I came across Microsoft’s Zune site today when one of my BIA partners pointed out the unusual style. I thought it was unusual too for a while and then decided I just didn’t like it.
I do not think it is the color scheme because it is really not that bad. The top is however very uneventful compared to the rest and the bold Verdana type used in the menu seems out of place.
The photography has a bit of a rebellious, punkish feel to it. Not bad but the site’s style does not really connect.
At the bottom of the front page a not very crisp photo emerges from the background. There it meets a row of mismatched images with reflections, to explode in utter chaos only surpassed by a Persian carpet covered in confetti.
When I maximized my browser window to take in the complete picture, my wide screen 1920×1200 resolution treated me to another awful display of awfulness. Wide screen users know what I’m talking about. All of you with regular screens, ignorance is bliss.
I am also surprised to see a site like this fail validation, especially since nearly all errors could have been prevented if the author had put together the markup with care. Throwing in a load of XHTML in a HTML 4.0 document,…very sad.
Sulcalibur says:
On December 20th, 2006 at 17:16
I first looked at the page and thought that it looked ok. But then when you step back and realise this is one of the richest most powerful companies in the world and this is a VERY significant piece of hardware that they are trying to sell. It is quite sloppy, in fact very sloppy. The reflection and stuff don’t bother me, but the code should have been water tight, and the widescreen issue (not that I can see it, any chance of a screen grab) is just pathetic. Also I think the site looks like more of a decent fan site rather than the official one. I like the sounds of the Zune though, and I’m one of the rare people that actually like Microsoft.
Martin Kool says:
On December 21st, 2006 at 14:13
I like Microsoft too and use many of their products with satisfaction on a daily basis. Like you say, I also don’t understand why Microsoft so often fails to get a decent web presence.
Btw. added a wide screen screenshot. Microsoft made the effort, it just looks bad.