Baen's website redesigned - Page 2

Pomtroll · 12-15-2010, 06:57 PM

I like it.

mikemc2 · 12-15-2010, 07:06 PM

I too will give it a "thumbs up"

The old design was straight outta '93 yo!

Andrew H. · 12-15-2010, 07:53 PM

I miss time traveling to the www circa 1998. :-(

ATDrake · 12-15-2010, 07:58 PM

I was going to say that you could always run it through the Geocities-izer when you're feeling nostalgic, but I just tried that and what I got made the old Baen site look like a model of taste and restraint.

bgalbrecht · 12-15-2010, 09:17 PM

Any site relying on flash is a thumbs down for me.

sabredog · 12-16-2010, 01:16 AM

Certainly better than the older site. Need to play a bit more to see how it all works though!

Worldwalker · 12-16-2010, 03:37 AM

The new site is pretty. Unfortunately, "pretty" and "functional" are not always the same thing.

Depending heavily on Flash cuts out people with Apple products, people whose browsers don't support Flash, people who have turned Flash off for security reasons, and people who use Flash-blockers because they're annoyed with those flying, screaming Flash ads that appear on various websites.

The page is too long. A home page should be a dispatch page to the sections a user wants, not something to be deeply read.

Speaking of the sections a user wants, the valuable space above the fold is being used to promote three books. THREE BOOKS? That makes Baen look like a small press. Maybe a microscopic press.

On the menu bar, we have "Read Baen", "Baen Authors", "Baen Community", and "About Baen". What's missing there? A big, obvious link for "Buy Baen Books". The purpose of a website is not to tell people what you want them to know about their company; it's to give them an opportunity for them to give you money for what they want, which in this case is books. The site should make it obvious and easy, and it doesn't.

All in all, it's not bad, but they should have had a professional do it -- a professional in the sense of someone who knows how to use the Web to sell products, not just to make pretty pictures.

astra · 12-16-2010, 05:46 AM

Anybody care to explain what is wrong with having flash???

K-Thom · 12-16-2010, 05:50 AM

If you use a Windows PC, usually nothing. If you don't, usually everything.

astra · 12-16-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

If you use a Windows PC, usually nothing. If you don't, usually everything.

OK.
I use only PC or netbook, so I really have no idea what you guys are talking about.

AdamV · 12-16-2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

If you use a Windows PC, usually nothing. If you don't, usually everything.

well generally - yes
but from my web designing experience it's not a good solution... flash based websites are not that versatile and flexible as css/html ones... in my opinion it's a kind of show-off, good for self-advertising businesses of advertising area but no other types...

anyway, it was a good step of Baen nonetheless to have their main page redesigned... I would use a different type of the top content - using css instead of flash for the content looking more professional and comfortable to browse through... css would be great to be reused for subpages (which are not changed in a great extend if any) so the entire site use the same look and feel...

but again, it's my humble opinion and 2 cents

nyrath · 12-16-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Anybody care to explain what is wrong with having flash???

http://tips.webdesign10.com/flash-cookies-privacy

astra · 12-16-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyrath

http://tips.webdesign10.com/flash-cookies-privacy

elcreative · 12-16-2010, 11:51 AM

And all good points... Flash is well-named...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamV

well generally - yes
but from my web designing experience it's not a good solution... flash based websites are not that versatile and flexible as css/html ones... in my opinion it's a kind of show-off, good for self-advertising businesses of advertising area but no other types...

anyway, it was a good step of Baen nonetheless to have their main page redesigned... I would use a different type of the top content - using css instead of flash for the content looking more professional and comfortable to browse through... css would be great to be reused for subpages (which are not changed in a great extend if any) so the entire site use the same look and feel...

but again, it's my humble opinion and 2 cents

elcreative · 12-16-2010, 11:55 AM

Agree with form over content but "cuts out people with Apple products" isn't exactly accurate as it works fine on my iMac under Snow Leopard... probably better to say Apple mobile or non-computer products but I agree, Flash tends to be regarded as less professional these days...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

The new site is pretty. Unfortunately, "pretty" and "functional" are not always the same thing.

Depending heavily on Flash cuts out people with Apple products, people whose browsers don't support Flash, people who have turned Flash off for security reasons, and people who use Flash-blockers because they're annoyed with those flying, screaming Flash ads that appear on various websites...

All in all, it's not bad, but they should have had a professional do it -- a professional in the sense of someone who knows how to use the Web to sell products, not just to make pretty pictures.

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12-15-2010, 06:57 PM	#16
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I like it.

12-15-2010, 07:06 PM	#17
mikemc2 Zealot Posts: 128 Karma: 7878 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Milwaukee,WI Device: Sony PRS-505,Kindle 3,Nook HD+,iPod Touch,Kindle PW2	I too will give it a "thumbs up" The old design was straight outta '93 yo!

12-15-2010, 07:53 PM	#18
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I miss time traveling to the www circa 1998. :-(

12-15-2010, 07:58 PM	#19
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	I was going to say that you could always run it through the Geocities-izer when you're feeling nostalgic, but I just tried that and what I got made the old Baen site look like a model of taste and restraint.

12-15-2010, 09:17 PM	#20
bgalbrecht Wizard Posts: 1,806 Karma: 13399999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Device: Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle 4	Any site relying on flash is a thumbs down for me.

12-16-2010, 01:16 AM	#21
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Certainly better than the older site. Need to play a bit more to see how it all works though!

12-16-2010, 03:37 AM	#22
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	The new site is pretty. Unfortunately, "pretty" and "functional" are not always the same thing. Depending heavily on Flash cuts out people with Apple products, people whose browsers don't support Flash, people who have turned Flash off for security reasons, and people who use Flash-blockers because they're annoyed with those flying, screaming Flash ads that appear on various websites. The page is too long. A home page should be a dispatch page to the sections a user wants, not something to be deeply read. Speaking of the sections a user wants, the valuable space above the fold is being used to promote three books. THREE BOOKS? That makes Baen look like a small press. Maybe a microscopic press. On the menu bar, we have "Read Baen", "Baen Authors", "Baen Community", and "About Baen". What's missing there? A big, obvious link for "Buy Baen Books". The purpose of a website is not to tell people what you want them to know about their company; it's to give them an opportunity for them to give you money for what they want, which in this case is books. The site should make it obvious and easy, and it doesn't. All in all, it's not bad, but they should have had a professional do it -- a professional in the sense of someone who knows how to use the Web to sell products, not just to make pretty pictures.

12-16-2010, 05:46 AM	#23
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Anybody care to explain what is wrong with having flash???

12-16-2010, 05:50 AM	#24
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	If you use a Windows PC, usually nothing. If you don't, usually everything.