I CAN SKIN!!!
Thanks to a great tutorial on Community Server skinning by Stuart Celarier, I can now create my own skins for this blog!!!
So welcome to the new-look Mabsterama. It's going to change over time as I get more comfortable with what's possible, and if something looks out of place please let me know by leaving a comment on this post.
# Trackback from Community Server Daily News on 1/06/2006 4:26 AM
Comments
# Euan
18/05/2006 11:42 AM
Its not doing anything for me. Personally I think I prefer the nav on the left for some reason.
# mabster
18/05/2006 11:46 AM
Yeah, whether to have the sidebar on the left or the right is an age-old question. I guess it's a matter of personal taste.
My feeling is that we read left-to-right, so I want the attention of the user on the content first, rather than the sidebar.
Of course, I've kind of undermined that by having a sidebar that really stands out from the content ... but you get my meaning.
# tristan
18/05/2006 3:50 PM
If you don't mind me continuing to go off-topic...
I belive it should (in 90% of cases) be a given that the navigation is on the left of a website. Not a web log though. Inversely, 90% of web logs are likely to be post focussed, meaning that the rest of the content is secondary (or at least not primary) - hence the navigation would be more semantic on the right.
At least, that's my humble opinion.
Of couse, it all depends, it all depends...
# mabster
18/05/2006 3:56 PM
Yeah. With a commercial web site the front page's content is usually just fluff - it's the navigation that counts. With a blog, the navigation is all secondary.
# Euan
18/05/2006 4:05 PM
I think your all crazy. Nav left weirdos.
# mabster
18/05/2006 4:13 PM
Tell you what, Eu. I won't judge you for your left-sidebar weirdness, and you can return the favour. It'll be a perfect world. :)
# thumper
18/05/2006 4:44 PM
At least you guys both agree that it should be on the side rather than both sides or at the top or bottom of the page!
# crucible
18/05/2006 11:57 PM
Okay dorks,
I've thought about it for a while and I'm agreeing with Euan.
Maybe its just years of seeing any functionality for the web to the left, but thats where I expect, and damn it - thats where I like my navigational functionality.
Sure the content of the blog is important - but lets face it, if I want to go back a month, or subscribe, or search or anything - I look to the left...
I'm now conditioned to ignore the left unless I am looking for something in particular.
I don't agree with this "one rule for web logs, one rule for pages" idea - why?
I'll tell you, dear people ignoring me :P, for the simple reason that if that arguement had any merit it would apply for ANY web page.
I don't know if people know this, but the primary reason for 90% of web pages is for passing information, not for navigation for navigations sake (okay, more like 20% - the other 80% is porn and sharing britney spears mp3s).
Thats not to say that I think the design is bad - at all, or I would have voiced an opinion to that effect earlier (I probably did, but the alzheimers kicks in...).
I just prefer to leave my mouse to the left, irs closer to the "Start" button, its closer to my quickstart toolbar icons, its where I find most functionality on applications, and most websites.
That said, the issue is pretty much a moot point since most of the time I read the feed, buddy boy.
But there ya go, its now what 3 against 2?
Looks like you guys lose!
# crucible
19/05/2006 12:03 AM
effect, affect... damn it all to hell.
Oh, and where do you start for any toolbar functionality on an application - left to right...
And where do you find the index for a newspaper? along the left...
Just saying, lefties unite!
# mabster
19/05/2006 6:55 AM
Get used to it - my sidebar design is (quite obviously) inspired by Vista's sidebar, which is also on the right.
Right now I'm using IE7 with the Favorites Center open, and it's nice and balanced - favourites on the left, the site's sidebar on the right, content in between. Looks good to me.
# crucible
19/05/2006 9:03 AM
No, there will be no getting used to it.
They're obviously going with the Vista sidebar on the right because that makes it opposite and therefore differentiated from other applications or websites.
So your homage is just breaking that design aspect for Vista.
Actually it wouldn't surprise me if they're putting it there because of Msn Messenger typically belonging on the right with no issues - although if I ever have it open it's always in the background making that a null point too.
Either way, I don't care that much - I just wanted to give my two cents on usability... I wonder if there's anything on Coding Horror about it.
# mabster
19/05/2006 9:37 AM
This is why I like Community Server. I can choose my own blog skin, and if no-one else on the site likes it, they don't have to use it.
# stevecla
29/05/2006 10:56 PM
very cool - i suspect Dave Overton may come looking for you for some skinning tips and Steve Marsh for some ermm, cosmetic advice ;)
# mabster
30/05/2006 6:51 AM
Thanks, Steve! I admit that the names you mention are not familiar to me ... looks like I have some blog-searching to do!