Posted by Chaddy2222 on 12/09/06 07:12

Travis Newbury wrote:
> Jonathan N. Little wrote:
> > I guess the main point is yes, do what ever *you* wish. Design that
> > static site if *you* so desire, it your prerogative. Just if your
> > visitors are frustrated because they must maximize their browser window
> > to view your site without the pain of horizontal scrolling when they
> > really want two windows tiled or change their monitor resolution just to
> > read that minuscule text they will exercise *their* prerogative and not
> > come back!
>
> Where you are wrong is you do not work in or understand in the
> entertainment industry (ok that us an assumption, I don't know where
> you work, but from your responses I can only assume it is not the
> entertainment industry)
>
> I do work in the entertainment industry. (Name drop time now) If you
> visit Disney, Cartoon Network, TBS, Snoopdogg, Aerosmith, The Cars,
> Run DMC, ABS, CBS, NBC, FOX News, Marriott International, SONY, and 3
> of the college bowl sites, you will see my work. I do NOT do their
> websites, but I do, do their Flash video. (Not the company I work for
> does it, I personally do it freelance.)
>
> I can tell you with out a doubt, all of them are moving to fixed width,
> Flash based websites. I can also tell you without a doubt they have
> all looked at other alternatives and have come to the conclusion that
> for the content they are providing, this is the correct way to go. If
> you disagree please visit any (US) entertainment website (or any US
> website directed at children) to see that what I am saying is true.
>
> This is the direction they are going, because this is the direction
> that makes them the most money. They fully understand that some people
> can not see or use their sites or video, but without a doubt, they are
> increasing revenue with this direction.
>
Perhaps another point to make here is that to those types of people,
"all the accessibility sites are ugly". Their words, not mine.
It takes a lot of skill to get a CSS only layout to look atractive, and
even then CSS does not work very well, custom fonts are an example of
this and when you have an entire site that revolves around a specific
brand, they are not exactly going to settle for some bland and boring
font that does not look the part.
On the other hand, a lot of sites (such as most of the newspaper sites)
could do a much better job of providing access to the info without
needing to have printable and text only versions (there bloody info
sites FFS).
However, the Cartoon Networks site was OK as far as accessibility goes,
mind you it would look like shit with images turned off. They could
also use some CSS for some of the menu items, the links in the center
of the page come to mind.That way it would work better as you would be
able to use those links with JS turned off and it would probably load
quicker as well.

> Now, I do NOT disagree with you. Over and over (search google) I have
> stressed that this is NOT for everyone! This is for the entertainment
> industry. I can only assume other vertical markets can benefit from
> the same. But EVERYONE can not! For instance Google can not.
> Virtually any mom and pop website can not. But there are many sites
> that can. The web is NOT a one size fits all kind of thing. Each site
> has to decide for themselves what works best for their site. Then THEY
> have to decide what to do. Saying Fixed size is obsolete is a joke.
> It may well be for the types of websites YOU work on, but it is not for
> everyone.
>
> There are NO absolutes on the web. Each website has to do what ever is
> best for their particular site. What everyone else is done is
> completely irrelevant. If what you do improves revenue, then it is
> right.
>
While it is importent to make money for the majority of sites on the
web (even for some community groups), getting new members etc etc,
their needs to be some useable alternative so that if a person can't
use the site, they are not locked out completley.

> Man, did that turn into a rant or what..... Peace out...
--
Regards Chad. http://freewebdesign.cjb.cc

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