Baen's website redesigned - Page 5

MrsJoseph · 12-19-2010, 10:14 PM

I dislike the inconsistency. I also think that the site should have the different formats of eBooks available. It's all guesswork.

queentess · 12-20-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithno

I was going to order the December Websubscription. Going to the Websubscriptions page does not list the monthly bundle. It only has a few advance copy books listed. I have been to the site 3 times and have yet to stumble across the page to buy this a Websubscription bundle. The new site is pretty, but I can't figure out how to buy books!

Had the same problem, couldn't figure out how to get the actual books... and then I realized you can scroll down the first page

Why would it occur to me to notice the scroll bar on my browser when it doesn't look like the page extends? Definitely needs a re-redesign

AdamV · 12-20-2010, 01:52 PM

or you can just select "Webscriptions ebookstore" from Read Baen menu and then select WebScriptions from the left menu under "Categories"

elcreative · 12-20-2010, 02:25 PM

It does...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

I dislike the inconsistency. I also think that the site should have the different formats of eBooks available. It's all guesswork.

MrsJoseph · 12-20-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

It does...

Sorry, I mean 'listed' beside each individual book. It is listed in some places, but not in others. Consistency is key.

Xanthe · 12-20-2010, 06:28 PM

Re the OP's question, all I can say is, THANK YOU JESUS!

If ever a site needed a redesign it was that one! I can now actually access it on my cell phone with ease.

HarryT · 12-21-2010, 09:35 AM

Why are you going to the new store at all to buy Webscriptions books? The "old" Webscriptions store at http://www.webscription.net hasn't changed and still works the same way that it always has!

Worldwalker · 12-21-2010, 12:31 PM

I'm a code monkey myself. I came up through the programming side and learned design, rather than the design side learning programming. I wouldn't say that I have Earth-shattering designs; they're fairly conventional. But I stay within my skill set, which I think a disturbing number of people do not, and since I am, and think like, a programmer, I'm always looking at designs in terms of "What is someone going to be doing here? What are they going to want? How can I make it easy for them to hand over money?" Showing off my design skills would be an exercise in futility. And I always remember some words by Jakob Nielsen: people will spend most of their time on websites other than mine. He's right. They know what they want. They're there to get it. I can either facilitate them or impede them. My clients are not paying me to impede them.

I don't even think Baen's new site is all that pretty, but that's a design opinion. What I like might not be what anyone else likes. But I can say that it is not as easy to use as its predecessor, and I can point to reasons for that. Nobody ever left a website because it was too plain, but plenty leave sites every minute because they can't find what they want and need. This one needs fixing.

dsvick · 12-21-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

I wouldn't say that I have Earth-shattering designs; they're fairly conventional. Showing off my design skills would be an exercise in futility.

Me too, I always tell people here that I make ugly websites, they work really well, but they are rather plain and boring. On other hand I firmly believe that most people just want to be able to go to a site and be able to figure out what to click to do what they want to do, and not have to spend minutes searching for it.

Also, as a programmer, I'm huge on reuse so if I can reuse the same menu functionality throughout the site, well that's a win-win!! I write less code and the site is consistent throughout!

KenJackson · 12-21-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

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

Flash works just fine in all four browsers I use on Linux, so the implication of OS is probably sour grapes.

The problem is that it seems to be for entertainment. It moves. It grabs your attention. It's whiz-bang wow! In short, it distracts me from seeing what I want to see. I have to be careful where I move the cursor or popups obscure what I wanted to click on. I have to fight it to accomplish my goal.

A well designed website should help, not hinder.

All that being said, the new Baen site isn't quite as bad as many.

Xanthe · 12-21-2010, 08:14 PM

Just checked it out on my laptop (previous post was about my cell phone), and I still like it better than it was before. I don't mind the changing book images. On the way the site was previously designed, the whole page itself would jump up and down several lines whenever I moused over an image. It was like I was playing tag with the information. The drop-down menus are good; I can access whatever information I need quickly.

Except, of course, for Baen's Bar. Hadn't been there for a while and tried to access it in August. Couldn't get in, notified them, they were supposed to get back to me, never did. Tried to get in today, still can't. Sent another email to them.

Kai Winters · 12-23-2010, 09:06 AM

I like it more than the last one.

queentess · 12-23-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why are you going to the new store at all to buy Webscriptions books? The "old" Webscriptions store at http://www.webscription.net hasn't changed and still works the same way that it always has!

Yeah, I'm also a little confused by this. Why even bother going to baen.com if I'm just going to hit the link going to webscriptions? For my uses, nothing has changed with their site.

TheSFReader · 12-23-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Yeah, I'm also a little confused by this. Why even bother going to baen.com if I'm just going to hit the link going to webscriptions? For my uses, nothing has changed with their site.

Well in fact Baen and webscription are different "beasts" :
- While Baen is a Publisher, it's goal is NOT to directly sell books to customer, but to "retailers".
- Webscription is such a retailer, which goal is to "buy" books from publishers (not limited to Baen), and sell them to customers.

These two "beasts" ARE closely related, but in fact if you want to BUY books you should go to Webscription, and if you want to know about "upcoming books", editorial choices etc... from Baen, you should go to Baen.
That's also true for pbooks, which you WON'T find at Webscriptions ...

They also share the same "forum/blog" with baen bar ...

As it happens I'm in line with you queentess, and directly go to Webscription when I want to buy a book ... The preceding was just to try and exmplain the difference and the purpose of both.

AdamV · 01-06-2011, 08:36 AM

is it only me or the main page still says "New this month" and shows last month's titles?

12-20-2010, 01:52 PM	#63
AdamV Censored Posts: 105 Karma: 20724 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Kobo Aura HD (brown), Asus DR 900	or you can just select "Webscriptions ebookstore" from Read Baen menu and then select WebScriptions from the left menu under "Categories" Last edited by AdamV; 12-20-2010 at 02:38 PM.

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12-19-2010, 10:14 PM	#61
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	I dislike the inconsistency. I also think that the site should have the different formats of eBooks available. It's all guesswork.

12-20-2010, 06:28 PM	#66
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Re the OP's question, all I can say is, THANK YOU JESUS! If ever a site needed a redesign it was that one! I can now actually access it on my cell phone with ease.

12-21-2010, 09:35 AM	#67
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Why are you going to the new store at all to buy Webscriptions books? The "old" Webscriptions store at http://www.webscription.net hasn't changed and still works the same way that it always has!

12-21-2010, 12:31 PM	#68
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	I'm a code monkey myself. I came up through the programming side and learned design, rather than the design side learning programming. I wouldn't say that I have Earth-shattering designs; they're fairly conventional. But I stay within my skill set, which I think a disturbing number of people do not, and since I am, and think like, a programmer, I'm always looking at designs in terms of "What is someone going to be doing here? What are they going to want? How can I make it easy for them to hand over money?" Showing off my design skills would be an exercise in futility. And I always remember some words by Jakob Nielsen: people will spend most of their time on websites other than mine. He's right. They know what they want. They're there to get it. I can either facilitate them or impede them. My clients are not paying me to impede them. I don't even think Baen's new site is all that pretty, but that's a design opinion. What I like might not be what anyone else likes. But I can say that it is not as easy to use as its predecessor, and I can point to reasons for that. Nobody ever left a website because it was too plain, but plenty leave sites every minute because they can't find what they want and need. This one needs fixing.

12-21-2010, 08:14 PM	#71
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Just checked it out on my laptop (previous post was about my cell phone), and I still like it better than it was before. I don't mind the changing book images. On the way the site was previously designed, the whole page itself would jump up and down several lines whenever I moused over an image. It was like I was playing tag with the information. The drop-down menus are good; I can access whatever information I need quickly. Except, of course, for Baen's Bar. Hadn't been there for a while and tried to access it in August. Couldn't get in, notified them, they were supposed to get back to me, never did. Tried to get in today, still can't. Sent another email to them.

12-23-2010, 09:06 AM	#72
Kai Winters Lover of Books Posts: 218 Karma: 1073074 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern NY Device: iPhone 7+	I like it more than the last one.

01-06-2011, 08:36 AM	#75
AdamV Censored Posts: 105 Karma: 20724 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Kobo Aura HD (brown), Asus DR 900	is it only me or the main page still says "New this month" and shows last month's titles?