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So, as I am sure all dotTechies have noticed, I have not posted on dotTech for the past two months. Why? Simply because I was too busy with life (life outside dotTech), and couldn’t deal with dotTech. I know I should have given a heads up instead of just disappearing, but I never really planned on just disappearing. It was more of a gradual “oh I will post something soon” and before I knew it “soon” become two months. For that I do apologize. Now, however, I am back and looking to make a few changes to dotTech.
First of all, I am sure everyone noticed dotTech has a new look. There are three main reasons behind the new look:
- After the two month break, I wanted to start “fresh”.
- The previous theme I had for dotTech was poorly coded, and recently I have had a craving for a minimalist look.
- dotTech has started its third year online — what better way to celebrate than change looks?
That said, I would like some feedback on this new look. Hate it? Love it? Want something changed? Found bugs? Please post in the comments below!
Second order of business is changing how dotTech functions. While I was on my “break”, I realized that the existence of dotTech depends very heavily on me. Yes, I know I am the founder/owner/care-taker/etc. so being the core pillar holding up dotTech is expected. But I would like dotTech to be more community centric, with multiple authors and active participation from dotTechies. So, in this regard I will be posting information soon about hiring authors for dotTech (this time authors – all regular authors – will be paid, although the pay will be very,very little since revenue is very, very little) and am devising a plan to enhance community participation.
Thirdly, because of the lack of activity in the past two months, the traffic ranks for dotTech has fallen. This really hurts dotTech’s capabilities to get freebies like we have in the past. So I humbly request all dotTechies to try to make regular visits to dotTech so we can pull our ranks back up, enabling more excellent freebies to come our way.
Fourthly, I have removed the sidebar from the forums to make more width for the forum. Please provide feedback on this change.
Lastly, the status of Giveaway of the Day reviews is up in the air. Truly, I have found myself no longer enjoying GOTD reviews, so I am not too sure if I will continue on them. However, I will be looking to hire a regular GOTD reviewer, so if you are interested in the job let me know.
Let’s build this website together back to its former glory!
Feel free to flame me in the comments below – I deserve it.
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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Hello Ashraf,
I agree with the other commenters that found the all white look of the new site design rather hard on the eyes. It think there is too much white space overall. I think it would benefit from some more color highlights to make it easier on the eyes, to increase the contrast between submissions, and to make things stand out a bit better. I think the title area would be better too if it had some color to make it stand out from the body of the page. I think reducing it to half the height of the current title bar design would be better too.
I like the look. Add a little background color and it’ll be dialed in.
@Everyone: Thanks for the welcome back, kind wishes, and the feedback! I am listening to all the feedback and have made some minor changes as you can see. However, it seems to be a fairly even split as to people liking this new look vs people who don’t. This sort of split seems to be normal but I will still look to implement a few changes to appease both parties. The problem with minimalist looks is that they truly are minimal — I have made most of the custom changes to this theme to get it fit to appear on dotTech, and I don’t mind doing some more.
Ashraf, I personally think this looks to much like a 1990s type of website now, you should keep this but have an option to switch back to what it was like.
Welcome back!
I agree that the theme needs some color.
Yay, glad to see something happening around here. I like the new look… but it’s just a tad too minimalistic. A bit of color would be nice… I actually reloaded the page a couple times just to make sure it was the site not my browser. :P
Wow, I can’t believe The Boss is finally back! It truly wasn’t the same without you, but you have your reasons and I respect that. I wish to contribute a few articles to dotTech during Winter time, voluntarily of course. Like many have already mentioned, I do hope these paid authors keep up with the standard of dotTech, but I’m sure you will make the right decisions.
As for the new look, I’ll take the side of having a little more color. I actually preferred the very first theme you had, the black and white one, which was also very simplistic imo. Something along the lines of that would be nice, but I agree a minimalist theme is good. I thought for a second your web-host had screwed you again and took away all the colors!
All in all, we humbly welcome you back!
@Jyo: “I thought for a second your web-host had screwed you again and took away all the colors!” Now that is just rubbing salt into the wound. :-P
Seriously though, I am still sore about that. It pissed me off so much. I am just hoping PayPal will have my back in getting my money back from those punks.
Disappearing without notice was very mean….
Hope you know how much important your reviews are….
I have not installed a single GOTD product in last 2 month.
but welcome back !!!
will keep following.
I join all others in expressing the joy to read you again.
You HAVE been missed!!
Welcome back.
Hello Ashraf,
1. new looks are OK. I think maybe put some color on the menu bar, which hardly can be seen
2. GAOTD is VERY poor lately so, actually, there’s not much to review indeed. But, that may be because I think I have most I need…
mario
Welcome back. I like the new look. but it does need some color too it. the world isn’t black and white. I agree with some others that having GOWOTD revue would bang the hit counter up rather fast.
Nice surprise to see new postings for dottech in my RSS feed this morning. Really like the new look for ease in reading, and agree in your decision to delegate some writing duties as long as you oversee quality. Looking forward to you getting someone to post again on GOTD. Those reviews often helped me make a decision to try or not.
Welcome back Ashraf, glad to see this site is alive and well again!
I like the theme…very crisp, clean, and clear.
Welcome back, if you ever have to leave again let me know. I’m working on cloning and I almost have the technique perfective. Once I figure out why my clones disappear after only ten seconds of life, then I’ll be able to clone you and you can take a break. :)
Sochya eh dif.
SpudGie
Oh and GAOTD I agree has been quite stale lately, but it’d be nice to see reviews on once in a while gems, like software capable of revolutionizing the world of computers…..
Thanks for bringing the site to life again. I like the new outlook.
Welcome back Ashraf, really glad to see you back. I don’t care about the look of the site much, what matters much for is fact that you are back and dotTech is back online.
Thanks
Hi, Ashraf
Welcome back.
Well, about the rank. Here we are..
BTW. Theme is fine, but add color please..
But licks the lot of you commenters!Don’t start a website then whinge about having to run it ashraf.Maybe you should start a fan club going by these posts
Hi Ashraf,
I like the new site, but not the colors.
Black and White are to extreme in contrast. Please use a darker white. Personally I prefer a dark grey background with light grey text. This is so smooth on the eyes and looks very exclusive. Have a look at Speccy from piriform.com, this SysInfo just looks sexy and uses the dark theme.
Sometimes i like to go for a walk all by myself, no family, no friends, no plans, no direction, no excuses, nothing to explain just me spending time with the real me, and what is known as my inner child.
Sometimes my walk lasts 20 – 30 minutes, sometimes a few hours, just once 7 days, (my family knows me and they understand, it’s how my wife met me “just on walkabout” years ago and nowadays I do take my mobile just in case there is a real emergency)
Of course we all missed you, but more importantly we are glad you took the time out to be with yourself to re-energise your soul, and if you hadn’t come back; well “C’est la vie”….
….and we would have all sat around the dotTech campfire swapping stories along the lines of, “oh that Ashraf, do you remember when he did such and such….? and when…?”
And we would have all looked wistfully at the virtual internet nighttime sky and wondered which one of those bright, twinkling stars is our Ashraf?……….and what is he doing now?
…..and gradually one by one, as the nights drew in and new days and new lives beckoned we would have all drifted back to our own individual lives, our hearts gladdened and our lives enriched by once having been touched by the marvellous spirit of a bright spark called Ashraf.
And life would have gone on regardless…and irregardless of whether you continued along that one path you began long ago or whether you turned around and set off in a new direction or a combination of both and many others all at once….!
What is most important is that you have rediscovered yourself and that you are enjoying what you are doing, and if that includes us then all is well and good and if not, then all is well and good too!
So Ashraf, I hope you enjoyed your walk and welcome home to your online family.
Glad you are back Ashraff.
Theme is nice, though needs some color.
Thank for you are back. Great to see your write-ups.