amen: National city is a good example of too much puffery; hard to get to my own account. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul McCloud" <pmc033 at earthlink.net> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:15 PM Subject: Re: OT- Websites > Hi, Dennis: > Yes, there is limitation when you have drag and drop menus. One complaint > is that it doesn't load all at once, but one thing at a time, or at least > that's what I understand. The customer service I've gotten, though, was > very prompt. Unfortunately, there's no "manual" but only video tutorials > to watch. Some of the features I have no idea what they do. You guys are > like engineers, compared to people like me who are "shade tree mechanics". > Turn a few screws, make it work. I can usually tell when someone has > tried > to "home brew" the website. Like mine. Others are so innovative that I > have to ask, "Why?". There really has to be a strong purpose behind > having > a website. Maybe you're selling something. Maybe you just want to be > seen, to make an impression. Maybe you want to provide information, to > educate, put forth your opinion, whatever it may be. If something doesn't > further your purpose, I don't see the point. Entertainment? Perhaps. If > I find my purpose isn't served, I'll do something else, or find another > way. I've done okay without a website, for many years, but now that I > find > a real need (to link to my scheduling service) I have a way to get it > done. > Could I have done it using FrontPage. Yes. That's what Brad Smith used > to > make his site. I was going to do what he did, until I found this. > I stand in awe of good designers. Form and Function. Beauty and Science. > My hat is off to you. > Thanks for your comments. > Paul > > >> [Original Message] >> From: Dennis Benson <dennis at dennisbenson.com> >> To: <sarah at graphic-fusion.com>; Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> >> Date: 01/27/2008 6:29:29 PM >> Subject: Re: OT- Websites >> >> Paul, >> >> I've seen some poor reviews of BlueVoda as far as customer service and >> difficulty in creating a customized look. >> >> If you really want a FREE web site (hosting and all) use Google Pages. A >> good free designing program is Komposer which is a WYSIWYG open source >> program. >> >> I am also a web designer as well as registered piano technician and agree >> with Sarah that a good web site designer has a wealth of knowledge to > help >> create an attractive and functional site. >> >> Dennis Benson >> www.dennisbenson.com >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <sarah at graphic-fusion.com> >> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> >> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:22 PM >> Subject: RE: OT- Websites >> >> >> > Hi Paul, >> > >> > Congragulations on your website. Unfortunately I wasn't able to view > it, >> > as it is blocked by Trend Micro (see below sig). I could override the >> > block, of course, but I didn't. I just thought I'd give you the heads > up. >> > >> > You can also edit web pages with Microsoft Word, which most of you >> > probably >> > already have. >> > >> > For all it's worth, a good professional web designer has a wealth of >> > experience to handle matters like this, to program special > functionality, >> > to create sophisticated graphic designs, to maximize search rankings, > and >> > to organize a site for future expansion. We web designers/programmers > are >> > a bit like piano technicians. A piano may appear to be a simple >> > mechanical >> > device, and most people with any general mechanical competence might be >> > able to "fix" what's broken and even to tune the piano with a little > Korg >> > tuning meter, but that doesn't mean they'll do a very good job. A >> > professional piano technician knows a trick or two from decades of >> > experience and from total immersion in the field. Sometimes it's worth > a >> > bit of outlay to benefit from those decades of experience and to have > the >> > job done right. >> > >> > As can obviously be deduced from what I've written, I am a professional >> > web >> > designer, graphic artist, and photographer. If anyone is interested, > I've >> > been programming since 1976, and I've lost count of the number of >> > languages >> > I've learned, known, forgotten, etc. I'm proficient in HTML >> > (obviously) >> > and JavaScript. I've been doing photography since the age of 6, > darkroom >> > work since the age of 11, and digital photoediting since 1996. My rate > is >> > $100/hr for photographic, graphic, or programming/design work, if > anyone >> > is >> > interested. I'm just tossing out my information as what I hope is an >> > attractive alternative to the free/DIY BlueVoda. As with work on the >> > piano, you usually get what you pay for. I think I produce some pretty >> > good results. Besides that, I am a web designer who knows something of >> > pianos, which I think is an interesting niche qualification. >> > >> > Peace, >> > Sarah >> > >> > PS I hope this doesn't come across as a "pissy" posting, as it's not >> > intended as such. Imagine yourself in a situation in which you are > trying >> > to defend why it's good to hire a professional to tune the family >> > piano, >> > and I think you'll understand both my tone and my motives. >> > >> > Here is the Trend Micro message: >> > >> > --------------------------------------------------- >> > >> > Blocked by Trend Micro >> > Trend Micro Internet Security Pro has identified this Web page as >> > undesirable. >> > >> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > ---- >> > >> > Address: >> > > http://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http://www.pianoserv >> > sd.com >> > >> > >> > If you still want to see this blocked page: >> > Click the Windows Start button and launch Trend Micro Internet Security >> > Pro >> > from the list under All Programs. >> > >> > >> > Click Internet & Email Controls. >> > >> > >> > Click the Settings... button under Parental Controls or Protection > Against >> > Web Threats. >> > >> > >> > Click the List of Approved Web Sites link in the next window that >> > opens. >> > >> > >> > Copy and paste the address of the blocked Web site into the list. >> > >> > >> > Note: If you think that Trend Micro Internet Security Pro should not >> > block this Web page, please notify Trend Micro by clicking this button: >> > >> > >> > >> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > ---- >> > >> > Copyright © 1995-2007 Trend Micro Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Hi, All: >> > For those of you that don't have a website, or would like to take >> > control of your own, I have found a very good alternative to: >> > a) paying someone hundreds of dollars to make one for you; >> > b) buying expensive software and spending countless hours learning > how >> > to do it; and >> > c) going to some website and downloading a ready-made template that >> > looks like every other template-made cheapo website. >> > It's called BlueVoda. The software is free, and you can create any >> > effect you want, just like to "big boys". You can insert any images, >> > links, special effects, whatever into your web pages. >> > I have an online scheduling service ( www.appointmentquest.com ) my >> > site links seamlessly to. Actually, I created my website specifically > to >> > use this online scheduling service. (Thanks to Brad Smith for the >> > heads-up! www.smithpiano.com ). >> > Ok, so my first attempt (see my site below) is nothing to rave >> > about. >> > But it cost me zip- and I can do anything I want with it. Not only do > you >> > get the software for free, but there are literally thousands of people > who >> > can help you via the forums on the BlueVoda site. There are many video >> > tutorials available, and tons of support. VERY cool. >> > Click on the link below. >> > Just thought I'd pass along a good thing. >> > >> > Paul McCloud >> > San Diego >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Paul McCloud >> > pmc033 at earthlink.net >> > www.pianoservsd.com >> > Created with free BlueVoda software: >> > http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9 >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and > application >> > hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > >
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