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View Full Version : Grips guide v2 -- demo for feedback


Gollum
03-02-2006, 03:29 PM
The Link:

http://www.h2index.com/source/temp/index.html


What the link is about

Many of you will be familiar with the BC grips guide (http://www.badmintoncentral.com/badminton-central/content/view/81/35/), which I wrote in September 2004.

I have been working on a new version for some time. I decided to create the new guide as a separate website, though it will still be hosted on BC.

After a great deal of work, I finally have a working demo of the site. It comprises only three pages and no grip photos -- these will come later!

I'm putting this out now so that you can all give me feedback. Feel free to tell me whatever you what, be it encouragement, constructive criticism, or scathing condemnation.

Since this is largely a technology demo, I am especially interested in any problems you have with using the website, or any display/rendering errors you notice. I would also like to know what you think about the site's "look". Do you like the style or not?

List of known problems:
Large image sizes -- I think these are okay, because they *should* load after the content. If you have any problem with them, please let me know!
Internet Explorer errors -- I've fixed as many of these as I can with IE hacks, but a few minor stubborn ones remain. Bottom line: it looks better in a proper browser like Firefox or Opera ;)
The "clever" features don't work if you have javascript disabled. Nothing I can do about this.
Firefox corrupts the navbar text when using the website's text size controls. Probably not my fault, and probably doesn't matter because Firefox users know how to resize text on their own!
Opera is slow to change stylesheets -- that is, changing skill views or colour schemes. Earlier versions of Opera are so slow that they make the site unusable. This is a recognised Opera bug.
Gollum
03-02-2006, 04:42 PM
Feel free to tell me whatever you what

Feel free to tell me whatever you want

I should proofread more carefully :eek:
wood_22_chuck
03-02-2006, 04:59 PM
I like the layout; very nice. I'll get on to the content soon.

-dave
cappy75
03-02-2006, 08:32 PM
The layout looks great! I really like the option of low glare setup:). Looking forward to the website's completion!
Hagane
03-03-2006, 05:56 PM
so far, I prefer the low glare version :)

Speaking of which.. I noticed something, but it's perhaps more towards firefox and slow connection on this wireless.

You have a notice box based on whether JavaScript is enabled or not. It appeared for a very brief moment, before disappearing.

It's very noticeable because it's with a bright red colour :)
checkthemc
03-03-2006, 11:34 PM
Lay out looks great, but maybe you should include grip size choice. Many people don't know what a good grip size choice should be, including me.
cappy75
03-03-2006, 11:41 PM
That'll be a tough one though, since it's pretty much personal preference. Thinner grips will allow more versatility of shots whereas thicker ones allow surer grip for power.


Lay out looks great, but maybe you should include grip size choice. Many people don't know what a good grip size choice should be, including me.
01paradox
03-05-2006, 07:39 PM
I really like the layout. It looks great to me. :) I look forward to the new guide as the original one has helped me quite a bit already.
Gollum
03-06-2006, 03:17 AM
With some further testing, I've discovered that users must wait for the images to finish downloading before they can start reading the content.

I will have to change this. That's why you see a brief "flash" of the red javascript notice -- on a 56k modem connection, this is no longer a flash but an appreciable delay.

I will definitely include some advice about grip thickness, although of course I cannot specify a size since everyone has different hands!
Gollum
03-13-2006, 07:15 AM
Could anyone with a slow connection (eg. 56k modem) please help test the website?

I have put a new version up, with the aim of delaying image loading until after the content has loaded.

So the content should load quickly and you should not see a red javascript notice. Then the images should load in the background, while you are reading the content.

Please let me know whether this works. I want to make the website fast enough for users of slow connections.
badder16
03-13-2006, 10:44 AM
Could anyone with a slow connection (eg. 56k modem) please help test the website?


The website ran very smoothly for me. If you are speaking about the images of the birdies in the background, they appear shortly after the content shows up. It looks great so far. I'll be anxiously awaiting its completion.
Gollum
03-13-2006, 11:44 AM
The website ran very smoothly for me. If you are speaking about the images of the birdies in the background, they appear shortly after the content shows up. It looks great so far. I'll be anxiously awaiting its completion.

That's good news, thanks for testing :)

Are any more 56k users able to confirm this?
Gollum
03-17-2006, 03:28 PM
Update: there was in fact a dire and seemingly intractable problem for low-bandwidth users of Internet Explorer, but have now fixed it :)

Upshot: I get to keep my pretty pictures :D
jerby
10-08-2006, 04:27 AM
:( It's not working....
I'm using firefox...but without a clue what bandwith and all...darn
and IE gives a 404. is it down already and did I miss a beautifull thing ;) ?
zydoce
10-08-2006, 05:40 PM
03-18-2006, 04:28 AM was the last post.. No wonder the site can't be viewed anymore.. Maybe it's been closed or moved to somewhere else..
Hagane
10-08-2006, 07:46 PM
IIRC, Gollum took it down due to convincing information from Badminton England: http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=33784
Gollum
10-17-2006, 09:49 AM
:( It's not working....
I'm using firefox...but without a clue what bandwith and all...darn
and IE gives a 404. is it down already and did I miss a beautifull thing ;) ?
Yes, I took the demo down. It has been deleted.

I could upload it onto my new website, but I prefer to wait until I have a finished product (and possibly a few supporting articles as well).

The grips guide is plodding along rather slowly, but I do now have quite a lot of writing done for it. I'm pretty much finished with the protracted (but helpful) consultation with Badminton England.
jerby
10-17-2006, 09:54 AM
Yes, I took the demo down. It has been deleted.

I could upload it onto my new website, but I prefer to wait until I have a finished product (and possibly a few supporting articles as well).

The grips guide is plodding along rather slowly, but I do now have quite a lot of writing done for it. I'm pretty much finished with the protracted (but helpful) consultation with Badminton England.

ok, then I was just runnign late, as usual:rolleyes:

good luck with the guide!