www.techlinks100.com

Looks okay, images took a bit long to load, not too long though. Colours are good together. You might want to change your drop-menu, you shouldn't make the whole thing capitals as it can be hard to read.

I thought the page load time was just acceptable. Wouldn't want it to take any longer though.

Easy to understand - fully understood what the site did and the concept behind it.
It's actually a nice idea. Something that always puts me off a web site is if its very busy and theres lot of random links - I didn't find this with yours - it was very easy to follow.

I have to agree with the previous post - change the drop down menu from being all capital letters. In my opinion, not good.

Also the links accross the bottom are in exactly the sawme colour as the page bg (below it) from a design point of view I would consider making the links a shade darker.

Hope this helps a bit.

Here's a link for your convenience: http://www.techlinks100.com

This looks good. I like the overall look and feel of it. I don't like that big banner ad at the top there. It's too dominant. Maybe you could put that on a grey background instead of red. That might help it to recede a little and let the content stand out more(although I don't know what you would do with the navigation bar underneath it in that case).

I was confused at first with the category list there. It took a minute to realize that this was the top ten categories and the entire list would be located elsewhere. But where? I think there should be a link at the bottom of that list to view all categories since the drop down isn't immediately noticeable (that drop down is hard to use too - at least put those labels in title case so they're easier to read).

As a web designer, the first thing I'm looking for here is web design. But where is it? I think it should have its own category. Here it could fit under internet, programming, or graphic design. I think it would be best to have its own category and save users the trouble of having to figure out where to find it. I did find it under internet, but when I clicked on that heading I wasn't expecting to find additional categories that weren't listing on the cateogry index page.

I'm definitely digging this site..like the design, like the color scheme, like most everything. I do have to agree with the banner ad suggestion tho, it just takes too much away from the rest of your page. Ditto on the drop-down as well, all caps can be really hard on the eyes.
Overall, this is a very easy site to navigate as it is well organized. The drop down menu needs a little work, but this is simple. Good work.

As a USER
-Do you understand what the site does when you visit it?
You should put the actual banner title larger and in a darker color. Maybe the burgandy you have in other areas? "Directory of Techology and related websites." It doesn't stand out.

-Is the site easy to use?
The font color is hard for me to read...maybe make it darker and change the font on the headings as well as the sub-titles for the images.

-Would you use the site?
I may...I like the pull down you have for the categories.

-What features would you like to see?
I'm not really sure, I will have to visit the site a few times to figure that out.

As a WEBMASTER
-Do you understand the benefits of joining?
Yes. Very cool site.
-What other benefits would you like to see?
Do you have reciprocal links, or plan to? That would help your site as well as any sites you have the exchange with.
-Would you join?
I did join and I submitted a site.

The load time is a little slow on dial up.
That big banner (on 800x600) gives a false impression of what the site is about and people still go on first impressions for some stupid reason.
Your "choose a category" drop down box doesn't work in mozilla firebird, the go button is covering the drop down arrow. Normally I would of gone elsewhere, but I did find the 'directory' link at the bottom of the page.
The site looks a little bit slapped together from other sites, the very top links (home, login, signup) is totally different to the search option which is totally different to the top and bottom main navigation, and with that banner (first impression was link farm) makes me think twice about clicking on any link. I suppose the search and top links go together but then you have the flat text links (main nav) and a 'suggest a site' 3d button which throws it all out.
there is also a tiny horziontal scroll bar at 800x600

The idea in general (and site) is a good one, but I think this idea has been tanished to long ago to gain much trust nowadays. Most of these types of sites (and I'm not saying yours is) are just link farms full of affiliate links and not much of anything else

As a Users or Webmaster I wouldn't join or use the site
Don't understand the benefits of joining

Good luck

Thanks so much for your critique its helped alot and we are changing some things soon, the front page is going to be modified greatly. the large banner will be changed (not exactly sure on specifics right now). the general page layout will also change in resposnse to people thinking it is a link farm. the main page will have alot less links and more closly resemble our directory listing page http://www.techlinks100.com/dsp_categories.php
as for the drop down it will soon be changed. thanks for your help (which was quite helpful) and you have anymore suggestions or problems it would be apprecitated.
max
http://www.techlinks100.com/home.php

Although I do think it looks alright, It does seem a little comfussing and "random". Its a little difficult to really understand whats what untill you step back and really look at it. But other than that, I love the different colours you have and they layout it alright. Good Site.

-Chris