More .ASP tricks...

Ok, here's the project for the weekend: I want to create a form where readers can send feedback via e-mail from a web page.

On a Unix server it's done easily with the popular Perl script FormMail. But this web site is going to be hosted on NT, so what's the alternative? Let's explore a tutorial and read up on CDONTS:

WebmasterBase - Sending eMail in ASP

Stay tuned, more to follow on this project.

Are you giving away your e-mail address to spammers? Check out this article and then go tweek your OS Internet settings:

FTP Email Scam

Why I'll never buy Windows XP

Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 does everything I need it to do. I have legally purchased copies of NT 4.0 Server, NT 4.0 Workstation and upgraded my laptop by purchasing Windows 2000 Professional. I even have a very old '486 machine still running Windows 95, just for kicks. I have a copy of Office 97 installed on one of these computers and I've purchased a copy of Word 98 for my Macintosh. All in all, I've spent quite a bit of money with Microsoft and the software works just fine for what I use it for at home.

But now the line has been drawn. With the introduction of "product activation" and the amount of personal information you have to provide just to get your purchased software to work, I have decided to no longer follow the "upgrade trail." Under the new user agreement with Office XP, if I decided to un-install the software from my desktop PC and put it on my laptop instead, I would be denied.

Read more and decide for yourself: Boycott Microsoft!

Here's a list of good marketing tips for your web site or small business: Getting Noticed

Keep it simple or else...

Seems like an easy enough idea, until you try designing a site with all the bells and whistles that the client wants.

What's interesting about this article, the web site where I found it is so badly cluttered. Kind of ironic, don't you think?

Opera !! what a snazzy little browser especially for Macs and Unix ! It's just an all around great thing sans the java support, which can be downloaded as a seperate package. For the claims that MSN.com blocks Opera I have not run into that yet. I can successfully go about anywhere on the net as any type of browser I like with the option to "identify as browser" setting in the preferences of Opera. You can select MSIE 5 and 3 other versions of Mozilla from the list and pretend to be someone you're not !! Netscape's home actually has given me more problems surfing than MSN has.

I still would suggest having this on the desktop for at least browser checking of page loads and JS handling :)

Kiss the Internet, as we know it, goodbye...

Maybe that's a strong statement, but evidence is growing that a certain software company is trying to dominate the web:

MSN.com shuts out non-Microsoft browsers - CNET.com

The sad thing is, they state that the whole issue is support of the W3C XHMTL standard. Since when do we block browsers that don't support a selected standard? Hmmm...interesting concept. That would certainly make life easier for web designers if we could just simply say "use browser X or you don't get to use this site!"

For a different angle on the same topic, check out this story:

PCWorld.com - Opera Blasts Microsoft in MSN Browser Battle

The battle between form and function...

In many jobs, one person may have to wear many hats and that's very true in the web biz. This article discusses such issues and may help one to find that "sweet spot" somewhere in the middle:
Designers vs. Programmers, Calling a Truce (Web Techniques, Nov 2001)