Web Master Stuff

The original site was built on tables with a left hand menu and was an SEO disaster because of that, despite decent Google ranking on some key words.  The main body of this new site has been entirely redesigned using XHTML (Transitional) and CSS which was no mean feat, although I have had to make some compromises in skinning the free software I've used to accommodate the design and navigation.  The template I've used is a cross between Prosimii and Relic, both available fee of charge from http://www.oswd.org. 

The shop is still using the same ECommerce template but I have updated it to the latest version.   The Directory was hand built to my design by a Russian programmer called Nike for $200 2 years ago.  (The BB part of the Directory is there for security reasons, to avoid malicious html, but a bit unwieldy for users, for which I apologise).  The other parts of the site, Classifieds, FAQ, use various bits of free software which are credited in each case.

I am currently testing Fluid Dynamics Search Engine from www.xav.com which is $40 per site and so far I like the cross domain control it gives me as I host my sites across multiple domains.  A good and free search engine to use, and still with a large degree of control is available from http://www.freefind.com (paid version also available without adverts) and I use it on my small business site.  The PDF/Javascript menu version of the Galen's site, which I am currently working on, is being created using the purchased version of WebIdeaTree.

I am still using M$ Frontpage to build my sites which is probably just sheer laziness!  It helped when building the XHTML frames pages used on the Search and FAQ though.  I don't like frames so I'll probably try and rebuild those.  Interesting to find out that XHTML had a standard for frames though if only out of idle curiosity!

Geek stuff - This site was built using a computer I built myself in May 2006 - Arctic Cooling Silentium T2 low noise case; GA-K8NSC-939 motherboard (got more slots than some of the others and I tend to have a lot of stuff plugged into the back); Athlon 64bit 3200+ processor cooled by Arctic Freezer 64 Pro, Geoforce FX5200 graphics card (Not the best but I'm not into gaming - don't even own a joystick).  In theory the MB does Raid stuff and SATA hard drives but that's too scary for me since "someone who shall remain nameless" spent one Christmas a few years back with computer bits balanced on cardboard boxes after problems with a DOA motherboard and a Raid array.  (Thank God for GetDataBack which has also saved my bacon on a couple of occasions).  And forget overclocking - I only lost my computer virginity a few years ago when I took the back off the PC for the first time and installed the odd network card and then a 2nd DVD drive.  I've remained celibate pretty much until this new build.... 

All the above computer bits (excluding the hard drive, floppy and DVD drive which I recycled from the old PC) came from www.seriouscomponents.com in Scotland and cost £300 plus £10 delivery, including 2 x 512Mb DDR400 matched memory, (less than the cost of replacing my son's 'goat' computer which had recently died).  Anyway, Andrew at Serious Components was very helpful, and I felt his prices were good, so thought I'd give him a plug.