Site Maintenance Warning
Update #2: I’ve tweaked a couple things that should make the content column easier to focus on. The text is bigger, and the other boxes’ background color is dulled a little. It’s still a work in progress. I hear you all request the content in the middle but I promise if you give this a try you’ll grow to like it. The content is what you want right? So it makes sense to have that be the first thing you see on the page. Just because it’s a certain way everywhere doesn’t make it right.
Update: Maintenance is (mostly) complete. If you see anything broken or weird, let me know. I’ve done 0 browser testing (because I’m a professional.) A new module or two will be added to the far right (like ‘recent comments’) at some point in the next few days.
What do you guys think of the new design? I assume half will hate it and the other half will like it or just not care.
You’ll notice there are more ads now, and the ads are more prominently placed. I’d love to have the site make a little money. If you like what you see around here and want to support, check out the ads or buy The Bro Code or some DVDs over on the right.
Can you think of any other Amazon products I could feature here? Cross promotions?
I’m reworking the website layout a bit with some changes I think you guys will like. Trying to update, make it a little less bloggy and a little more modern. I’m moving some modules around, adding some things, etc. For the next day or so things might look strange around here. Hang in there until I get it all straightened out. I’ll update this page with progress.
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DanNocket | January 24, 2009 @ 7:14 am
How about a little more color? I like color.
JustinDickinson | January 24, 2009 @ 7:23 am
Don't be racist.
John Darc | January 24, 2009 @ 10:41 am
The site seems like it's more ad than site. I just got slapped in the face by an ad, to paraphrase Marshall.
little barney | January 24, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
I think you should leave the blog in the middle. I dont like it being moved to the far left.
I think you should move the modules in the middle to the far left and leave the blog in the middle. The modules on the right are fine with me.
I understand the website has to make some money to cover domain and hosting costs. So adverts are ok with me as long as they dont get too much and like John Darc described it "I just got slapped in the face by an ad, to paraphrase Marshall. "
PLEASE MOVE THE BLOG TO THE MIDDLE. I HATE READING THE BLOG LIKE THIS. I DONT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS !!!
q-tip | January 24, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
yeah i would prefer the the blog in the middle as well..
setioanggoro | January 24, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
"..make it a little less bloggy and a little more modern".
what's wrong with more bloggy? I thought blog is modern?!
I use privoxy, so I don't see adds (just a blank spot), but I'm with those who prefer blog stay in the middle.
MIDDLE FIVE!
Riise | January 24, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
as long as the ads aren't annoying, it's fine. but agree with the rest, should consider put back the blog in the middle like it was before.
JustinDickinson | January 24, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
All caps? Really? You're going to be that guy?
Liz | January 24, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
Another vote for moving the blog section back to the middle and the sidebar with the cast photo over to the left. I like the new CSS style more that the original plain white background.
Gravity | January 24, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
At this point, the sidebars have overwhelmed the main blog. I'm sorry but it doesn't look good to me at all.
JustinDickinson | January 24, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
I centered the whole site which gives some padding to the left side. Let's stick with this for now and see how we feel.
BGeo | January 24, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
wow i signed in and I've got to say it through me off. I like that you're trying to make a little cash off this site. You put a lot into it, so you may as we get something in return. No one likes to work for free. I'm sure everyone will get used to it
Looks good to me
Pizzaboy | January 24, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
I'm also gonna say that the blog should go in the middle.
Amy | January 24, 2009 @ 8:01 pm
Having the blog on the right is trippin me out… haha.
Maybe a little more to the left JD?
Amy | January 24, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
Um… Hi… I meant having it to the left, and can you move it to the right…. wow. My brain isn't working correctly today.
JustinDickinson | January 24, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
Blogs are dead. The web is moving forward. It's not enough anymore to just have a blog, the design has to be progressive.
Ike | January 26, 2009 @ 2:48 am
I don't mind the blog on the left, but it's a bit narrow. With the margins it's less than half the page. I don't mind ads, just wish they were to awesome things not something that sounds like a scam.
JustinDickinson | January 26, 2009 @ 2:57 am
The blog area is the same width it was in the old site, 500px. I didn't change it so all the images would still fit.
The ads should be contextual. They're new so give Google a few days to index my content and serve up better ads.
clearwater | January 26, 2009 @ 6:14 am
I like the new layout. Hope you're making buckets of cash through more ads, JD (sadly unlikely, unless they are miniature buckets)!
BTW, I clicked on the "new to the site" thing which I'd never noticed before and stumbled upon those Season vs. Season evaluations, which are pretty cool. I don't fault you for stopping them, though, that must've been really time consuming.
Wingman | January 26, 2009 @ 6:19 am
I too vote for the middle blog. That way you can slap us in the face with ads on both sides. With the other stuff way over on the far right, my eye doesn't even come close to seeing that. As I read this post, and you mentioned stuff about buying dvds on amazon, I didn't even realize that was there.
Slapstick | January 26, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
JD dude.. u shud have kept everything within 1024 px man ( err.. 960px techincally) .. There are a lot of peopel still out t here with good ol CRT's.. and keep the font-size big i like that, but decrease the line-height its little stressful to eyes .. ADS? No problemo.. I have Ad Block Plus
JustinDickinson | January 26, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
We're living in the future, bump your resolution up past 1024. Even CRTs can rock 1280.
felix | January 26, 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Ads are one thing. They can be blocked. But the width is an absolut no go. Really liked the old design…
SFBoi | January 27, 2009 @ 4:21 am
Yeah, that is true, but some people like to browse the web in a window smaller than their full monitor resolution. My monitor has a resolution of 1680 x 1050, but I browse the web in a window sized for 1024. It is just a simple web standard, and making the vast majority of your user's scroll is just absolutely annoying, especially considering there is no actual function for the scrolling.