2/20    Does anyone else think that the new http://sfgate.com web site sucks?
        Did they _really_ have to redesign the old one, which seemed just fine?
        \_ Be boring like me and use this instead:
           http://newsbuffet.org/sfchronicle.htm - danh
        \_ I hate this facet of the WWW. People redesign just to look like
           they are doing something and be 'fresh'.
           \_ you think that's limited to the WWW?
              \_ No, but it's more annoying than when, say, the grocery
                 store decides to move the aisles around.
                 \_ The problem is that in the grocery store, the person who
                    is moving the aisles around is a grocer who knows his
                    customers.  On the Web, redesigns are often controlled
                    by people who have no clue what web customers need.
                    Particularly when the web site has a print publication
                    side; print design and web design are two completely
                    different things.  It's like having the grocery aisles
                    laid out by someone whose only experience is in
                    warehousing.  -tom
                    \- often when groceries move stuff around they are
                       doing it to sell more stuff, not for customer
                       convenience. lots of research on the path people
                       take thro stores, effect of placement, getting
                       paid for placement etc.
                    \_ On the other hand, sometimes there is value when a web
                       site bears some resemblence to the print publication
                       side.  Old-fashioned print subscribers will feel more
                       comfortable using the web site.
                       \_ Having the web site bear resemblance to the print
                          edition, and having the web site be usable, are
                          not mutually exclusive goals.  But you need to
                          have a real web designer in charge of the project
                          if you want to reconcile them.  -tom
                          \_ Good luck finding a 'real web designer'.
        \_ Lipstick on a pig.