FM Homepage

[GrahamM]

This is a Magicalia website and similar to the style we're looking at for FM. What do you think?

The Mainsail.

 

[Mark Wintle]

Still not convinced, Graham. Just had a quick trawl round the other Magicalia sites as well.

Is it the intention to increase the number of articles showing in time? (found up to about 20 on the other sites.

I haven't changed my mind; at present it looks scrappy and unwelcoming. Seems dominated by tackle reviews and white space.

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

Sorry Jonny.
My screen resolutions are -:

800 X 600 Pixels.

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

If you can imagine a 14" square.

Going down the centre of the screen
Appart from Cod Nobbling.
The F.M. cap and tee shirt.
The Fishing Reel.
And Where would you fish. The centre of the screen is empty.

But there is a strip of info and adverts going down the left and right hand side.

 

[EC]

Too long!
Too much info!

 

[njb51]

Baz i've looked at it in that resolution and you're right, its a complete mess!

It looks best viewed at 1024 x 768.

Give it a couple of days and see how you get on.

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

Jonny.
Iv'e just altered my screen resolutions to 1024 X 768. It looks ten times better now.

The new Homepage its self? I like it.

That's something else I have learned.
Many thanks mate.

 

[njb51]

no problemo

 

[BLAM]

It looks a bit more commercial and a bit less informational IMO. I might be tempted to page mark the forum and go straight there in future since most (3/4?) of the new style front page is more obviously trying to sell me something than it was.

 

[njb51]

I'm not sure i understand where you guys are coming from regarding the commercial aspect. The articles now on the right were always there on the left, its just now they have been separated.

The Categories bit at the bottom is to highlight the fact that there is a new system in place and to encourage you to use it as it is an amazing tool. Even more so when it is fully operational and cleaned up.

Thanks,

Jonny

 

[BLAM]

But what if I don't always want to buy tackle? I understand that doesn't necessarily please the sponsors to hear. However I know where the links are to find the reviews if I want them. Two thirds of the page at least now seemed to be taken up with advertising of one form or another and the information (i.e. articles) seem to have taken a back seat. It maybe no more than it was in absolute terms but a huge picture of a reel (the user reviewed one) I don't want to buy isn't very interesting.

 

[njb51]

what if i made it smaller? or took it away?

The picture that is, not the review.

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

Let's not forget something.
The site needs sponsors, to keep it free for our use.

 

[BLAM]

I've just trawled around the other *Magic sites and my comments above might be more of a perception than a reality. Perhaps increasing the font size a touch might help? As someone already said there seems to be a lot of spare white space. The MainSail definitely looks more informational but upon closer inspection perhaps its just because the words are bigger.

 

[BLAM]

>The site needs sponsors, to keep it free for our use.

Intersting point Baz. I wonder who would pay for access if there were more articles and less adverts?

But I'm getting off topic...

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

I would have thought we would be asked to pay for it Blam, as other sites have done.
Can't think which ones at the moment, but one of them is a fishing site.

 

[njb51]

what resolution are you viewing in BLAM?

try 1024x768

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

Click a blank spot on your Desk Top, and choose properties, and click on settings.
Move the pointer over to 1024 X 768.
There is a massive difference.

 

[njb51]

you learn quick, my young apprentice.

 

[Baz (bad loser and proud of it)]

I nicked it off a scouser earlier on mate (o