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0157988944 · Nov 26, 2007, 07:57 PM

So I've decided I'm going to make a Mac help site, gol-dangit!

I see the same questions over and over on forums and websites about Macs, and yet I can't seem to find a clear cut answer online when I search.

I'd like to offer something unique, besides a few answers, and I have a couple ideas, but I'd like to hear other ideas too. Keep in mind that this isn't just a Mac noob help site, but for everyone.

The website as it stands now is http://themacanswer.co.nr . It is by no means finished, but tell me what you think needs to be done.

design219 · Nov 26, 2007, 08:17 PM

First, I'd take the digg off until you get more content.

Will this be an open forum thing, or will the answers be from real experts?

Will there be a clear keyword search feature for problems and answers?

Any reason the design is so narrow?

Good luck with this.

0157988944 · Nov 26, 2007, 08:24 PM

well, no, not an open forum. at first it will be just me, but I do hope to add in other knowledgeable Mac-ites if it gets big enough. There will also be videos for the more important problems and answers. I plan to tag all posts with a system so that yes, there will be a fairly clear search feature. The design is so narrow because I have no money for the site as of now and none of the other wider free templates go with the Mac theme at all

design219 · Nov 26, 2007, 08:26 PM

Well then VERY COOL.

You're doing this just for the heck of it? No revenues planned?

This could well be a useful resource. I'll have to send a couple questions.

0157988944 · Nov 26, 2007, 08:27 PM

I do hope to get ad money eventually, but only to put back into the site.

red rocket · Nov 27, 2007, 06:14 AM

Argh, JavaScript.

JoshuaZ · Nov 27, 2007, 08:01 AM

I like your video. The one using all the clips from apple commercials. Good times.

Mac User #001 · Nov 27, 2007, 11:14 AM

Looks awesome. I've got a spot for you in my RSS folder

0157988944 · Nov 27, 2007, 04:15 PM

Yay!

redrocket, what's making you Argh specifically?

red rocket · Nov 28, 2007, 05:52 AM

Since the vast majority of sites seem to manage just fine without it, the way I see it, there have to be very specific and obvious reasons why someone uses JavaScript for any part of their website.

Because your site appears to depend completely on JavaScript—meaning it just shows as a blank page for those who keep JavaScript deactivated—and there's no ‘plain’ alternative offered, there's no way for me to know why and for what purpose you are using it.

Like frames and forums based on CGI, I just don't see the point.

0157988944 · Nov 28, 2007, 04:17 PM

I'm no web coder, it's just a wordpress theme. Unfortunately, nothing I can do about it right now. Unless you know of something?

- - e r i k - - · Nov 28, 2007, 08:23 PM

Not a big fan of that new-fandangled "Web 2.0" I take it rr?

design219 · Nov 28, 2007, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by red rocket

Argh, JavaScript.

Just curious, why do you turn it off?

Just checked the Browser Statistics, and it looks like as of January of this year it's down to just 6% of browsers with it off. It was 10% in January of 2006. Of that 6% I would be interested to know how many are Mac users.

red rocket · Nov 29, 2007, 08:13 AM

I turn it off because everything loads faster, I don't have to deal with pop‑ups, JavaScript rollovers, redirects, JS‑based crashes, IP sniffing, and other pointless special effects on people's websites.