And in fact, functionality is by far the primary goal of the http://www.vortex.com site, along with the fastest possible loading. No JavaScript, no Java, very few images. Find what you want and move on to it.
On the other hand, my sites that feature frequently updated data, such as my blog ( http://lauren.vortex.com ), and the GCTIP Forums ( http://www.gctip.org ), are much "fancier" by comparison, and "heavier" as a result (JS, Java, images, embedded video, etc.) -- but only because that's *needed* in those contexts.
Ultimately though, I choose to devote the lion's share of my efforts to the information itself. That's my preference, and of course other folks, and other sites, may have completely different priorities and prefer different styles. (Personally, I find gray text on black, as is the style of coastgab, to be pretty tough on the eyes. But your mileage may vary.)
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com
On the other hand, my sites that feature frequently updated data, such as my blog ( http://lauren.vortex.com ), and the GCTIP Forums ( http://www.gctip.org ), are much "fancier" by comparison, and "heavier" as a result (JS, Java, images, embedded video, etc.) -- but only because that's *needed* in those contexts.
Ultimately though, I choose to devote the lion's share of my efforts to the information itself. That's my preference, and of course other folks, and other sites, may have completely different priorities and prefer different styles. (Personally, I find gray text on black, as is the style of coastgab, to be pretty tough on the eyes. But your mileage may vary.)
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com