Computer Stuff

Posted Mon, 08/09/2010 - 07:29 by jlscott


"Browser Hell"

To set the stage ... Buyers of my new ebook were sent an email to pick up their free copy of the Second Edition. I issued a user name and password to download it. Several people wrote and told me they absolutely could NOT make the download work.

I had reminded them to copy and paste the words in to be sure they were correct - and to be sure there were no spaces before, or after, the words. I suppose it's possible the server was overloaded since I sent so many Second Edition emails at once.

I was pulling my hair out, since every time I tried, everything worked fine. Finally, one of our members wrote:

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Hi jl,

I discovered the problem.

When you put the cursor in the user name or password box, the text "user name” or “password" disappears. But, when you right click to paste, the text reappears and even though your pasted text is in the box, it does not work.

You have to put cursor in box and press Control V. Works fine.

Don Shickle
www.ShickleEnterprises.com
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So, one lesson is: when entering user names and passwords to download a product, remember to use Control V rather than right-clicking the mouse to paste.


I discussed it with Chuck (my iCop Hosting partner and techie). Then, we started asking what browsers some of those who had trouble were using. Yep - you guessed it! As far as we went, we found Internet Explorer (IE) was used in every problem case. Mostly IE 8.

For 11 years, I've tried to convince folks NOT to use IE! Over those years, the reasons have varied. But, the bottom line is - those who use it have the most problems - of all kinds.

Part of the time, the user's security is set WAY too high. No one believes in security more than I, but after a certain point, it's all redundant. You're either secure - or you're not.

And, after all that, you're probably NOT. You can pick up viruses and junk with IE, you won't get with other browsers. Then, you can't download something you BOUGHT! Sheeeez!

Other times, it simply can't do the job, and/or it takes your choices away from you. It's similar to AOL for being proprietary - and full of nonsense.

Mozilla has ALWAYS made the best browsers! I even figured that out for myself soon after I stopped using AOL, back in the Stone Age.

Now, as of July 2010, Firefox is used by 31% of users. And IE is only being used by 51%. Praise the Lord! I do NOT like some of Firefox's add-ons. But, others are cool, and some are fabulous!

Web Sites that Don't Work!

Posted Mon, 05/03/2010 - 06:12 by jlscott


Not making the money you'd like to with your web site? This might be a good time of year to look it over carefully.

Not only are the following god-awful irritating - these situations will never get my money. And, probably won't get much of it from other people, either.


For Instance ...

Don't ask me to "sign in" in order to take a look. You want a user name and password before I even buy or join anything? WHY? I'm not going to do it. I'm GONE.

A friend told me not long ago that he couldn't seem to access a site properly. He sent an email asking for a solution. The reply? He was to open his browser options and make changes!

WHAT? He had to set his options in a certain way just for this site? I don't think so! I'd pass. I'm GONE.

Then, we have the sites with code that won't work in all browsers. And, why would that site owner not make sure the site works in all versions? Guess they don't want the business. I'm GONE.

Flash presentations. Forget them. Unless, of course, you're more interested in showing off your artistic abilities than in selling product.

I never wait for a flash presentation to load. Same thing for a page taking 10 minutes to load over-blown graphics. I'm GONE.

Don't talk to me without my permission. And, spare me your pitiful acting and lack of education in delivery. If I wanted to watch an infomercial, I'd watch TV. Give me a button where I can choose to watch/listen, or I'm GONE.

And, of course, a lot of mis-spelled or mis-used words will turn me off immediately. People who don't have sense enough to have their sites proof-read aren't the people I want to do business with. An editor is called for on all web sites - even if it's your brother!

You'd NEVER get a book or article published off-line without an editor proof-reading, and maybe editing, it. Apparently, a lot of people don't even know they are mis-using words. I'm GONE!


Bottom Line ...

Don't tell me what I have to do to have the privilege of viewing your web site. Don't tell me I have to set a browser a certain way - use a particular browser - sign in - wait for your S-L-O-W flash show - or huge graphics to load - listen to stuff I can read faster or overlook your many mistakes. I WON'T.

You make your web site fit whatever browser I want to use - set however I want it set - and don't waste my time. I am the visitor. Do it my way - or you lose!

Why? 'Cause, I might have been your customer ... but, now, I'm GONE!

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* dr. jl scott is the Founder of Chamber of Commerce - on the Web™ http://www.ChamberofCommerce-ontheWeb.com - and also the publisher of the Online Business Trade Journal™ - the blog that keeps you up to date with online business coming of age. Visit: http://www.OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com

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