I'm a happy HR customer, but I don't know about their new site. It's gaudy (has a flash animation with music on the front page) and has lots of grammatical errors. Here are some fun gems:

"Advanced Managed Hosting Of Tomorrow" ("of" should not be capitalized)

"Manage every aspect of your domain through your own control panel. 15gb of bandwidth and 350mb of storage for only $9.95 provides pleanty of room for your and a friend."

"Let provide you with a high end, managed dedicated server system adequate to serve millions of hits a month. Systems starting as low as $175/mo."

These are just on the main page! I didn't check the rest of the site. C'mon, HR. If you can provide great uptime and speed like you do, certainly your website designer can check his grammar.

Although English is not my first language, I noticed one more error you didn't pay attention to:

"Manage every aspect of your domain through your own control panel. 15gb of bandwidth and 350mb of storage for only $9.95 provides pleanty of room for your and a friend."

Is it HR or you? ;-)

bah, grammar errors .. we all make them :D

I like the site .. quite nice .. but that's me :)

Those few errors can be corrected. It is a new site and needs to be combed through a bit. Overall, it kicks donkey!

I don't even know who these guys are, but from just looking at the site I would sign up on the spot. WOW! Very nice flash integration, on every page.

Grammar shmammar!:D

Everyone's a critic :angry:
Great site Brandon and good luck in the future. :beer:

Originally posted by Chicken
Those few errors can be corrected. It is a new site and needs to be combed through a bit. Overall, it kicks donkey!

HAHAHA LOL -- kicks donkey! thats a good one ;)

It is a great-looking site. Very effective. I hate them. :D

Originally posted by alchiba
It is a great-looking site. Very effective. I hate them. :D


Why what'd they do to you? :)

HR....Great site....I really like it:D

grammar sux

when isaw thhier site my jaw dropped, i have never seen a hosting company with quite such an increidbile site, mad props to the deSin company lol i love it though they get mnad clients and they got bad grammar, i wish i could stump it off !

i bet my site has grammar mistakees too lol cheeese powere yah

Hi,

Im working on getting them to fix it... I dont think english is the first language of some of the guys on the design team :)

-Brendan

Woah! just went onto their site. Awsome, purely genius. I think alot of these small business owners who need a hosting plan, but dont know much about it, will be drawn into HR.

Great concept with all the flash. Makes it look like a very high tech company. Bet it uses some high bandwidth though....

Jim

Does the site look great? Yes.

Is the site an example of what should never be done to an ecommerce site? Most Definitally.

Does anyone realize how large the main page is when you go there for the first time? I really feel bad for anyone with a slow connection. And thats not even mentioning the people with slow computers. That flash will make allot of older computers crash from the number of animations in the flash.

They really should have a choice to go with the flash version or another version that isn't flash (maybe just a gif version of the flash sections).

Originally posted by ^Kyo
Why what'd they do to you? :)

They've done nothing to me at all. I was just being jealously sarcastic, intended as a compliment. :)

Yeah, but it's COOL....

Very nice site!

Reseller page is funny though.

The music on that site is really catchy.


Andrew

I wonder how much they pay for a design like that.

Their site was around $15,000.

WOW!

I've never seen $15,000 much less read about it!

I mean, I did do one site that sold for $30,000, *according to my old boss!* :eek: If only I got 20% I would be a happy programmer. (You can tell from my site I am a back-end/intranet programmer, not a design guru! :D hehe I belong in the wiring closet...)

Beh, go to pixelbrick.... almost all of their designs look the same! Grr.

As you can tell I'm jealous. ;) $15,000... wow.

Their site looks very good. The only thing that I don't like is the fact that the loud annoying music is on when you load the first page. I really hate unexpected sound when looking at websites.

Hi,

Our site did come from pixelbrick yes, but we can't say how much we paid for it.

-Brendan

Mr. Amazon -- i totally agree with you! Sudden sounds are very annoying to any websurfer.

Brendan -- excellent site, you're quite lucky ;)

Regards,

Asher.

Originally posted by JeremyL
Does the site look great? Yes.

Is the site an example of what should never be done to an ecommerce site? Most Definitally.

Does anyone realize how large the main page is when you go there for the first time? I really feel bad for anyone with a slow connection. And thats not even mentioning the people with slow computers. That flash will make allot of older computers crash from the number of animations in the flash.

They really should have a choice to go with the flash version or another version that isn't flash (maybe just a gif version of the flash sections).

Yes I realise how long it takes, over a minute on 56k which is appauling espacially for a web host, I know I want my site to load lightening fast - it gives a good impression to customers if it loads fast.

Some of the site looks good, some doesn't, looks just like nearly every other pixel brick site out their and if you ask me sound is a big no-no.

I agree with Karl to an extent - I like the majority of the site, but the sound has no benefit imo - perhaps if you remove it, the slower loading time would be solved, Brendan?

Just a thought,

Matt

A very nice site!! I love Flash sites.

Kevin

we'll see how long they last offering GBs for ~$0.60.....


Nice looking site for broadband users.

We've lasted over a year and 8-9k+ sites strong so far with no troubles.

-Brendan

Very attractive site, but it could use some spelling and grammar corrections. I mean, they are flashing this at the top:
Advanced Managed Hosting Of Tommorow

Tommorow?

That, at the very least, should be fixed.

A great site that i bring up every once and a while is

www.xat.com

has quite a few usefull tooks including a web speed simulator for those on a fast connect that want to see what the 56k people are suffering though

Very nice tool!

I heard it cost them 20,000 that is a lot of money for a site. But it is really nice. The other thing is that the site was created for a DSL cable audience so that is why it takes so long to load. I think it should of have been done for 56k and not DSL not everyone has the money to pay $50 per month on a DSL line.

Originally posted by one_web
I heard it cost them 20,000 that is a lot of money for a site. But it is really nice. The other thing is that the site was created for a DSL cable audience so that is why it takes so long to load. I think it should of have been done for 56k and not DSL not everyone has the money to pay $50 per month on a DSL line.

Nor does everyone have access to a cable or dsl connection... :)

Sometimes Flash is not a good thing to have if you have a flash site you always need to include a non version flash site to. Caues it crashes alot of browsers and plus i takes up alot of bandwidth and it is slow loading for a 56k user. I know I'm a 56k user but not much longer. THANK GOODNESS. I'm getting the DSL to now. I can actually get up with the world lol.

Host Rocket,

I have seen you guys since you started,,, you have come a long ways! I don't hardly ever make a comment on another hosts site, but ,,,,,, Damn,,,,,,


Great site !

Fix those few spelling errors and killer site won't touch it. Hats off to the designer...

Tim L
:cool:

I'm on 56k but it was worth waiting.
Nice layout.

Well at least we got the spelling right in the flash on the front page now :)

-Brendan

I would have to say that HostRocket is quite a progressive host. I had two sites with them back when they first started and was actually pleased with them at first. I can always remember bugging Brendan about getting his own NOC so he had more control over the quality. I looked at the rather impressive site and I see that not only did they update the site, they even obtained their own NOC. I'm impressed, what else can I say for a host that has come so far in such a short time?

HostRocket,

I Luv It! :)

Damn............... now I know i'm in the right grid square - Wrong planet :(

Eladesor.

HUH?

I don't like it. It's pretty to look at, but all that flash and that annoying music would make me leave. If I were on a dial up concection, I'd leave anyway, since it takes so long to load. It's the same issue I have with the design FQ put in place. The common denominator should be speed and usability.

I pay 45/month for my cable modem. :)

Yes, it is a nice site. That spelling, which has been said numerious times, has got to change. I found an immense amount of words that were not spelled correctly, and I'm 14. But as Brendan said in another thread, I'm not just an ordinary 14 year old. I'll take that as a compliment.

It loads in like 1 second for me. HEHEHE. :) Yes, i do think they should have a non-flash version for slower computers and connections. Mr. Brader, so you have any plans for that?

-Kyle Reilly

Hmm that music sounds European maybe even... Russian, no, more like Jean Michele Jar however u spell it.

Also we'll see how long they last offering GBs for ~$0.60

Well if they have their own data center .6 a gig is not that bad T1 can handle a nice load of users for only 1200 bucks a month with no bandwidth restrictions.:)

Who else here thinks the Title for this thread is a little extreme? I DO.

HostRocket Sold it's Site to the Devil!

Geez, can you think of something more original? lol. I think this thread name is obsurd...

-Kyle

Not to mention I would never compare HostRocket to the Devil. The DEVIL is EVIL, EVIL I say, and HostRocket is a very reputable company. We all have our own opinions, but I feel this title is quite RUDE, and should be changed. Referring to the "devil" is not good, as the devil is BAD.

-Kyle

Jeez dude you need to chill out...

HR's new design is awesome. But I hate the sound and music. To me nothing is more annoying then listening to my mp3s and have it be interupted by music and sound effects. At least you can turn off the music, but not the sound effects. Music/Sound shouldnt be there at all.

I cant stand any site with music/sound. It just makes me not wanna visit that site again. But thats me..

I do listen to mp3's when I browse sites, and it is annoying as hell. Maybe if sound was an option, or just take it off. It's weird/different music, and i hate it when it interrupts my COOL music.... I'm chillin' out, and I was never hyped up. Geez.... :)

-Kyle

lil off topic but wha do u consider COOL music?:)

i think the music on the site is nice. i mean come on they paid 20,000 for the site for that price they betta give me a whole Madonna concert, the site and then some

I think the music on the site is pretty cool.

I'm a musician and am very picky when it comes to this stuff.

Personally I don't mid if there is music cuz I don't come acroos many of them on the web. Once in a while is okay.

I just pause my music and life goes on.

MADONNA! Come on. I'd rather see Britney Spears.:D

LOL. First, I don't think they spend $20,000.00. Thats quite a bit... Before on their test site, they had even cooler music, I remember. I liked that one better. But Britney, IOO. A couple of months ago I would've said cool, but ever since I downloaded her backstage cursing the audience out, I hated that female. She is fake, hot, but I don't like her. Just my 2 cents.

-Kyle

we are getting off topic. but that audio was fake. and no britney is cool esp after her new song "Im a slave for u". now on the amount they spent on the site its true i got the info from really good sorces. so now for the 20,000 they spent i should get a madonna and britney concert and the site.

another thing Kyle isnt it way past ur bed time?;)

They did in fact have a budget of $25,000 and they spent as much as $15k on it, I spoke with the designers myself and confirmed they spent quite a few $$$ on it

I didnt realize it was THAT slow on a 56k modem!

Yes, it does load slow on a 56k. When I got a cable modem, it loaded WAY faster, no compaison. 1 second. :cool:

No, it is not past my bedtime. On weekends like this, I usually stay online until about 3 in the morning. I am not just another dumb 14 year old teen. I work for a WebHosting Compamy, I manage a website, I have a 3.86 GPA at a College Preparatory High School. What makes you think I'm in bed by 9? I think you are racially profiling me as being a dumb teen who should goto bed at 9. Is that what you are incinuating? I DONT THINK SO. I will be up for a while, and my AIM is on too. I restart my computer once a day just to keep it running at TOP Performance, so my AIM wouldn't show me as being on for days.

I talk to numerious people, I'm learning PHP, and boy, do I like computers. Thanks for your post, I thought it was rather interesting. Oh No, I'm turning into that Tim guy, not really, this is a very short post, but I can go on and on. I guess I'll stop writing here. I don't want to start a mini-novel. C-Ya

-Kyle

Kyle, slow down. I think he was kidding.

The loading time on 56k is acceptable... there are sites that are far worse...

Matt

Originally posted by ProSam
I think the music on the site is pretty cool.

I'm a musician and am very picky when it comes to this stuff.

Personally I don't mid if there is music cuz I don't come acroos many of them on the web. Once in a while is okay.

I just pause my music and life goes on.

MADONNA! Come on. I'd rather see Britney Spears.:D

Im a musician myself as well. For one, the quality of the sound/music sucks anyway, so I dont care how cool the song is I dont wanna hear it unless its perfect.

Now if it was Slayer or Front Line Assembly in the backround that would be ok :)

The music isn't bad so much as the presence of the sound itself, I think.

Originally posted by JeremyL
Does the site look great? Yes.

Is the site an example of what should never be done to an ecommerce site? Most Definitally.

Does anyone realize how large the main page is when you go there for the first time? I really feel bad for anyone with a slow connection. And thats not even mentioning the people with slow computers. That flash will make allot of older computers crash from the number of animations in the flash.

They really should have a choice to go with the flash version or another version that isn't flash (maybe just a gif version of the flash sections).

Agree 100% !!

The main Flash movie is WAY too large - about 170kb - no doubt due to imported bitmaps.

The sound track is VERY annoying - surprising considering the designer - it should be placed in a frame by itslef so the usr has a cjoice of music on, or music off - not restarting the loop EVERY time you go to a new page.

Oh, and the cpu usage!! Geeeez....... I have PIII 1.0gig with 512 meg ram and the cpu goes up to about 90% on their Flash........

I'b be interested to know what they paid for the poor planning and high overheads!

Hi everyone,

Here are some comments from US - The Pixelbrick TEAM.

First off thanks for all your good feedback about the site we built for HostRocket.com!

Secondly - yes as Branden said - our first language is NOT english:) and we rely on our Clients to provide us with all copy:)

We are originally an Austrian design agency/team.

Now as for some of the bandwidth and old computer postings.

Our sites are all built userfriendly .. sometimes that is not apparent though.

Behind the scenes: A script detects if a user has flash or not - if not - serves up static GIF pictures instead automatically - without forcing plugin downloads etc.

Large homepage size: A user is not being forced to wait for the presentation to download or play. The navigation and the page are available quickly. Have a slow connection or don't want to wait? Quick Click away and peruse the site:)

Now one very interesting grammar comment was about

"Advanced Hosting Of Tomorrow"

In a normal sentence even hosting and tomorrow would be small caps - this is a slogan.. hence you do not have to apply grammar rules "per se" :)

Well thats all for now folks,
Thanks again for all the heartfelt comments! They are all GREATLY appreciated!

We do great work, but we are not a snobbish razorfish!!!

PixelBrick TEAM

Your site is awesome. :)
I'm with ya all the way.
Now can I get a discount?:D Of lets say about $24,500:D

Brendan

I have 56 kbps connection (dial up ) but the site load pretty fast. I think it is ok for 56 kbps. very good design. inspiring me to contract some designer.
:D

Originally posted by Peeps
I don't like it. It's pretty to look at, but all that flash and that annoying music would make me leave. If I were on a dial up concection, I'd leave anyway, since it takes so long to load. It's the same issue I have with the design FQ put in place. The common denominator should be speed and usability.

there is sound bar on top there you can mute the sound. pretty good idea. anyway when i clicked on web site i was surfing another page and sound made my attention and i was flashed with graphics. woooo. i love flash.

very impressive music. ;)

Originally posted by pixelbrick
We are originally an Austrian design agency/team.

Damn, someone from Austria (like me)!
Hat sich doch noch jemand nach WHT verirrt.... :)

:) Klar doch!

Also a note on the music... as some peopl enotice...

Clicking on the sound bar turns it off!:)

Cheerios,
PixelBrick Team

Excellent site.
I wish I had the cash to have someone make me something that well done.

this isnt a hosting site, but here is a damn good flash site

2advanced.com

Gives hostrocket a run for their money.

Originally posted by utman
this isnt a hosting site, but here is a damn good flash site

2advanced.com

Gives hostrocket a run for their money.

you may also have a look at kmgi.com

WOW! Those sites are REAL COOL. Wonder how much they charge, lol!

-Kyle

2Advanced is breathtaking. WOW!

KMGI is kind of old fashioned init's design. Audio is also anoying. That guys voice is stupid.

I too was amazed by the site. Lots of movement, but not too much and it looks great. There's some weird stuff at the bottom of the reseller plan section incase anyone wants to see what appears to be some leftovers that haven't been tossed out yet. :D