2002 site won't open for some people

[Bob]

Ok, I've read alot of David's articles and tried to do
everything feasible and tried to make this site as simple
as possible. I created a website for a bunch of gardeners
and quite a few of them say things like, "the pictures
don't show up", or "I just got a page with gibberish", or
it won't load. Now remember these are people that think
computers are occupied by little people who type messages
back to them so ideas like "update IE", and questions
like "which browser are you using?" Or, "are you using a
Mac or IBM clone" are answered by glazed looks in their
eyes. Is this something to do with the fact it is on a
virtual website (soncom.com)? The site is
http://www.naturesnestfarm.com. Does anyone have any
software where they can check out the site and tell me any
potential problems it may have? We are aware that on the
last 3 pages the pictures are getting a little large, but
it seems like the home page should at least be ok. Thanks!

 

[David Bartosik - MS MVP]

I just took a look at the site and I could find nothing that should cause
any issues for the "majority". That being users running IE 5 or higher on
Windows 98 or higher. The site is simple and clean and you are using 2002
with the Service Packs. The code is about as clean as 2002 can get.
Now the pages aren't supported on Mac's. So if you have users running Mac's
you are just sol. But I personally doubt users like you describe are running
Mac's. Most Mac's are the artistic, techy, trendy crowd.
But the type of user you describe might very well be using Win 95 and IE 3
or Netscape 4.
NS 4 will choke on the 2002 pub page, so that would be the "gibberish".
Also such users are likely on dial-ups barely making 26k down-loads, and you
have lots of photos. I'd say its most likely "not" a case of images not
loading but more likely one of that they don't allow the time it takes for
them to load.
If you need the images then there isn't really anything you can do there.
Other than perhaps putting a notice on the page that in effect states to be
patient.

--
David Bartosik - MS MVP
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www.davidbartosik.com
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