Please can you critique my site, desperate for outside views.

[Iso-Rob]

Hi everyone.

Please could you critique the new version of my site, its about 90% complete, im desperate for some outside views on it please.

I set my own brief in that it should be clean with simple navigation and be professional looking (maybe slightly corporate). Also, i needed it to include php, xml, mysql (eventually in the guestbook), rss and the usual flash, html, css, seo.

Going by all this then it is a vast improvement on version 1 (in web design section).

www.iso-land.com

Dont hold back with the opinions!!
Thanks

[nobody]

The low contrast feel makes it very hard to figure out what to read at first glance. I think you could definitely use an accent color. Also the menu buttons are an eyesoar. I'd definitely rethink those (perhaps lower the saturation way down on the buttons if you're dead set on them). It could also use some preloaders. I think it's a solid start, just missing some fine tuning.

[Iso-Rob]

Ok, thanks. They're good points, its hard to see things like that when you've been staring at the same thing for so long. Preloaders are a definate thing i need to add. I'll try out some text colors to make the more important stuff stand out.

Thanks for taking the time to look at it, you made some good valid points.

Anyone else?

[Iso-Rob]

Can anyone else critique my site, it would be good to know what more people think.

Thanks

[simplistik]

Color is to bland. I like the logo though.

The Flashlevel nav needs to be utilized MUCH better... it's just default from the opensource. Date, time... don't need to be there... and when it goes to like 4:05 it looks like 4: 5.

The work needs to pop out of the iframe lookin thing, or something... it looks bad the way you have it.

the buttons IMO aren't well enough designed to use that type of pattern, it's almost gaudy.

Something NEEDS to happen, like a section transition or text transitions... it's just a bad waste of flash the way it's functioning right now.

[cameron_]

dead link for me

[Iso-Rob]

Dead link? You sure? try it with http://www.iso-land.com, it works for everyone else.

Thanks for the critique simplistik.

Firstly, the work pops up in a blank window now, it wasnt my intention for it to be in the iframe. I switched from flash 7 to 8 and 8 doesnt understand _blank it only understands "_blank", so beware!!

Secondly, the flashlevel nav will be adjusted and page transitions will be added, the sites 90% done so now that the content is out of the way, these things can be tackled.

Least you liked my logo :lol:

[audrius'05]

it's alright

[Esherido]

hhmm..
The frame thingy...get rid of it too many scrollbars and wreaks havoc w/ the scroll-wheel on my mouse. I do like the color scheme and the menu, too many popups though; besides that, good work.

[Iso-Rob]

Too many scrollbars? I've tested it in safari, firefox and explorer and the only scrollbar that appears is on the news page (intentional). All the other ones shouldn't be there. What browser did you use?

Thanks for the critique.

[Alter Ego]

Not bad at all...personally I'd rather see a little more contrsat in your design. And your scroll bars on the menus distract from otherwise a clean design.

[Iso-Rob]

Thanks for the critique.

Exactly where are the scroll bars because i've tested it with most browsers and i dont get any. Some people have said about the scrollbars, obviously i dont want them to be there and it was never my intention. I'll have to put some no scrollbars script on the pages.

Thanks

[Iso-Rob]

Right, I've tested my site with a load of different browsers and there should only be 2 scrollbars on it (1 on the news page and the one i created on the guestbook). Can someone who said there was too many scrollbars check it again please, i'd be very grateful. Maybe Esherido or Alter Ego because you said about the scrollbars when i couldnt see any when i tested it.

I used this css script to hopefully rid me of those hidious scrollbars:

body {
overflow:hidden;
}

Thanks very much.

[travis]

I signed the guest book, third one on it!

[danulf]

Too many scrollbars? I've tested it in safari, firefox and explorer and the only scrollbar that appears is on the news page (intentional). All the other ones shouldn't be there. What browser did you use?

Thanks for the critique.

I used avant, and I get this on every page:
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/5246/bars8zv.th.gif (http://img51.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bars8zv.gif)

[hybrid101]

it's a bit bland in terms of the color, why don't you brighten it up for a change? the functionality is good, i wouldnt change the layout either

[Iso-Rob]

Thanks very much for the pic danulf, I'll get that browser and test it in there aswell then. Any other browsers i should test it in? I've used safari, firefox and internet explorer so far.

Thanks for signing my guestbook Travis, everyone feel free to do the same. Also thanks for the critique Hybrid101.

[Iso-Rob]

Scrollbars appear on Internet Explorer on the pc, i'm unable to check this so could someone check it for me please? Please can you check the sections with internet explorer on a pc, there shouldnt be any scrollbars (except on the news page, a vertical one, any others shouldnt be there). If possible could you please provide a screen grab of any unwanted scrollbars.

I'd be very grateful.
Thanks