REVIEW REQUEST: WebQuad Website Design Business

Previous thread, for comparison: http://www.webmaster-forums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19385

The graphics are still rough. It's almost a year later, you guys really need to take a look at getting a better graphics editor or taking a course.

Suzanne, I honestly do not know what you're talking about...the graphics are perfectly smooth...what do you mean when you say "The graphics are still rough"?

Anyway, if anyone else would like to comment, I would love to hear what you have to say!

I'm looking forward to your replies,
Ryan

Nice looking site overall, but I did notice a few things.

First, I got 14 browser problems. This included mine, which cut off at least half of the column at the right (and part of the word "services", I think, in the menu . . . I saw "servi" and that was about it. I also clicked on the PC Game site in the portfolio section, which also showed the right side of that site cut off at about the same point as your own WebQuad home page (and the other pages within the site). Plus the PC Game site took a very long time to load completely for me . . . maybe as long as 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.

You also asked about spelling errors or other possible mistakes, so here goes:

[=1]

[*]In the "Latest News" section: "Thank you for visiting our website and if you would like for us to design a beautiful site for you, please Contact Us!" Again, no spelling error seen here, but the word "beautiful" just seems wrong here (i.e., What if the client doesn't think the first version you show him/her is beautiful?).
[/=1]

Not sure why the graphics would be considered "rough" (maybe the "why" part was covered in the earlier thread, I don't know), but I did notice that the large image at the top of the page was a bit blurred with the round part of the gray having a slightly jagged edge. All the other images seemed okay (to me anyway).

Hope this helps some, and good luck with the site and your business! :D[/]

Yep, jagged edges. Anti-alias your graphics. Also, the dithering is not very good -- use GIF or PNG for images which are more text and less picture.

I find the page/graphics to be very slow loading and I'm on a fast connection.

I agree about the graphics they are very jaggedy and so is the text that you have as the headers down the left hand side. I get a small horizontal scrollbar at 800*600 and to me the header/logo section should start right up at the top and the drop down bar & links should come within the main section.

I find it odd that you are asking for donations when you are running this as a web design business. I know you have other secitons within your site but if I was a potential client I would find this off putting as I would expect you to be able to support yourselves financially and not have to ask for donations towards the running costs of the site(s).

I personally don't like the graphic that you have of the swirly pink/blue thing, but that's just down to personal taste. I do like the feel of the main section though but many, I'm sure, will find the text size too small.

Thanks for your responses,

fiesty, I really appreciate you pointing out the spelling errors...I'll be sure to fix those as soon as I find the time.

QUOTE: "First, I got 14 browser problems. This included mine, which cut off at least half of the column at the right (and part of the word "services", I think, in the menu . . . I saw "servi" and that was about it. I also clicked on the PC Game site in the portfolio section, which also showed the right side of that site cut off at about the same point as your own WebQuad home page (and the other pages within the site)."

Fiesty, can you please show me a screenshot of what this looks like please...what browser, OS, and resolution are you using when viewing my website. I would really appreciate a screenshot of what you just explained, because I have never heard of such a thing. Thank you for pointing it out though and let me know if you can get a screenshots of it for me. Thanks.

Oh, by the way, thanks for the complements Webmistress...LOL!

Again, thanks for your "critical" reviews, I really appreciate it. (yes, I'm being sarcastic... )

Talk to you later and looking forward to some more comments!
Ryan

PS: The donation part is not related to the business, but rather to the WebQuad Network and its 11 websites.

Sorry, but I am unable to do screen shots, but perhaps others on here can do that (or show the horizontal scroll bar). I think the problem with the right column being cut off must be the same one as the small horizontal scroll bar that was mentioned by the Webmistress. My resolution is only 540X420 I think, which is on MSNtv (IE 2.8 is the browser) . . . this was not seen on a computer screen by me, but on a 25" TV screen, but I thought I should mention it since many pages do show the entire contents when I view them.

http://www.zerocattle.com/examples/images/webquad.jpg

The images are not properly optimized. They are both jaggedy on the edges and overly compressed, resulting in jagged and blurry images that look unprofessional.

If you don't want a critique, why post for one?

I generally like the "feel" of the site, its been done well. The image changes of the navigation is a nive touch.
The pinky bluely swurly thingy for the header is quite nice, I like it but it's too big/domineering. Try reducing the size of it down to about half.

Two things you should definatly fix/get rid of.

1, The "donate" part, its very VERY VERY unprofessional.
2, Aliased pictures, make them anti-aliased

Both of those have been mentioned quite a few times so I won't go into more detail about them.

The bit above the header is not really needed, since its already found in the nav. If you really want it on the page, then perhaps the bottom would be a better place for it along with other links found in the nav.

The whole page is also on the left, perhaps centreing the main table would help shift the whole thing to the centre of the page?

Hi, I do not have that much time to reply to all of you...so I'll come back later and respond.

However, I have a real QUICK question for Suzanne...what browser, OS, and resolution are you using? Please let me know, I would really appreciate it!

I'll be back to respond to all of you later when I get the chance...for now, I have to go since I am quite busy now.

Thanks!
Ryan

OSX Safari, OSX Camino, OSX IE5.2, OSX Netscape 7, OSX Opera, OS9 Netscape 4.x, Netscape 7, XP IE6, XP N7, XP Mozilla...

It's not my browser, it's not my operating system, your images are not done well, you are using jpeg compression for text and not anti-aliasing parts you need to anti-alias.

I agree aobut the graphics - the text in the top section just looks fuzzy and other graphics have jaggedy edges. However, you do seem to have fixed the graininess problem you had with previous versions, so that's a good thing. Specifically, the text navigation elements look really blurry and I feel like there's something wrong with my eyesight when I try to read them. As suzanne showed, the big round "take the tour" graphic is very jagged around the edge. Also, you're not doing a good job of centering text in a round button. The WQ is too high in its button, and the "take the tour" text seems off as well. I also think that the main graphic could stand to be a little smaller - move the navbar up a little bit. Overall your designs are very attractive, I like the swirly thing, but compression and edges need improvement. Ack! didn't see those mouseovers. Don't change that center graphic on mouseover. It's really not necessary and the images you're showing there are much weaker than other graphics in the design.

Another big problem here is that there is way too much text in the content area. Keep it minimal and to the point. Also make sure your font sizes are readible - other pages are better but text on the main page is way too small. That left column with the "take the tour" text is really unnecessary. Those headings are really self-explanitory and don't need a paragraph of redundant explanation. I also expected the headings to be links so you might want to fix that up too.

Another thing here is that the secondary navigation row should be bigger and more noticeable. Actually, you might want to consider moving that to the left side and doing something different with the "take the tour" links. Page headers should also be a little more noticeable.

Why does your html page title not match the title shown on the graphic header? That's confusing. I also find it odd that you're calling yourself "Webquad Website Design Business". I kind of thing the inclusion of "business" there is kind of redundant. How often do you see businesses use the word "business" in their names?

Oh, I also really like what you've done with the top network banner. It's there if needed, but doesn't overpower the page design.

Hi,

As everyone else has mentioned - the top header is jagged when inspected closely. The arch design is the most jagged.

I like the colours used and on a black background i think works well.
Not sure about the blue/pattern tint within the title area though, i think it would look better all white or all blue.

I also found the images took a while to load as others have mentioned.

Overall not bad at all, although i think there is a bit to much information overload on the home page - too many boxes for me.

just my thoughts....

Andy