Website feedback needed!

[clay]

It loads super fast for me. I forgot to time it at first load and I'm too lazy to clear the cache now. But it was snappy here in Florida.

It may be just me, but I really dislike reading white text on black. After reading a sentence or so I have to blink to readjust my eyes. But as Tony and I have brought up recently, I'm no 25 year old spring chicken!

[phreadom]

It may be just me, but I really dislike reading white text on black. After reading a sentence or so I have to blink to readjust my eyes. But as Tony and I have brought up recently, I'm no 25 year old spring chicken!

I read a site recently that was neon green on black and it literally hurt my head... badly... I couldn't quite see correctly after reading the whole page, even after taking breaks to try to readjust my eyes etc.

[keatonatron]

I read a site recently that was neon green on black and it literally hurt my head... badly... I couldn't quite see correctly after reading the whole page, even after taking breaks to try to readjust my eyes etc.

You're lucky you didn't have to deal with pre-90's apple computers!

(By the way, this is one of those sarcastic sentences in which I assume you must have experienced them before! )

I'll try a few color schemes and maybe post some screen shots here to get some further input! Thanks for the feedback!

[Harisenbon]

My load time is similar to Nile Cat
1-2 seconds for startup,
about 3-5 seconds per video

[keatonatron]

My load time is similar to Nile Cat
1-2 seconds for startup,
about 3-5 seconds per video

You have internet out there??? I thought you guys still communicated by getting on the ol' CB radio.

[Stone_Cold]

You wanted a critic's personal opinion of your website; so don't take what I write personally to heart. For a personal website I’m not expecting an outrageous outlay and graphics across the screen. Anyway, here goes a brief overlook.

I live in North Carolina and it took around a second or so for it to load. Everything is decently visible. However, you need to make your text more visible. I personally highly recommend you have either English or Japanese; or allow the user to choose which language. Putting two languages defeats the purpose of the website since many who’re going to view your website to start with might not know Japanese. In the business world they’re not going to look twice or think it looks cool. Quite frankly it’s ####en annoying to businesses and they’ll simply tell you to #### off. Sorry, but the truth. Quote, “…an online calling-card…” I’m not sure what you’re planning on using this website for, but I hope it’s not business related. I’m personally not fond of your choice of banners. I would highly recommend you place something up there more related to your website (or you) and not some random picture. If this isn’t a personal page (portfolio), then you need to take information about yourself (whoever) off the front page. If this is a portfolio, then you need to tell me more about yourself. Change the Courier New font to something else; just make sure it’s readable. The overall color scheme doesn’t look too bad and I wouldn’t worry about changing it. I’m not an amateur at this. So take it and use it.

Hello everyone,

I know we have a lot of tough critics here, which is why I've decided to submit my latest creation to your scrutiny.

I have spent the past few days designing a new personal website to showcase videos I've made and to act as an online calling-card. I now need feedback/quality reports!

Feedback includes what you think of the site's layout, color scheme, ease of use, etc. Quality includes how fast it loads, whether or not all the images appear, etc.

I plan to add more videos in the future. Right now, there is only one (detroit7). I am trying to decide whether to do the video-hosting myself, or to put all the videos on a public server (like vimeo) and embed them in my page. The video I have up now is only 30 mb (about half the size of videos on facebook, which play perfectly!), but it seems to load quite slowly. I think my hosting provider is not very good... at least not from over here. That's why I'd like to hear how well it loads for people from various locations.

Also, layout-wise, I will be adding more text and perhaps moving around the video thumbnails (which will also increase). I'm conflicted about the box to the right of the video player; I'm thinking I could put the thumbnails down below and have the box change with the video to display information, or move all the thumbnails up into the box. You'll see what I mean when you get there! I think having the thumbnails down below would give a more organic feel, while having them up top would be more boxy.

So for anyone who is interested, please check out my site and tell me:
1. Your location, how fast the site loads, and how fast the video loads once you click on the "video" link or the far right video thumbnail.
2. If there are any parts that don't work for you (images that don't load, borders that don't line up, etc.). If you have any major problems, letting me know what browser you are using would also be helpful!
3. Your opinions on the overall layout of the whole site. Specific information is most helpful; why do you or don't you like a certain element/color?

And last but not least... the secret link!

Edit: The site is now live:
www.jmacwhyte.com

Thanks for your help! Be brutal

[keatonatron]

You wanted a critic's personal opinion of your website; so don't take what I write personally to heart.

Do people often get upset when you give them your opinion? You input is very valuable, but the way you say it could intimidate those of lesser heart. There's no need for bleeped profanity here; simply saying "this type of thing is annoying to businesses" will have just as much impact.

Just a little critique of your critique

Now, to answer your post:

I personally highly recommend you have either English or Japanese; or allow the user to choose which language.

Yes, I think that is a good idea. It is on my list of things to do next.

Quote, “…an online calling-card…” I’m not sure what you’re planning on using this website for, but I hope it’s not business related. I’m personally not fond of your choice of banners. I would highly recommend you place something up there more related to your website (or you) and not some random picture.

I am a (currently freelance) photographer/filmmaker, and this is my portfolio. When I approach someone and ask them for a job, I want to simply give them this site so they can see what work I've done. The banner at the top is a picture I took myself and liked; it is not random.

If this is a portfolio, then you need to tell me more about yourself.

I see how this can be a valid point. If I were to tell more about myself on the site, what kind of information do you think would be important to include? Now that I've explained myself a bit better, is there anything you'd revise about your critique?

[Harisenbon]

You have internet out there??? I thought you guys still communicated by getting on the ol' CB radio.

Yeah, it's all CB-based. I'm lucky because the guy in charge of my area can talk like 100 words a second. Much better than that Micro-Machines commercial guy.

"requestheaderHTMLwww.google.compostvariablesequals...WHAT?COOKIES?!?!YOUWANTMYCOOKIES,YOUTAKETHEMOUTOFMYCOLDDEADHANDS!!!endrequest.startrequestheaderXHTMLSSLconnectionwww.sexysheep.netproxysettings158.254.23.23...."

[keatonatron]

I could imagine having a CB internet service with an old retired guy who would read web pages to you over the radio... and describe the pictures

[furrykef]

"OK, here at hotnekkidchix.com/tgp/42 we have a picture of... Jesus Christ, woman, that doesn't go there! Sheesh, what's wrong with kids these days? Back in my day, mumble, mumble..."

[phreadom]

[furrykef]

Hey, could be worse. He coulda got stuck with tubgirl or something.

(Note: if you don't know what tubgirl is, don't google it. I'm not kidding.)

[keatonatron]

Okay, okay, let's stop talking about Harisen's radio-porn exploits and get back to my website!

[Harisenbon]

Okay, okay, let's stop talking about Harisen's radio-porn exploits and get back to my website!

mmmm... 1920s radio porn...