Which browser then?
A modern browser helps you get cool rounded corners (not IE - neither cool nor modern) and alpha transparency (where used). If you have IE on the PC or Opera is 'identifying itself' as IE the alpha transparency works via a hack in the CSS, but you still won't get the rounded corners (radius borders & black backgrounds are definitely back).
Anyone still using IE on a Mac needs their head testing as neither Apple nor Microsoft support it. There's no updates or fixes either. If they don't support it, then why should we? (having said that it's the only browser we haven't viewed this site on - it probably works ok)
We like Camino, Shira (and its weird japanese restaurant identity) or Firefox on OSX and Firefox on Windows. Putting your bookmarks on del.icio.us is useful if you use more than one computer
About Version 4
So we finally got there with a new design.
Regular visitors will know that the site has been in a holding pattern for ages. Most designers know that desiging your own stuff is generally the most difficult. So we went back to basics and tried to get rid of any subjectivity by setting a design brief (an endangered species these days). Let us know what you think (or if your project isn't listed)
This site uses CSS to do all the fancy layout stuff. The content is just straightforward html. So if you're looking at this in a really old copy of Mosaic or Netscape 3 on your old IBM XT then you're probably a bit weird or retro is in (again); but you get 'something'. Lots of sites just break. Ours shouldn't because the CSS is designed for the latest browsers, positions everything and all that good stuff; if your browser doesn't deal in CSS then it just ignores it. There's no tables (unless your looking at tabular matter of course) and no table hacks for positioning with the old 'spacer graphic' technique. Separating design from content like this is the way to go. When a new platform comes out (mobile internet anyone?) we just create a different set of CSS for rendering the site on that platform. So when your fridge has a built-in browser - we reckon our site will be ready.
We're using this approach wherever possible on all our new sites and starting to 'refit' the technology to all our existing clients' sites as when the schedule allows. Ask us about it.
Updated: 2006
V1 [far left] used frames.
V2 used dhtml.
V3 was for PDA only.
