the duo

Andrew,

Welcome to TWF. We usually prefer that new members review at least three other sites before asking for a critique. Once you've done that we'll all be happy to review your site I hope you enjoy participating at TWF.

cool

I've got opinions galore!

Alright, time for a review then. Overall it looks pretty good. The colour scheme is interesting and I find the layout to be quite refreshing as well. A few changes would be an improvement though:

On the home page, align the titles and the little explanations instead of indenting the titles as they are. Also try to find a different colour for the text showing the page you're on (instead of bright red), and maybe darken the page background a little bit.

I would complain about the copy but I see that you know there's problems with that! It would be interesting to know how these guys ended up in Japan and how they got together!

As you know, I like it. It keeps getting better in fact.

One new problem I noticed is that once you sink into the sub-pages of the profile, there is no easy way back. In other words, if you read one profile, you need to leave the profile section entirely and then return to read the next one. (this is ignoring the browser "back" button of course)

I agree with taff on the profile / back issue, other than like I really like it

that's how a website should be

Well, everyone else likes it. I don't usually join the "Everyone Else" club but I couldn't really find anything to offer criticism on. A job well done. I would have the say it is one of the finer sites we have ever critiqued here at Webmaster-Forums. Just don't let it go to your head.

me likes! Had to look hard to find anything to say...

At 800x600 full-screen, there's a slight vertical scroll on the front page. And that's with everything but the location/address bar turned off. I'm used to vertical scrolls but just think it would be neater to have the front page without, especially since it's their names at the bottom that don't show.

I know NS and IE handle CSS differently. In NS 4.6 the links are showing up as the NS default blue for me, whereas in IE they are white.

Also, on some of the subsequent pages, the text in the right cell is bumping up against the edges in NS. Seems to be okay in IE.

To me it seems rather awkward to have to link to the home page be way off to the right when all the other links are aligned to the left.

On the music page you offer a track to download, saying it's from Gary's second CD. Perhaps offer some info on how/where to obtain the CD?

And one thing I wasn't clear on is what they go by... are they billed as "The Duo" or as "Gary Scott and Imani"?

Anyway, very nice!

I charged a six pack for the site but I need to wrap it up fast. My job (editing)is getting very busy and I need cash. They live in the same building, in Yokohama, as me and I like "the duo" alot so I'll try and implement all of your good advice.

Regarding the issues that you mentioned.

1) Yes, I will corrected the indentation. I thought it looked strange myself.

2) The hompepage link way off to the left. hmnnn. that was a personal choice but I'll rethink it.

3) Since we don't have a host yet, I was afraid to offer comercial info (it's FORBIDDEN) for fear of getting booted off my own isp/site. It's coming

4)Bright red may be harsh for the active link so I'll try some other colors and see if something softer works....

5)Getting into the sub pages issue...... I'll definitely add some links to get in and out soon. But where and how?

6) regarding the NS issue, that's news to me. I looked in Netscape 4.7/8/x (i can't remember which one) and Netscape 6.0 and it looked fine on windows 98 English and windows ME Japanese at 1024 and 800 res. I will look very carefully once again and try and find out. Nothing bumping and nothing blue but I will look again and make an effort to find the problems.

The name "the duo" and "gary scott and imani" are interchangeable. Maybe I should clarify it.

Why they came to Tokyo is a bit of a mystery to me but feel free to draw your own conclusions.

I'm here for the cash.

I think you should have held out for at *least* a 12-pack of a good import.

What I saw in NS 4.6 is on a Mac, some others have told me they don't see the same issues I do.

Anyway, good luck with it!

Once again thanks for all the good suggestions.

I made the following changes:

- I "corrected" the header alignment on the index page.
- The first steps have been taken towards improving the copy.
- "Back" links were added on the sub pages of the profile page.
- At small risk to myself, I added purcahse info regarding the CD.

I experimented with the following but realized I need more time to make effective changes.

- I moved the home link to left side of the page but it looked busy. I think I'll need to redesign the navigation. Good advice but I need more time to implement the change.

- Changing the color of the active link was a good idea but I got all wishy washy. Any ideas?

- Background it's coming

Regarding the NS issue. I don't have access to a Mac to check so I'll just try to clean up my code.

Thanks again

PS
the duo came to japan in order to avoid certain combustible temptations, I think

As usual you don't dissapoint andrew.

The only critique I had was taken by TheGizmoid

"To me it seems rather awkward to have to link to the home page be way off to the right when all the other links are aligned to the left."

Good job!!!

I just wanted to add my 2 cents in here and say how amazing and wonderful your site is.

It's fast, it's simple... it's beautiful!

The only thing I noticed was the duo's pictures were so highly optomized that the black in their clothes turned very blocky. (of course, I'm used to dealing with artwork, where highly optomized is almost a dirty word...lol)
I'm probably the only one who sees that, and even then I don't beleive it distracts from the picture.

Excellent site! (I hope I can do that good one day)

Thanks for the look.
Karen

Sit Nor All Fud Up
I'd love to redesign the navigation but I'm doing this for (a 6 pack)free and I have decided that I can't spend any more time on this page beyond minor changes. But that said you and gizmod are quite right about the navigation. I'd love to just throw the home link over to the left side. Actually I tried it but it is just too busy!! (busy looking!!) When I get the time I'll redesign the navigation from scratch. It's a promise

Karen
thanks but I'm dealing with an ego problem already..

No doubt you are right but i'm looking at these images on a 15 inch monitor at 1024 resolution. I can't see much but perhaps the average user can't either. Most Japanese users will be looking at the page on a notebook so I think I can get away with a lot (I hope).

Thanks again for all the help

Andrew

Andyn20 said
"It is just too busy!! "

Busy replies
"I didn't do it, wasn't me :p"

Thanks again

I said I wasn't going to spend any more time on this page but I caved in and tried to implment your good suggestions.

- I darkened the background.
- Added a black border.
- I moved the home link to be in line with the navigation.
- Changed the active page color to a softer color than bright red

geocities.com/andyn20/duo/index.html
(I didn't put it my own server because there was some commercial info (I'd have to pay for it))

Thanks again for all your help