meJoe.com

This is a short diatribe I sent to the University Webmasters. Oh how I love tables!

So whats so bad about tables any way? I used to be zealot on this topic, but it makes good sense to use tables.

Some of the arguments I’d like to refute include:

1. Tables require extra code.
Not true, have you seen some of the nested div tags on “standards based” pages? (I counted about 7 on the espn site noted below) Don’t even look at the CSS unless you are the one that actually coded it.

2. Tables are not accessible.
Not true. I had a blind student in a Web class that I teach who used a screen reader. He manuevered tables with no problem at all. With a handy “skip to content” and a linearized format he was more than happy. The most popular screen readers will use internet explorer anyway, so what you see there is what you hear.

3. Tables are not PDA/small screen friendly.
On very small screens, the devices I’ve seen simply remove the table formatting and “linearize” the page. If your curious to see your pages in this way, download a copy of Opera.

Finally, developing CSS-based layout is just plain slow. Develop it in a table, and you’ll know it will look the same in most browsers. At least in our shop, where we output at least one completed new set of templates every 2 to 3 weeks, hassling with a pixel here and a border there is not worth it.

Users don’t care about the code you use. As long as it doesn’t take forever to download, is comprehensible and the content/design is interesting. For these reasons you should learn CSS thouroughly and at least try a couple of CSS layouts. Just remember there is an excellent median:
[Complex CSS layouts] —– [layout table + good CSS] —– [nested tables]

“Tables are dead, long live tables.”

This is just a test

Please don't be bothered by this annoying little test.  Have a nice day!

Ducks overwhelming but still make splash

I found a great rubber ducky photo. I slated it for this site-redesign-upgrade project. It made it through all the renditions to a secondary role for this one (see right). Goes to show that you should never hold on to these little design elements, they can completely ruin a decent presentation.

I’ll get rid of that ‘psychodelic carnaval duck game’ some time. It drives me crazy.

I’m also planning to add a home page graphic. The graphic will highlight an idea or theme and keep this site a bit fresher than a text/blog entry can. My designs have been taking this trend for some time now.

Send me a note (see contact above). I would like to hear what you think about this new design.