what have I done...

[pmhauer]

Please take a look at my site. I've never been reviewed before so I'm a little self-conscious. Actually, I think it's pretty cool, all told.

http://www.pmhauer.com

When reviewing it, keep in mind that I just learned tonight that the reasons for not using tabular formatting for layout is for the blind. I feel awful. :(

You'll see from the site that I'm not a programmer by occupation, so keep that in mind.

I'm still working on getting some last artwork and trying to figure out a solution to my html goodies yes frames javascript problem when I try to do a printable version.

[spufi]

Read the forum sticky. Your e-mail link should go to your contact page, and not to a mailto link. Your gallery section has a completely different layout, and thus it is likely to throw some people off when they first view it. "view art using your Microsoft Explorer browser." Seemed to work fine in Firefox. :) I wouldn't recommend having the user to go Amazon to view your book list. I think keeping it in site would be best. The heads up about the redirect to Amazon was kind of nice, but I don't think it worked for me.

[pmhauer]

You really did spend some time on the review. Wow. Thanks!

Yeah, Spufi, that sticky of yours gave me a lot to think about. Though, I have to confess that your "Why tables for layout is stupid" makes me a little ill when I begin to think of all the re-working that now lays ahead of me. Still, I see the merit for doing so. I also visited your website. That's exactly the kind of professional beat down that I need. (But, I just discovered CSS a couple months ago--learned to program in mosaic in the 90s and left the biz).

Glad that the pages seemed to work in your Firefox. I try to test the pages with Firefox, Netscape, IE, and Opera. Actually, I don't understand why each and every browser seems to point out different errors in my pages. Maybe that won't happen once I go completely CSS (that is when and if I get the courage).

As for the different template for my gallery, I'm afraid that I'm too unreasonably attached to the design to divorce myself from it. You'd know how it is. It was the first template that I ever designed and actually liked.

As for the book list, I think that I'll keep it as is... only bury it in the site when I develop more content. I agree that, as a feature, it doesn't really work. If only I had more "at play" content to feature.

Thanks for the advice. All of it good.

I hope there is more criticism to receive.

[LJK]

Hi -
I'm fond of hybrids but they can be confusing -
as when you're attatched to the Gallery layout...
Why not just open that up as its own site - with a link, if desired,
from the other? [You certainly have enough content for two.]
A bit odd to have such a cold, slick- looking site up against one with a completely different feel and style.

Kind of a conflict going on between the artist and Day Job? ;-)

In regards to taste - Don't think the 'opener' w/ explanation is needed, nor does scrolling text appeal in any way, shape or form to me. Really like the glass window graphics and monochromatic approach, though.

Liked the header [frame?] above the .pdf's but really disliked having
to rove through 4-5 links just to get a piece of info. about your work!

Keep on,
El

[pmhauer]

El,

I'm so impressed by how much time people take to put in a quality review. You know how much we should pay for these kind of reviews? Well, I guess an answer to that is that we're all in this together.

I'm also surprised by the comments people make about scrolling text in their reviews on this site. I think that I'll end up keeping it. I know, I know... but because of the space restriction (and horizontal layout) of my home page ... most of my clientelle are poor and don't have nice resolution (800 x 600 at the library). Maybe if I used scrolling text for press releases... or special offers? Hmm... Is scrolling a "no, no" or just plain "uncool" when it comes to design?

Yeah, that opener will be gone soon, soon, soon.

You know, I think you're right about having to click through so much to get the information. Probably an amateur's mistake. A little while ago, I included the drop down menu on the home page, as an attempt to solve that problem, but now I know that it didn't fulfill its intent. Maybe drop downs on every page... but then I have to abandon frames (which might be a good idea anyway) because my script doesn't work over frame borders. I'm sort of new to my "day job," so maybe things will change when I have more content.

Thanks for the complement about the glass window approach. It was one of those serendipical things that I felt cool about--only I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I end up using filters on three different graphics editors to get the "glass block" effect. What I WORRY ABOUT is your impression that the color scheme was "cold." I represent a lot of kids and women in divorce situations. Now, people like to talk about their lawyers as mean SOBs in conversation, but want them to feel comfortable with me, too. Now, when I saw the new Ford Mustang, I said that it was "cold" and wanted to get comfortable with it right away. You meant it like that--right?

As for the "hybrid" sites, do you have any examples of sites that work? Maybe there's a solution for me yet. And yes, I am rife with conflict... but aren't we all? ;)

Again, thanks so much for the review. The only thing I differ with is on the scrolling text, but I'll see if there's a way to make it more appealing.

[p1hop]

It’s a pretty site (definite eye-candy) and I really like the color scheme.

The welcome page was slow (I’m on dialup) and the page did not provide any clues about the site purpose. Your under construction now and I sure that you will make a clear statement about why the website exist.

JK Rowlings (famed for Harry Potter series) welcome page allows visitors to view the website in text form or in fancy (flash?) form. It very nice as I prefer text over fancy, it’s just easier to read and wade through information.

Check out her welcome page at: http://www.jkrowling.com/

When I got into you front page, I was still confused about the purpose of your site, except for understanding that you are an attorney.
Is this site to attract clients or is a glorified resume on the Internet?
I think you need to ask some basic questions about
What this site about?
Who is this site for?
Why does this site exist?

I know that you a busy man by your occupation but keep on working and molding your website until it all come together.

[pmhauer]

OMG! Did I just get a review from someone at Lightmaker--the authors of J.K.Rowlings's site? If I did, it blows my mind. If the Rowlings site is only an example, it is a glorious one.

Yeah, good idea. It was in my glory days that we used to navigate the web using a text based browser called Lynx... for tribute purposes, I think that I might definitely put out a low-bandwidth version.

GREAT INSIGHT on the lack of a clear statement. I'm struggling with how to amend, but will try. Its really hard on the modesty to write good things about yourself... I guess I've only done it in a resume. I think I really did forgot the 7 'w's (who, what, where, why, etc.)

So very grateful for the encouragement. The kind the will keep me trodding on.

[mtgentry]

Hey man,

Personally Im not a big fan of photoshop filters. For me its too easy a solution. What
are you trying to convey by obscuring yourself? But, if you do decide to use a filter your images could be higher resolution. Right now they look like you were just trying to keep the image size down and thus the quality suffered.

(As you stated already) I think learning CSS will help a lot:

1) It can give you more control over your text
2) It can help you with positioning items

When I first tried to learn about positioning with CSS this site helped me a lot: http://glish.com/css/8.asp

good luck.

[mtgentry]

Hey man,

Personally Im not a big fan of photoshop filters. For me its too easy a solution. What are you trying to convey by obscuring yourself? But, if you do decide to use a filter your images could be optimized. Right now they look like you were just trying to keep the image size down and thus the quality suffered.

(As you stated already) I think learning CSS will help a lot:

1) It can give you more control over your text
2) It can help you with positioning items

When I first tried to learn about positioning with CSS this site helped me a lot: http://glish.com/css/8.asp

good luck.

[pmhauer]

Actually, I had to use the filter to make the pictures worthwhile because most of my photos were taken from my camera phone. As for what I'm trying to convey, I guess I'll never have the psychology to know.

Thanks for the CSS example. I bookmarked it, and will use. Funny how useful few are actually out there. I tried at <divs> a couple months ago when I learned about CSS, but the tutorials were so poorly written for laity like myself that I gave up.

Thanks for the review!