To Apple Key:
Please note I am following a minimalist concept for my logo and overall page design, it's a personal choice. I know it's not your taste, but I am not asking for feedback on the company logo - to each their own. If you had noted the graphic was blurry or a format issue, sure. On a side note, the graphic is kind of like a CD disk integrated with a circuit board-ish kind of thing, with some gold in it which has to do with my last name and company name. Very minimalist. So there is a method to my madness.
Please note the slider timer is an interesting thing to mention, I know I can't stand long delays between those random ordered frames, and the user can always hover mouse to pause. I don't have tons of text in those images, so it's not really critical to slow it down. So I am keeping the delay. Also, circles are below the slider - just minimalist in nature. If you prefer more "action" during hover events, that's your personal taste. I think the look I got now is elegant, not clumsy with controls/hover effects, and that's a good thing. I appreciate what you said and thought it over, just happen to like this look better.
I disagree on the white space/crowded thing, especially considering the liquid layout, even vertical gaps between evenly rowed features and hidden content in unexpanded area at the bottom. I don't know about you but longer home pages (due to inches upon inches of vertical white space) looks amateurish and users rarely scroll down that far. I'm not going to reduce the slider size or pager controls, either as it's a design choice and intentional to evoke a slightly more professional look.
I do not allow registration on the site, the login button is only for me so it's intentionally not too visible. Actually there is a shortcut hotkey sequence for login I can use from any page.
As to key clients, the focus is not on "name dropping" companies which everyone else does and irks me to no end, it's about the work - the web sites and technologies used, so the portfolio is project driven - by choice. Not client driven. Did you notice on the right sidebar of 90% of the pages is the Key Clients tab, which allows direct links to the client home pages? Also, hovering over any of the 4 randomly selected project screen snapshots on the home page reveals the client name in a less overt manner, I think that's pretty cool. The clients aren't hidden, just not the primary focus. I am not asking you to agree with this, consider this an FYI that is was a conscious choice, and more tastefully executed, I think.
To Ap0ks:
The slider is intended to highlight the major technology stacks involved, and can also be used to promote events in the future. So for me, it has purpose in design and adds elegance to the site. As to the linking each frame to a content page, I'm all for that and will introduce that in the next phase. It's my fault for not mentioning this in the outset, it's kind of obvious.
As to the resume' word, it's mentioned in the source link I added that any of the forms discussed is fine. My final comment on the matter is the format I chose looks more professional, in my opinion, and hope to see more people use it. End of story.
To All:
Okay, folks, I got a good sense of what to do. I'll work on the site when time permits and follow many of the suggestions. Thank you, all, for your excellent in-depth feedback. I defended a few things I did, like or it leave it, as I have principles I follow in both coding and design - but I am always, always willing to listen and adapt when the advice is backed by sound logic and will benefit me. Something to remember for all site designers and code hackers out there -- stick to your principles.
Hope you enjoyed this thread, so far.
I'll followup here after I make changes in the sandbox and publish (TBD).
-jim
