A website that convinced me NOT to attend.

Although it is quite far away, I would like to attend a National N scale convention one day, so thought I'd look at the website for the one in Denver this August.

Well, it's clear to me that if you don't have Adobe Flash Player on your machine and have a T1 line for your connection, don't even bother to try to look at the website, they're not interested in your attendance.

After waiting five minutes for the site to load on a 56K dial-up line, I clicked on "Radisson Hotel", hoping that would come up a little faster - it did, only took two minutes. By that time, I was thinking "Why am I bothering, it is obvious that if you don't have the latest in computer software and communication lines, this group doesn't care if you attend or not."

I was going to put the address of the hotel in Mapquest and see how many hours driving might be involved, but now I'm not even going to bother. :angry:

 

Actually, I believe they probably figure everyone has DSL these days. Most current websites are too graphics-intensive for dial-up to handle.

I'm sure they asked their web designer to develop a nice site and never though twice about connection speeds.

It's about 1777 miles from Apalachicola to Denver according to Google Maps from: Apalachicola, FL to: Denver, CO - Google Maps
Cam

 

The problem is, "Good" webdesign is not really Good webdesign anymore, its Graphics Loaded Junk. nothing has actally really changed Code wise in the last ten years...asside form some additional programming languages, which still take minilmal time.

You might try browsing their site with pictures turned off...which is pointless if they are not labeling their pictures!

 

or filled in the html <alt> tag!

 

Why would you think that they are trying to exclude you based on your Internet access method?

How about they maybe don't have money for a development team on the payroll sitting around trying to build pages for the least-common-denominator?

FYI, I have cable, and the site is slow for me too. Must be a conspiracy against Trainboard n-scalers instead of dialup users.

 

3rdrail,

what really irritates me about this site is that it seems to have little to no information about much of the convention, and the website isn't laid out very well. The images, which take way too long to download even on my faster than T1 cable connection (300px by 150px in 10 seconds is way too slow.)

Looks like the reason the images are slow to download is that the designer was lazy and just used the <img> tag to resize the view without actually using a smaller image to link to a larger one. You end up with a 1.8MB 300x150 jpg, which isn't good. An image of that size, at that compression, should be less than 350 KB.

 

No, I was just using a little hyperbole to make a point that it could be taken that way. I realize it is a volunteer organization, but it should realize that what folks want from the website is information, not slow loading flash and pizzazz. Perhaps if some of the organizers read this thread they'll do better next year. :shade:

 

There is no next year for the Denver group. They are just trying to put together a show to bring n-scalers together for the purpose of HAVING FUN.

Their website does need work. I have e-mailed them offering my assistance. Hopefully a better solution than "hyperbole".

 

The site works for me.........................

 

doofus,

The main page is almost 2.7MB in size...not exactly acceptable page size, even if you do have high-speed access.

If not for the delivery, Thirdrail's issue is somewhat a valid one.

 

After reading the above responses, I think we should blow off Denver and all meet at Pete's in NM or Russell's in TX to have our own N Scale meet & some GREAT fun...:thumbs_up:
Cam

 

Sorry, Colonel :teeth:

NScale Collector - Denver N-scale National Convention 2006

 

I had no trouble accessing the site at all. The page loaded in a matter of seconds. I do have high speed internet service.

I wouldn't pass final judgment on a Trainshow because access to the site may slow in some instances.

The problem lies with some individuals method of access to the internet.


Stay cool and run steam.....

 

...the only so called "problem" with this site is the Colorado Museum picture (1,8MB size) and the steam engine picture (777kB size) all the other pictures and features are ok...

steve w.

 

I thought the site was pretty good. Only wish that I was going now.

 

That could be a tad dangerous...

 

Paul, I think you are right...regardless of the page issues it should be a goal of any n-scaler to try and make the convention if it is feasible. (it's not for me this year, but someday I hope to make it)

I contacted the convention chair and alerted him to the issue. He replied and said they were having "server issues", but I don't think he realized about the photos. I resized them and sent them back to him...dunno if he'll touch them but I tried conveying who I was so he wouldn't think I was trying to do harm. So we'll see.

 

I just visited the site, no probs for me. Just sorry for the mud slingin,,,I could say something mean and spiteful, but I will refrain.

I did manage to go when the national was in houston, But then again there was not a high speed low drag web site to deter me and spout off comments better left un-said

Adios Wyatt