Why is it effective? My mouse wheel doesn't scroll it. Clicking my scroll bar to pan a full page at a time just plops me into the middle of a page -- which is totally disoriented -- because Kottke hasn't considered that my window width is different than his. The last thing I want to do is to grab and drag the damn scroll bar bits at a time to view the page. This is quite possibly the worst online resume I've ever had to interact with.

Posted by: Matt on February 1, 2003 07:15 PM

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Matt, I appreciate your comments. However, I stand by my original comment. The horizontal scrolling is effective for me. I understand that it won't work for other folks. I like the design and I actually enjoy scrolling horizontally in this case. That's rare for me.

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on February 1, 2003 08:10 PM

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I don't mind the horizontal scrolling, but in nearly every case I've seen horizontal scrolling like this, it's use has seemed more of a gimmick than anything else. Yes, I realize his portfolio wouldn't have achieived the same affect if it was a vertical scrolling page, but I prefer ease of use to cheap browser gimmicks any day.

Posted by: Joshua Kaufman on February 2, 2003 10:33 AM

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Exactly. It's a gimmick, unless someone can show it's more effective. I find it annoying.

I could code my page to load from the bottom and force you to scroll up. Should I? Will it set me apart from other designers and impress you enough that you remember me? Or will you think less of me and not bother asking me to quote a job? Hmmm.

Posted by: Matt on February 2, 2003 12:34 PM

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As long as he's going to be gimmicky, why didn't he at least do something slick? You know, like a book you could turn the pages of.

Posted by: The Great Pumpkin on February 3, 2003 01:57 AM

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http://www.iht.com/articles/85358.html

Horizontal reading without the scrolling ... some other nice interface elements being used on this site.

Posted by: daniel szuc on February 3, 2003 07:09 AM

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daniel, that example was wasted on me. My browser window is set in the neighborhood of a comfortable 700 pixel width. So when you mentioned horizontal scrolling I thought there was Flash or javascript gizmo that would let me scroll right to see the full third column of text. You know, the page would move as my mouse neared the right side of the screen or something. No dice. I had to grab the scroll bar.

Now that the "Next Page" button is on my screen, the "Prev Page" button is off-screen. I have to grab the scroll bar to move left again.

So, let me get this straight... I have to use two interface elements each time I want to scroll? Why not let me just use my mouse wheel? Or my arrow keys?

...Or I have to set my browser window to the same width as that of the web designer. I have to give up my preference and usability for the personal whims of the web designer. Uh huh. That's user-centered design for you!

Posted by: Matt on February 3, 2003 12:05 PM

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So webword promotes what it's owner finds "effective" on a given day? Maybe I'm at the wrong site..."cool site of the day" stuff has kind of lost it's attraction to me...

Posted by: on February 4, 2003 01:58 PM

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I liked this online resume. Most people I know (and most of the people he would probably design for) have resolutions at or above 800 x 600 and wouldn't mind the horizontal scrolling. Not effective for people with smaller resolutions, but works for those above. You can't please all of the people all of the time, just some of the people.

He does also offer a print version, so it's not like he is completely ignoring people with different types of browsers and resolutions.

That HP site with the page turning thing was hilarious! It reminds me of an SNL skit I saw with Michael McKean as the narrator where the guy was wearing VR goggles to read a book. It had about 4-5 words on each page, and you could simulate turning the pages. Too funny - I never thought I would see that in real life.

Posted by: Lydia on February 4, 2003 09:07 PM

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