PHPBeginner.net - First Draft

It doesn't matter if you do all the error checking in the world, or if you have the most beautiful graphics, if your site or application design isn't usable, it's not going to do well. Get input and advice on usability and user interface issues here.

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RobertGonzalez
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PHPBeginner.net - First Draft

Post by RobertGonzalez »

Okay, it has been a while since I put up a request for usability on a design of mine. Since Ninja is making me look bad with all the stuff he is putting out, I figured now is a good time to get my name back on the list of designers/developers that rock the hizzie.

Anyhow, would you all mind taking a look at this layout and telling me what you think? At the moment the links do nothing (except the tab links and the footer links) but what I am looking for is the effect of the coloring, the text and the intuitiveness of the interface. You can bash me on anything you like, but I am really interested in your feedback on the core usability of the layout.

Anyway, fire away with your comments. All feedback, good and bad, is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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superdezign
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Post by superdezign »

I don't like the tabs. You click, and the focused area is all but the left of the tab. My suggestion is to make the focused area only the center of the tab, the whole tab, or put some more JavaScript in there.

Code: Select all

for(var i = 0; i < tabContainer.childNodes.length; i++)
{
    tabContainer.childNodes[i].addEventListener('focus', function(){this.blur();}, true);
}
Or something like that. :-p
I'm not sure about the cross-browser compatibility of blur(). Rumors. :-p
PHPBeginner.net wrote:A note to users of Internet Explorer: There is a good likelihood that this site may not render properly in your browser. We have developed this site so that it renders appropriately in all standards compliant browsers, of which Internet Explorer is not.
The pure bluntness of it made me giggle. ^_^
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Luke
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Post by Luke »

I like the layout. I think it's friendly and you chose good colors for a website dealing with beginners. I feel very at ease looking at the site. I'll save most of my navigation critique for version 2 since the site isn't really navigable yet. I must say though that I love the tabs (I love tabs in general). Those combined with the tree navigation as well as the breadcrumb should make for a very easy-to-navigate site. Nice work!

Also, valid CSS & XHTML. Image

+10 for not giving a crap about IE. I hate that damn browser!!! Image
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TheMoose
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Post by TheMoose »

The left most portion of each of the tabs isn't a link, so doesn't have the focus like superdezign was saying when you click it. But overall, very easy to find information, so definite plus for it being a beginners site.

PS: Renders fine for me in both FF and IE7 ;), now if only I wasn't forced to code for all browsers, my job would be a lot easier!
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RobertGonzalez
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Post by RobertGonzalez »

Nice. I hadn't even noticed that issue with the left portion of the tab not being linked. I will certainly fix that.

Thanks for the feedback. As soon as the framework for the site is built, the site should be able to go live. The content is done, it just needs to be accessed and I really don't feel like wasting time recoding something once it is better.

Thanks again for the feedback.
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s.dot
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Post by s.dot »

Love the colors. Nice, easy navigation. Clear focus of what the site's about (or going to be) about. Big letters. Comfy feeling. Good job!

Also, I use IE7, and it renders just fine.
sentback
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Post by sentback »

I love the navigation. It's just so easy. Great job! The only thing that doesn't seem to fit in are the tabs. I think a simple bordered <ul> displayed inline would be a nice and clean solution. Anyways, I think you did a really good job.
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Oren
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Post by Oren »

It's great 8)
Just 2 things though:

1. You need to add some padding to the right. Right now the text reaches all the way to the end of the window (right side) - add some space there.
2. The note for IE users... the text there is too small and I really don't understand why - especially since all the rest of the text on the page is pretty big.

Except that, I really like it - clean, simple and easy on the eyes 8)
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s.dot
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Post by s.dot »

Is this using a template engine? (curious because i'm recently using a template engine)
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RobertGonzalez
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Post by RobertGonzalez »

Oren wrote:1. You need to add some padding to the right. Right now the text reaches all the way to the end of the window (right side) - add some space there.
What browser are you viewing with?
Oren wrote:2. The note for IE users... the text there is too small and I really don't understand why - especially since all the rest of the text on the page is pretty big.
I thought that too, but in order for that little box to not have to include scroll bars for longer notes I had to shrink the text size. Though I could go with an auto height and leave the scrolls bars to do what they do.
scottayy wrote:Is this using a template engine? (curious because i'm recently using a template engine)
Not yet it isn't, but will eventually use template lite.
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vigge89
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Post by vigge89 »

In my opinion the tabs stand out a little too much from the rest of the page, too much bevel/inner shadow on them really when compared to the other layout elements. Also, it might only be me, but I'd prefer a bit smaller font sizes for the "content text" and the lefthand menu (maybe make the menu links bold aswell). Otherwise it looks nice, it could possibly use some more space on the right after the content/tabs, for some reason I think it looks somewhat odd when the main content is not really in the center of the page.
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Kieran Huggins
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Post by Kieran Huggins »

Tabs look fine to me - If I were to change things they would be:

decrease text size for both paragraphs & the left menu... it's just too big, hard to read. At least 1, if not 2 stops.

larger margins around 1st level LI members, get rid of the underlining altogether.

dump the extra margin on the fieldset, the colour/border is enough distinction already.

Other than that, it looks (and feels) very nice! I can foresee us using it quite a bit with all the noobs that stop by here. Great idea!
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Christopher
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Post by Christopher »

I like it in general, but the 3D tabs don't seem to balance with the title. Perhaps adding matching drop shadow to the title letters. Or lose the 3D effect on the tabs. Given that everything else in the layout is very flat, perhaps the latter. And I agree that that body text is a little large.
(#10850)
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RobertGonzalez
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Post by RobertGonzalez »

Thanks guys. I will play around with these style changes tomorrow. I can see where the tabs look silly 3D like that when nothing else it. And I have already toyed with smaller font sizes. I'll post changes tomorrow.

Thanks again.
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Oren
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Post by Oren »

Everah wrote:What browser are you viewing with?
Take a look at my avatar :wink:
(Firefox of course)
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