That fixed header I have: good thing or bad thing?
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're probably using IE6, which is not affected (because it's crap). But for those of you using Safari, Firefox, Opera, IE7 and other browsers, does that header staying where it is all the time annoy you? Would you prefer it if I changed it to move with the page, or would you prefer a different layout altogether?
I must admit that I am hesitant to make a new layout. Firstly I have no idea what to do, and secondly I still rather like this one. I know I've had it for around 6 months now, but I think it's the best thing I've ever made (and if you think this is bad, you should have seen what I had before). I haven't tired of it like every other layout I've had.
So yes: comments, if you please. Do you want me to change the header so that it moves with the content, or are you happy with it as it is?
In other news, join Snark and Perfection. The former is a great forum I joined last week and I must say it's been one of the best I've seen so far. The members welcome you from day one and I feel like I've known everyone forever already. I've never felt that way at any other forum. :D
Perfection is a design gallery for personal websites. If you think you've got a stunning layout, apply and see if you get accepted! Let's face it, if I can make it, anyone can :P
Jem
7/04/2007 at 18:02
Bad thing. Or at least, bad thing at the size it's at. Maybe if it were 50 or so pixels smaller it'd be better.
Ben
7/04/2007 at 18:22
I agree with Jem. It seems to dominate the page most of the time, and makes the content less prominant. If you made it 100 pixels smaller, or even 50 pixels like Jem suggested then I think it would be pretty cool.
I like the idea of not having to scroll up and down up and down to find the navigation every 5minutes :P
Jack
7/04/2007 at 18:24
Hmm. I think it'd be good as is if it scrolled, but it does take off a huge chunk of screen real-estate without moving. Jem's suggestion that you make it smaller seems like a good one too.
Vixx
7/04/2007 at 18:47
I have to say, I think I'd prefer it to scroll. But it's a personal thing - I don't OMGIFUCKINGH8888IT!!!111!!11111 or anything. :)
Oh, and if you're not tired of this, don't change it! Silly girl. :) It's your site - I keep crappy themes at my place because *I* love them - even if no-one else uses them!
V xx
Jenny
7/04/2007 at 19:08
Bad. :P
valerie
7/04/2007 at 20:10
I think they all beat me to it. I like the design but I agree that the header should either scroll or be smaller. If you do get the design bug, you can you know, design my site or something ;-)
Ramsha
7/04/2007 at 21:59
Ahh...I agree with the smaller bit, perhaps making it a wee bit smaller would be a little better since it seems to take up a little less than half of the entire page. But I do love the entire idea of it, so you shouldn't remove it entirely or make it scroll.
Melissa
8/04/2007 at 4:29
I like it like it the way it is because it's different!
If anything, maybe a bit smaller like the others said but I do appreciate not having to scroll all the time for the navigation.
Bottom line, just do what you want. ^_^ Now it's time to stack a block...gooooollldddd!
Dee
8/04/2007 at 5:09
I like it. I usually have biggish screen res so it doesn't take up a lot of 'real estate' for me. The only gripes I guess I have is the fact it makes some browsers a bit jerky on the scroll, and whenever I press space to page down I jump down too far. :P
But otherwise, I like it; it's different.
Matt
8/04/2007 at 13:12
I like it, saves having to scroll back up to go to another page.
Donnie
8/04/2007 at 18:46
I don't like it. I have to agree with others. It would work if it was smaller but it seems to dominate the page.
Melissa
8/04/2007 at 21:23
Have a happy hoppy Easter, Amelie! ^_^
Alyssa
8/04/2007 at 21:50
I don't think I've commented here before, but I'm a regular visitor. I use Firefox, and YES! the fixed header bothers me. My computer can't handle the scrolling bottom; it's all choppy. The design isn't bad—I've bookmarked it in my "layout styles" folder—but a new one would definitely excite me.
Charlie
9/04/2007 at 0:12
I like it but agree with the others here, if it was smaller it'd be better.
Stephen
9/04/2007 at 0:26
Bad thing. Definitely. It takes up at least 25% of my browser window with unused space and it breaks being able to scroll with the spacebar. Please make it smaller!
If you like the horizontal menu bar, how about putting it at the top and having the flower logo immediately beneath, as a background, over which this main panel can scroll? The empty space always makes me feel like I'm reading your site through a letterbox.
Rosemarie
9/04/2007 at 0:30
Bad thing!
As has been said, it would look better if it was smaller, but I generally NEVER like fixed headers/footers, because they shrink my viewing window and make me feel kind of... itchy. I know this doesn't make sense, but I just get this fidgity feeling of "ah, I can't see enough at once and I can't do anything about it"
It's probably some mild form of OCD.
Katy
9/04/2007 at 0:34
I like the fixed-ness, but it's too tall and that annoys me sometimes. like now, commenting, I can only see half of this box and no 'post comment' button. actually it would probably all fit if I scrolled a little bit more (oh yes, it does, just) but that's not the point :P
could be worse though, you could have one of those really annoying fixed footer things that were a bit trendy a few months ago *stab*
ooh, chuck the navbar above the flower, keep that fixed and have the flower as a fixed background maybe (but not full width if that makes sense)? that would take up less space. I'll let you know any other bad suggestions I may have :)
Josh(ua/y)
9/04/2007 at 20:44
Why not offer users the option to select a fixed or scrolling header? Personally, I dislike the fixed ones purely because the scrolling is all jerky on my slowish-nowadays computer.
I think it's a cracking design, but maybe I have poor taste.
Jamie
10/04/2007 at 15:22
I disagree with everyone and I like it. I don't think it's too big and the jerky scrolling is not an issue. The only improvement I could think of is having the content area a bit wider, but other than that, I love this design!
Jordan
12/04/2007 at 7:52
It sounds like I'm going to be the only one that actually likes the fixed header, as well as the size it's at now.. Though one thing might look better, is if the transparent flower was positioned over the navigation bar, so that it would kind of flow with the navigation, but to where you can still see the background for it.. Na'mean?
Otherwise I've actually been a big fan of this layout for quite some time really!
India
12/04/2007 at 13:38
It took a little bit of getting used to, but it's unobtrusive in terms of being a blaring, busy design. It's simple, and rather pleasant. BUT...it could be a little bit smaller.
Bubs
13/04/2007 at 5:30
I like it, myself! :D
Amber
15/04/2007 at 14:57
The header would be good if it didn't lag my computer to the point where I don't even want to continue reading when I try to scroll down the page.
Amelie
15/04/2007 at 16:16
That's not the header doing that, it's the transparent PNGs used on the sides of this content area here...
Hillarie
15/04/2007 at 17:41
I like it, but I do agree with some of the comments. If it was a tad smaller, it would be awesome!
Breanna
16/04/2007 at 7:09
I'd go for a new layout. Like everyone else said, the fixed header sort of "takes over". Besides, a change is always good - right? =P