Got Web Ideas? Fishing for the Answers?
Think Outside The Code First!
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Facts, Thoughts, and Opinions About Web Development and Business Strategy
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The other night I ended up on the MSNBC Website.
Don't ask me why. I can't remember. Low and behold someone is up on technology
as the MSNBC Website is now chock full of AJAX for dynamic Website viewing.
A dynamic headache soon followed.
I am not Anti-AJAX. I just feel it has its place and over-using it just because you
can may not be such a good idea.
I have discussed this before.
If you visit the MSNBC Website, you will want to keep in mind that the navigation
on the left and at the top is AJAX enabled. Put your mouse over one of the categories
and wait a couple seconds. A list if news items for that category will appear.
I was not aware of this as I was clicking on topics to navigate the site and these
windows kept opening and flashing. Then I saw what was going on.
In my opinion, this is a perfect example of senseless AJAX implementation. It's great
that they are staying on the "so-called" cutting edge of technology. Yet, have they really
benefited the end user at all? Their home page is over-loaded with content and repeated
content at that. Look how may links and sections there are for each category.
How much easier is it to navigate this Website? And what am I missing that is not
in the menus that open? If I have to click on a link to see it all then why not
just have a simple link that takes me there? Yeah, I understand that they are
showing you the last 10 or so headlines that they have for that category. But
is it easier for me to just click on Entertainment --> Music then it is to
- scroll down to Entertainment in the left menu
- wait for the window to open
- scroll over the top of recent Entertainment headlines all the way to the right
- and then select music?
Not to mention there may be more in the music section than what is in the menu.
Why not make one link for music, one home page for music, and just discuss music there?
And all the scrolling. Wouldn't an AJAX implementation of this nature reduce scrolling?
Why have the separate categories in their own sections further down the page when you
have implemented the AJAX menus at the top? Pick one please.
Then there is the task of trying to view news items with the mouse over windows.
You know how you squirm when you are trying to fit a piece of thread through the
head of a needle? I soon felt that same anxiety as I moved my mouse over the
categories to view the options under each. That anxiety may not exist if the
menu options opened immediately but you have a pause. I would much rather just
click on a category and go to a home page for that category.
One thing that I just cannot find words for is how hard it is to read and understand the
news titles in the menu windows that open. The headlines are too small because they have
so much packed in there that they must use small font sizes. The headlines also lack
personality. They are not dated, no location is given for U.S. news, an there are
not any images. It looks like a grocery list.
Then you have menus that open other menus that seem to close unexpectedly at times.
By disabling script debugger in Internet Explorer, I also found many of the AJAX
powered menu options on the home page throw JavaScript errors. A common problem
with JavaScript and a common problem with AJAX for that matter.
I often wonder what kind of advertising hit a Website like this will take as users
can get to news items with less page views. If they can find what they are looking for
in the mess to begin with.
Perhaps I have two complaints
- Senseless AJAX Implementation
- Unorganized
Kudos to MSNBC for staying on the cutting edge of technology but all they have done
is make a mess in the process. I just can't get behind building a Website like this.
I would stay way more straight forward and go with a drill-down approach as opposed
to trying to cover everything in one spot. There is so much going on that your head
feels like it is about to explode.
I just don't know. I have always believed that simplest is best and too many times
I have seen people try and dazzle end users with advanced technology when, in fact,
they do not care. They just want to get to where they are going as fast as they can.
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