AMDUsers.com v.5 - Ideas/Problems

[dkazgt2]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working with Jeff on the new AMDUsers.com. At the moment we are having some minor problems. We currently have a kick-ass flash intro with new logo and animation. However, the file is at 2MB of pre-loading. It is normally 800KB without the new AMDUsers logo. On a DSL connection, the download for the intro is around 50 seconds to a little over a minute of waiting. On Cable, it is a shorter wait obviously. I wanted to see if anyone has a problem with a 20 second - 1 minute wait for the flash intro, keeping in mind the rest of the website loads during the pre-load, so you can browse around while you wait.

Also, if anyone has any ideas on what should be included on the new website (new feature or something) let Jeff know. Thanks.

[NeoGen]

Hi dkazgt2

Aside from people with dial-up, I'm probably the one with slowest connection. 512/128kbps(down/up)

If we don't have to wait for the whole flash to load before being able to move around then it's fine by me. And anyways, as soon as it's downloaded one time, it stays on the temporary internet files so the following times are instantaneous. (On Windows/IE at least... don't have a clue on linuxes)

So, show us what you got guys! I can't wait to see that brand new site, with flash intro, and new forums, and all the rest of the news :D

[dkazgt2]

Yeah the flash does stay with IE/Windows, so it is also a one-time wait (unless you are like me and delete your internet temp. files and cache from time to time). But still, if most of you have a fast connection, then 2MB is no problem and the short wait should be no problem. We are still going to try out some new logo animations/ideas and change the music for the intro to shorten the file size more.

We are estimating that the new website should be up in September.

[Doomeva]

Is it possible to have the option to turn off sound of the into?

[dkazgt2]

Yes the intro will have a sound on/off button and an option to skip the intro as well.

[AMDave]

can you split the flash into 2 loads
the first (smaller) set to load first
the second (larger) set to load after the rest of the page has loaded
that way the page will appear to load faster
I have seen this on other pages, but not sure how they did it

[Jeff]

I dont understand what you mean, sorry. Seems cool, can you try to explain it to me alittle?

Thanks dude!
Jeff

[AMDave]

I think (and don't take my word on this) that you put 2 frames (bad choice of words...boxes) in the same place, one over the other.

The first one is set to pre-load when the page is called and the second one is set to load when the page has finished rendering.

Not sure how they do that. Ototero may have a better idea.

I'll look for the place I saw it. It was about 6 months ago in a magazine. They had a web site too. I probably still have it somewhere. It had some interesting stuff like that so I wouldn't have recycled it yet.

[AMDave]

Practical Web Pages

I found the magazine CD but I think the magazine is at my old work.

They did not have a website. Maybe a temp one for one of the tutorials.

I'll do some searches and see what comes up.

[AMDave]

here is a short discussion and example

They actually point out that pre-loading is a bad idea. Right enough. But post loading is what we re looking at and there is a sample javascript for that.

I notice that something similar is done in the magazine cover-DVDs these days (example Australian Personal Computer). The page is loaded then the flash banner with animation and music is activated over the gif. It is a similar page layout. I'll see if I can hack the page code.

>> Grabs cover disk....