Firefox, and the way I have things set up. I'll have to try it at home on my Windoze box... The entire right-hand side of the page is "wasted" space. What are you planning on putting here? JavaScript to cycle through the captions: From a usability standpoint, I'm not sure. It'll certainly reduce the load on your servers (although I'd still very much like a way to craft a URL that will resolve to a single caption, to highlight those I especially like on other fora). I think there's a way you can get CSS to do this kind of content cycling for you without having to push code. The styling is very minimalist. I don't see what you could take away to get it to fit in 800x600. Perhaps you could have a user preference or cookie for the Display Impaired that triggers a scaled <IMG> tag, which might make a little more room? Schwab General style comments on the prototype:

The caption font appears too small on my browser. Granted, this appears to be a chronic problem with Linux, Firefox, and the way I have things set up. I’ll have to try it at home on my Windoze box…

The entire right-hand side of the page is “wasted” space. What are you planning on putting here?

JavaScript to cycle through the captions: From a usability standpoint, I’m not sure. It’ll certainly reduce the load on your servers (although I’d still very much like a way to craft a URL that will resolve to a single caption, to highlight those I especially like on other fora). I think there’s a way you can get CSS to do this kind of content cycling for you without having to push code.

The styling is very minimalist. I don’t see what you could take away to get it to fit in 800×600. Perhaps you could have a user preference or cookie for the Display Impaired that triggers a scaled <IMG> tag, which might make a little more room?

Schwab

]]> By: spinn http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13110 spinn Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:27:29 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13110 I appreciate the thorough look, but man do bug reports on unfinished prototypes get under my skin. Yes, it's "wasted" space, because there's "nothing there yet". And yes, linking to a specific caption is a requirement. That page is just what I have so far. Also, you can't do that kind of rotation with only CSS, at least not any way that's widely supported. If I could figure out how, I'd have a small slide animation to make the list move rather than jump, but that might be beyond me. What I can take away from it is picture size, which is what I asked. I'm not sure if the 400x400 is just too big or not. I appreciate the thorough look, but man do bug reports on unfinished prototypes get under my skin. Yes, it’s “wasted” space, because there’s “nothing there yet”. And yes, linking to a specific caption is a requirement. That page is just what I have so far.

Also, you can’t do that kind of rotation with only CSS, at least not any way that’s widely supported. If I could figure out how, I’d have a small slide animation to make the list move rather than jump, but that might be beyond me.

What I can take away from it is picture size, which is what I asked. I’m not sure if the 400×400 is just too big or not.

]]> By: Xander http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13115 Xander Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:26:24 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13115 Frankly, that picture size seems perfectly fine on my work computer. I didn't have any trouble with scrolling, either, and I'm using IE. Frankly, that picture size seems perfectly fine on my work computer. I didn’t have any trouble with scrolling, either, and I’m using IE.

]]> By: spinn http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13116 spinn Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:44:34 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13116 Doesn't it take a while for you, or lose clicks, or something? When I try it in IE, I have to wait a half second before I can click again. In Firefox, I can clickclickclickclick and it moves each time as I expect, but IE insists on taking its time. I have something I can optimize there, but I wonder if IE will care anyway...mm, I'll have to try it out. Doesn’t it take a while for you, or lose clicks, or something? When I try it in IE, I have to wait a half second before I can click again. In Firefox, I can clickclickclickclick and it moves each time as I expect, but IE insists on taking its time.

I have something I can optimize there, but I wonder if IE will care anyway…mm, I’ll have to try it out.

]]> By: Ikkakujyu http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13118 Ikkakujyu Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:23:25 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13118 Using Safari, with tabs open and the bookmark bar enabled, it's taking up quite a lot of vertical space. Like, enough space that to see all four quotes, I have to scroll past the top of the picture. I have a dock taking up my real estate, though. As for the Javascript, it works fine and snappy on my end. Using Safari, with tabs open and the bookmark bar enabled, it’s taking up quite a lot of vertical space. Like, enough space that to see all four quotes, I have to scroll past the top of the picture. I have a dock taking up my real estate, though.

As for the Javascript, it works fine and snappy on my end.

]]> By: Craig http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13119 Craig Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:20:50 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13119 Huh, you're right. In Firefox, it's as fast as I can click. In IE, it gets laggy; not so much as to cause a massive problem, but more just an annoyance. But, then again, IE users should be used to annoyances, no? Huh, you’re right. In Firefox, it’s as fast as I can click. In IE, it gets laggy; not so much as to cause a massive problem, but more just an annoyance. But, then again, IE users should be used to annoyances, no?

]]> By: Waldo http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13120 Waldo Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:36:55 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13120 I like the layout. Very clean and straightforward. Looking forward to having my captions rejected very soon. I like the layout. Very clean and straightforward.
Looking forward to having my captions rejected very soon.

]]> By: Xander http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13122 Xander Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:48:58 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13122 I didn't seem to have any problems at all with it. clickclickclick I can check again tomorrow if you like. I didn’t seem to have any problems at all with it. clickclickclick I can check again tomorrow if you like.

]]> By: Bob http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13167 Bob Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:10:56 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13167 Hey Ewhac: Perhaps you'd be so kind as to email my IT department requesting that they allow us to put whatever we damn well please on our systems. I know you'll make the difference the rest of us haven't. And in IE 6, everything works well, moves fast, seems more responsive than sone of the apps they have let us install. A few cosmetic flaws but I'm sure they're much more annoying to you than to the rest of us. Hey Ewhac: Perhaps you’d be so kind as to email my IT department requesting that they allow us to put whatever we damn well please on our systems. I know you’ll make the difference the rest of us haven’t.

And in IE 6, everything works well, moves fast, seems more responsive than sone of the apps they have let us install. A few cosmetic flaws but I’m sure they’re much more annoying to you than to the rest of us.

]]> By: El Gordo http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13251 El Gordo Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:50:14 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13251 The larger images are nice, but won't it cost you more to provide more data? The larger images are nice, but won’t it cost you more to provide more data?

]]> By: spinn http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13259 spinn Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:23:12 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13259 Eh, no longer an issue, really. I used to care more when 1) I was hosting my site on my home net and 2) the site was popular enough that bandwidth was a concern. Dreamhost gives me an insane amount of bandwidth, and I'd hit a CPU issue long, long before a bandwidth one. Eh, no longer an issue, really. I used to care more when 1) I was hosting my site on my home net and 2) the site was popular enough that bandwidth was a concern. Dreamhost gives me an insane amount of bandwidth, and I’d hit a CPU issue long, long before a bandwidth one.

]]> By: Xander http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13260 Xander Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:13:14 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13260 I double-checked today (crazy busy yesterday), and I got the glitch at first, but then it seemed to go away. I don't know what to tell you. All I know is that it really doesn't seem to be an issue in IE that makes it hard to read, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I double-checked today (crazy busy yesterday), and I got the glitch at first, but then it seemed to go away. I don’t know what to tell you. All I know is that it really doesn’t seem to be an issue in IE that makes it hard to read, so I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.

]]> By: zwit http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13264 zwit Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:54:44 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13264 So all the previous A-1 stuff is gone gone gone? So all the previous A-1 stuff is gone gone gone?

]]> By: spinn http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13266 spinn Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:37:02 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13266 Oh hell no, it takes a major disaster for me to throw anything out. The problem there is that the programs won't work in my current setup, and fixing them at this stage seems like wasted work. I will get them up eventually, tho. (much like the todd archive, grumble mutter...) Oh hell no, it takes a major disaster for me to throw anything out. The problem there is that the programs won’t work in my current setup, and fixing them at this stage seems like wasted work.

I will get them up eventually, tho. (much like the todd archive, grumble mutter…)

]]> By: Tillman http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13384 Tillman Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:57:12 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13384 The new A1 works fine for me in IE. I have all the other browsers, so whatever happens is cool. I haven't thought about TODD in years. You know, to this day if you type in "Milburn Junior High School", an old TODD caption of mine is quoted (stolen) on somebody's FAQ page... "TAKE ME NOW, LORD JESUS, THERE'S A DOG THE SIZE OF MILBURN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN MY TREE!" The new A1 works fine for me in IE. I have all the other browsers, so whatever happens is cool.

I haven’t thought about TODD in years. You know, to this day if you type in “Milburn Junior High School”, an old TODD caption of mine is quoted (stolen) on somebody’s FAQ page…
“TAKE ME NOW, LORD JESUS, THERE’S A DOG THE SIZE OF MILBURN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN MY TREE!”

]]> By: ewhac http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13702 ewhac Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:28:53 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13702 TODD as it stands now -- a "completed" artifact -- is fun. But its static nature today fails to impart what made it truly enjoyable for me, which was watching the whole thing unfold. "Can they possibly come up with more variations on the same joke?" Yes, Virginia, they can. And they did. And seeing the whole thing happen was enormous fun. TODD as it stands now — a “completed” artifact — is fun. But its static nature today fails to impart what made it truly enjoyable for me, which was watching the whole thing unfold. “Can they possibly come up with more variations on the same joke?” Yes, Virginia, they can. And they did. And seeing the whole thing happen was enormous fun.

]]> By: ewhac http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13703 ewhac Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:29:35 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13703 Progress report? Need any help? Progress report?

Need any help?

]]> By: J Crowley http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13779 J Crowley Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:15:58 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13779 Gah, tell me about it. IE is the bane of any web developer's existence. I think there just needs to be a mass movement of web developers who set up sites to detect IE and display a "GET FIREFOX TO VIEW THIS SITE" page instead of the actual content. If it decreases IE's browser use share even a fraction, I'm all for it. Anyone who argues the quality of private ventures over open, public efforts need only look at Firefox versus IE and Safari for ample illustration of why they're wrong. Gah, tell me about it. IE is the bane of any web developer’s existence. I think there just needs to be a mass movement of web developers who set up sites to detect IE and display a “GET FIREFOX TO VIEW THIS SITE” page instead of the actual content. If it decreases IE’s browser use share even a fraction, I’m all for it.

Anyone who argues the quality of private ventures over open, public efforts need only look at Firefox versus IE and Safari for ample illustration of why they’re wrong.

]]> By: J Crowley http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13782 J Crowley Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:20:51 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2007/04/02/a1-thus-far/#comment-13782 Oh, by the way, I'm baffled as to why a browser that's, what, half a decade old? is still expected to be supported as a "current technology". Pfft. Oh, by the way, I’m baffled as to why a browser that’s, what, half a decade old? is still expected to be supported as a “current technology”. Pfft.

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