Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

steventer · 2006-05-17 06:55:49

By pushing my very few css “skills” to the max, I have managed to put together something resembling a decent website for Biophile magazine (which I co-edit).

I would greatly appreciate any feedback WRT font size used, the mess that is my css file (I seem to just keep on adding new divs and classes to get the effects I want — very sloppy), and general user-friendliness.

The site is not finished yet – but a few cool (IMHO) features, such as related books, news and article appearing when they exist are working on some pages.

(Be gentle!)

Edit: why do we always forget to add the url link? :)

http://www.biophile.co.za

Steve

Last edited by steventer (2006-05-17 06:57:16)

hcgtv · 2006-05-17 10:50:53

Hi Steve,

Looks fine in Firefox (the only way to surf) on Windows and Linux.

I see you have forum and wiki links ready to go, if you’re still debating these apps:

Forum – give PunBB a try

Wiki – take out DokuWiki for a spin

steventer · 2006-05-17 12:16:22

Thanks, Bert
I use firefox myself, and the ie tab extension to make sure that the site doesn’t break in ie (very useful extension that!)

I was planning to use punbb, until I stumbled across minibb which is so simple and looks really great. I doubt that the forum will become very large, so minibb should do.

I was thinking of using mediawiki, but I’ll definitely have a look at DocuWiki, so thanks for the tip.

Steve

Last edited by steventer (2006-05-17 12:16:49)

steventer · 2006-05-17 12:17:50

triple posts?

Just checking to see if this one’s also posted thrice :)

Mary · 2006-05-17 17:20:32

The triple posts thing is a known problem which I don’t seem to be able to do anything about. If and when it happens, just pretend those extra posts aren’t there ;D and it’ll right itself, at some point.

Last edited by Mary (2006-05-17 17:20:59)

Destry · 2006-05-23 12:15:23

Hey Steventer,

I like the site, particularly the content. Takes me back to my ecology, and green-thinking roots. But damn, some of these stories are drepressing. No bananas in our future? Please, God, say it isn’t so!

kevinpotts · 2006-05-26 19:33:37

Beautiful site and nice design. My only suggestion would be to make the site centered in the browser window, but otherwise great.

steventer · 2006-05-26 20:19:25

Thanks, Kevin [edit: and thanks too, Destry!]

I would love to center the content — and am actually working on that right now — but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to do it. I know about the margin:auto trick, but it just won’t work with my html/css…

I’d appreciate tips if you have any.

Last edited by steventer (2006-05-26 20:19:56)

net-carver · 2006-06-13 01:22:52

Hello Steve,

just got around to looking at the site and I really like it. Content is good and the front page is clear, if a little crowded. I think this is going to really appeal to the eco-minded web user out there.

Personal taste would have me changing the text decoration on link roll-over: I don’t know why but I don’t like the dashed underlining :( but that’s just a personal taste thing.

The .za at the end of the URL always catches me out: keep thinking it’s Zambia instead of South Africa.

Overall, really nice work.

Edit:

Two broken links?
http://www.biophile.co.za/biofiles/yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/68b5f2d54f3eefd28525701500517fbf/7510b703526bc37b85257153006e5add!OpenDocument on the http://www.biophile.co.za/biofiles/us-emissions-reach-record-levels page.

http://www.biophile.co.za/big-business/coca-cola-mood-altering-addictive-totally-legal on the http://www.biophile.co.za/archives/issue-5 page.

Last edited by net-carver (2006-06-13 01:24:55)

steventer · 2006-06-13 06:02:58

Thanks, Steve — fixed the broken links…

The magazine’s a bit of a one-man-show (all my partner does is whip out her cheque book at printing time!) so maintaining the website takes a back seat to getting the magazine ready for publication!

I also think the front page is a bit crowded :(

net-carver · 2006-06-13 06:27:10

steventer wrote:

Thanks, Steve — fixed the broken links…

No problem. They were found with Xenu’s link sleuth. Very useful tool.

I also think the front page is a bit crowded :(

Humm. Maybe fewer excerpts? Or reduced link count via collapsing menus?

The magazine’s a bit of a one-man-show snip so maintaining the website takes a back seat to getting the magazine ready for publication!

Wow. You do the whole publication yourself? That would be quite a bit of work.

stdmedia · 2006-06-14 06:50:43

I find this to be a very well done and well thought out site. I’d say that your “pushing” of skills definitely paid off, as it’s very clean and more importantly readable. You made a nice use of line height, you’d be suprised how often people neglect such a property, you however used it to your advantage and makes reading content on your site a joy.

Good work, good luck and have a nice day.

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#1 2006-05-17 06:55:49

Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#2 2006-05-17 10:50:53

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#3 2006-05-17 12:16:22

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#4 2006-05-17 12:17:50

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#5 2006-05-17 17:20:32

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#6 2006-05-23 12:15:23

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#7 2006-05-26 19:33:37

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#8 2006-05-26 20:19:25

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#9 2006-06-13 01:22:52

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#10 2006-06-13 06:02:58

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#11 2006-06-13 06:27:10

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

#12 2006-06-14 06:50:43

Re: Biophile Magazine, South Africa, critique appreciated

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