The Dvorak.org/home.htm webpage has been online for over 10 years and it’s time for a make-over. The site was originally set up as a text-only site for quick loading. It contains useful links that I myself use. The organization of the page has only been changed once and probably needs a serious face-lift/re-org. So I am offering a handy Maxtor portable hard disk as a prize – plus the publicity – for the best redesign of the page by anyone who wants to give it a shot.

Here is the basic criteria.

1. Quick loading.—The site was initially text only and designed to be easy loading and easy to put on the C:\ drive for even faster loading. This meant HTML and all text and no graphics. I would still prefer a faster loading page but times have changed a bit. While I do not want a slew of graphics, some might be acceptable. But if someone does a page with no graphics and it looks better it will get priority. The page is also table driven and clumsy. A smart CSS layout would be better and I’m thinking the CSS would be imbedded in the page itself although there may be more versatility if it is offset on another file.

2. Easy to edit – This means easy to edit for me, after the fact. I want to be able to quickly erase a link or change a link or add a link without blowing up the page or having too much hassle. If this requires a WYSIWYG editor – as it should – then I need to know which editor and whether the page will also work with other editors.

3. Attractive – the category will become the final arbiter you can be sure. I’d like to see something modern and attractive with good organization.

I know there is someone out there who has seen this homely page over the years and has already thought about how to make it look good.

The best design gets the hard disk. The best three designs get mentioned with whatever plug you want for yourself on the blog with thanks on one of my podcasts (of my choosing).

the prize

Stylish Maxtor One Touch 4 Mini 160 GB USB Drive
Review of drive here

contest ends Dec. 31
submit to john@dvorak.org and please use the subject line: HOMEPAGE CONTEST