Best sites on the net

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Luke
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Best sites on the net

Post by Luke »

I would just like to see what sites you all think are the best on the net as far as design and usablity... I must mention first Google.com. There is no other site on the net that is so simple and easy to use as Google. I think it is the epitome of GREAT web design.

After that, I'd like to mention TenByTen.org. This is also very good. And finally, AcroMediaInc.com.

Let's hear your opinions fellas!
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jayshields
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Post by jayshields »

Personally, flash can be very over powering. Both your choices use flash extensibly.

TenByTen takes too long to load for me and I gave up.

Pixel2Life has a site of the week feature, the sites on there usually use flash very, very well. Check it out.
Roja
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Re: Best sites on the net

Post by Roja »

The Ninja Space Goat wrote:I would just like to see what sites you all think are the best on the net as far as design and usablity... I must mention first Google.com. There is no other site on the net that is so simple and easy to use as Google. I think it is the epitome of GREAT web design.
Sorry, I have to disagree. Its non-standard html, the design isn't ideal, and its usability could be improved upon. (In fact, they have already been testing a new version of their interface that fixes all three issues - validating my arguments). The new design that I've seen is in fact much better, and would be a site I would recommend.
The Ninja Space Goat wrote:After that, I'd like to mention TenByTen.org. This is also very good. And finally, AcroMediaInc.com.
Flash abused, non-compliant css or html, and the structure is horrible when you linearize it. Both definitely not examples I would hold up.

Great design is accessible, usable, and visually stunning. One site, 200+ examples: CSS Zen garden.
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

This one :)

Yeah flash irritates me too. I like strong CSS based layouts. I generally prefer sites with few colors too ;)
timvw
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Post by timvw »

I have choosen NOT to install that annoying flash player.. Apart from slowing down my computer (and not working in a text oriented browser) i don't see why i would ever want to install that player again...
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onion2k
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Post by onion2k »

Everyone who visits http://www.ooer.com says it's really good.
d3ad1ysp0rk
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Post by d3ad1ysp0rk »

Flash is bad. They haven't released an AMD64-Linux version of flash player 8 :|

Basically, one of my favorite sites was innacessible when I attempted to switch to Ubuntu for my desktop.
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Post by Roja »

onion2k wrote:Everyone who visits http://www.ooer.com says it's really good.
I like it, but I wouldn't say its REALLY good. One of the comments on the page about the spammer broke its xhtml&css compliance. :)
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Luke
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Post by Luke »

You guys kinda missed the point of the thread. The point was to point out examples of sites you think are good design... not to argue with my opinion. Geeze.
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Luke
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Re: Best sites on the net

Post by Luke »

Roja wrote:the design isn't ideal, and its usability could be improved upon.
I have to argue with these points anyway. First of all, "It's design isn't ideal" isn't even a valid arguement. That could mean anything. The design is beautifully simple and I have yet to visit a site that is easier to use.... now any site's usability could be "improved upon," but arguing that in the case of Google is kind of ridiculous.
Roja
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Re: Best sites on the net

Post by Roja »

The Ninja Space Goat wrote:
Roja wrote:the design isn't ideal, and its usability could be improved upon.
I have to argue with these points anyway. First of all, "It's design isn't ideal" isn't even a valid arguement. That could mean anything. The design is beautifully simple and I have yet to visit a site that is easier to use.... now any site's usability could be "improved upon," but arguing that in the case of Google is kind of ridiculous.
On the contrary, it is a valid argument. Just because you hold the opposing view doesn't reduce the validity of the argument.

Since you'd like more detail, there are several things about it that are not ideal. A blogger (Andy Rutledge) did a great job improving the overall design, so read his article for some of the reasoning behind my opinion. Here it is in functional form, allowing a much better google interface, in my opinion.

I'm not going to point-by-point repeat and defend Andy's points. I will simply say that having invalid code, invalid css, and a variety of inconsistencies in the visual design all are perfectly valid points showing that the design and usability could be improved upon.
The Ninja Space Goat wrote:You guys kinda missed the point of the thread. The point was to point out examples of sites you think are good design... not to argue with my opinion. Geeze.
Multiple people have given examples of good design - we didn't miss the point. However, if you hold up a site as an example of good design, you should expect that opinion to possibly be challenged.
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JAB Creations
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Post by JAB Creations »

I'm going go have to go with a little self promotion... :D
http://www.jabcreations.com

27 versions and I'm still working on it...I've got tons of options I still want to implement (like minimalist mode that will hide the sidebar).

Flash is only good as part of a site, not AS a site.

Watchfire accessabilities validation is lame, I work with Cynthia.
matthijs
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Post by matthijs »

I'm going go have to go with a little self promotion
Uhmm, I might miss something or maybe I need another coffee, but how do I enter the site? I arrive on some intro-page were I must think really hard about several choices. And then when I select a flag of a language I think I understand well enough (something that looks like an english one) I arrive on a page with some unreadable gibberish?

If you could help me, thanks. Then I can at least check out the site.
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Benjamin
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Post by Benjamin »

Well my site could hardly be classified as best on the net, but it is well designed and last time I checked standards compliant.

http://astions.com/index.php

I also wrote a great article on how to write for the web.

http://astions.com/writing_web_content.php
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JAB Creations
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Post by JAB Creations »

IoI matthijs, try visiting when you're not about to crash. I'd hate to sound insulting but the directions are simple and if you KNOW you don't understand English then those flags would hint (hey, a translation is available).
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