My first php site.

[phlembol]

I think I may have graduated to Rookie Hack with buyGPSdevice.com (http://buyGPSdevice.com)! Found a solid open-source XHTML/CSS template I like. Sliced it up to make it modular. Figured how and where to insert some variables. And there you see the results. The nature of the site demanded something more than a flat page, so php seemed right. I won't claim to know it yet, I'm learnin' it. This example is index.garmin.php:
<?php
$brandname = "Garmin";
include("pagehead.php");
include("header.php");
include("navleft.php");
include("info.garmin.html");
include("adblockleft.php");
include("start.php");
include("content.garmin.php");
include("adblockmain.php");
include("footer.php");
?>No MySQL databases were harmed (or involved) in the making of this site. Too easy, for the moment at least, just to have a small flat file for each brand. Each brand has 2 specific required files being index and content. The info. file can be included as company info is added. You can see the info. file in the example is html. I tried php and txt also and all work as far as I can tell. I am sure there must be some basic benefits or drawbacks involved that I am ignorant of. I am open to guidance. I know that there will be errors if you run it thru a validator. Most of what you will find though are related to the ad code. I work in a great text editor and verify with the latest FF2 and IE7. I still have work ahead adding and refining content.

Comments of any nature are welcome. What do you think? Thanks for your time.

[Doc C]

But there's only 175 errors. (http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fbuygpsdevice.com%2F&charset=%28detect+automatically%29&doctype=Inline&group=0&verbose=1) :D

(Guess I shouldn't speed read posts. I missed your part about knowing there were errors!) :)

[phlembol]

Those ampersands are killers. I don't know if I can fix those because of context.

[jblack]

Here is my question: I have a Garmin GPS III Plus. Where can I get a USB cable that will allow it to interface with my computer and where can I get some decent but cheap software that will allow me to navigate with my laptop and upload more detailed maps and routes to the unit.

I like the site, but it seems to be more for generating income from Adsense than GPS devices. Am I off base with this supposition?

[YvetteKuhns]

I don't like how every page name uses index in it. If search engines don't mind, why should you?

I am not a big fan of sites that list links to other places to buy items. There isn't any unique contents. I would simply search for a product name and Google would direct me to eBay or another seller. Even Radio Shack sells these items.

It feels spammy to me. Are you going to write reviews or allow people to post reviews or opinions? Will this become a comparison shopping website? At this time, I only see product descriptions.

The product descriptions have one large paragraph. If you separate them into shorter paragraphs, they are easier to read and digest. People may be afraid to click the button, because it looks like they are clicking to buy a product. "Click for more info" as text or a button instead of "Now" will probably get more clicks.

The contact link goes to an email address instead of a web page. The site map says coming soon! Very unprofessional. It needs a nice logo. The Google ads are in the bottom left and will be ignored by most people.

Sorry, but I gave you my honest opinion as an Internet shopper. There are so many of these websites that you really have to do something special to get people to visit and revisit your website.

[Doc C]

jblack, I think your question is for another type of forum. :)

[phlembol]

I like the site, but it seems to be more for generating income from Adsense than GPS devices. Am I off base with this supposition?
Yes. Adsense wouldn't amount to bus fare without a draw. I have just started adding content. There will be more sources added, feature lists, comparison tables. The ads won't grow much from what is there, content will. Much more content to come.
I don't like how every page name uses index in it. If search engines don't mind, why should you?
Easy to change.
I am not a big fan of sites that list links to other places to buy items. There isn't any unique contents. I would simply search for a product name and Google would direct me to eBay or another seller. Even Radio Shack sells these items.
It feels spammy to me. Are you going to write reviews or allow people to post reviews or opinions? Will this become a comparison shopping website? At this time, I only see product descriptions.
I am not ready for reviews. That would require more back-end than I have for sure. Maybe I will work up to that. The plan is to present a comparison of features between models and brands, and best price.

Is it necessary (from a shoppers point of view) to include anything more than the best price? Are bad prices necessary to see to recognize a good price? Hmm, put that way, I'd lean toward "yes."
The product descriptions have one large paragraph. If you separate them into shorter paragraphs, they are easier to read and digest. People may be afraid to click the button, because it looks like they are clicking to buy a product. "Click for more info" as text or a button instead of "Now" will probably get more clicks.
The ad copy is pretty rough when I get it. I am still learning how best to format it. The input button will be replaced shortly with a graphic, but still working out the details of composition and creation. The input button text the ads come with all just say "BUY!"
The contact link goes to an email address instead of a web page.
Well, since none of the products are mine, an email is essentially all that would be on another page. Maybe I can combine that with Our Mission Statement which is still to be created.

The site map says coming soon! Very unprofessional. It needs a nice logo.
Sitemap will appear very soon. I figured anything was better than a broken link. Still thinking about logo.

Sorry, but I gave you my honest opinion as an Internet shopper. There are so many of these websites that you really have to do something special to get people to visit and revisit your website.
Thank you. That is exactly what I wanted. If I was going to get offended or hurt, I would never have asked. Though I've been flying the link for a couple weeks, I started this site with flat files and quickly found myself looking for a better way so that it could be updated and expanded easily. Now that I have (I think) a solid framework, it can grow.

Thanks for the input everyone. I hope to get more. I still have lots to learn I know.

[phlembol]

Here is my question: I have a Garmin GPS III Plus. Where can I get a USB cable that will allow it to interface with my computer and where can I get some decent but cheap software that will allow me to navigate with my laptop and upload more detailed maps and routes to the unit.

Is that a mini-USB on the unit end?

I use DeLorme Street Atlas on my notebook and it does allow for editing roads and such but I don't know about uploading it to another unit.

[YvetteKuhns]

Thank you. That is exactly what I wanted. If I was going to get offended or hurt, I would never have asked.

Luckily, you know me. Sometimes, people want praise and not honest criticism. I have to be objective and act like I don't know you when I review the site, because that is what happens in real life. Most people won't know you and barely give you three seconds to decide whether to stay or leave.

I felt bad that I didn't really have any kind words aside from the obvious: easy to read and navigate. How about this? I do like the products you describe and think that others will, too. ;)

[phlembol]

I do like the products you describe and think that others will, too. ;)
LOL! Umm, yeah, thanks for the compliment. :)

But seriously, it looked like something worth doing because of that. If I can't see action with this growing market ...

And it advanced my training a bit. I'm still waiting for comment on my method. It can't be perfect. For instance, how do I just add the content without parsing it. As content grows, that will surely matter. Maybe this should be over in the php forum. Never mind.

[YvetteKuhns]

For instance, how do I just add the content without parsing it. As content grows, that will surely matter.

Figure this out now. Here (http://www.scriptsmill.com/comments.html) is something that may work for you.

[phlembol]

How does this button format look? Cobra (http://buygpsdevice.com/index.cobra.php)

[Doc C]

"Liking it, I am not", said the green Jedi. "Resemble a button, it does not" :D

[phlembol]

Well, how about this one? 718 :D

[Doc C]

"That's no button. It's a space station", declared the old Jedi Master.

[YvetteKuhns]

How does this button format look? Cobra

It looks like an ad, even with GO TO next to it. Because GO TO is vertical, it is more difficult to notice or read. That reminds me of the time we were looking for a place where my cousin was getting married.

There was a place with a brick pillar with the name in fancy script and the black letters were vertical. We found a person who described the place and learned that we drove by the place several times! It was that place with the sign we couldn't read.

[Doc C]

It's because from childhood the human mind is conditioned to read text horizontally not vertically. When we see text in a "normal" format, we recognize it instantly but place it in any other fashion and it takes longer for the brain to sort it out.

[phlembol]

Ironed a few wrinkles. The first product on this page (http://buygpsdevice.com/index.pharos.php) is where I am at the moment. How ya like them buttons?

[YvetteKuhns]

What buttons? I see big boxes that look like Google ads. A button says little more than "click here" or "click for more info".

[Doc C]

"Your buttons are weak, old man", intoned the Dark Sith.

(I think that's what Yvette is saying!)

[YvetteKuhns]

See difference between links and buttons on price comparison website. (http://www.pricerunner.com/cl/2/TVs?a_13=Plasma)

The rectangle that says Compare Prices looks like a button. Then there are text links.

[phlembol]

What I can see developing is that there will be a stock description for each model so I won't have to reformat each ad as it changes price or source. I can just change the link data and grab a new screen shot.

They are indeed more like ads than buttons. That seems to be right in this application. As a (hard-to-please) customer, what would you like to see? :) Thanks.

[YvetteKuhns]

As a (hard-to-please) customer, what would you like to see? Thanks.

I posted before you did, so please see my previous post. ;)

I like how I can check some of the products for price comparisons, too.

[wtjr]

Hello one thing I noticed is in your header the fonts appear to have a case of the jaggies?!

oohh and I rarely buy anything online without reading reviews...

[phlembol]

Hello one thing I noticed is in your header the fonts appear to have a case of the jaggies?!

That's interesting. I don't see it. What browser and resolution? Anyone else notice this?

[Doc C]

I'm viewing it on at 1064 x 768 on a 15" LCD and it looks OK. I think what wtjr is seeing is caused by the gradient of the background that the text is on.

[YvetteKuhns]

I rarely buy anything online without reading reviews...

Me, too! ;)