IE = Lame

When it comes to web design, I’m new. I’ve been doing it for about a year now. All year long I’ve been learning about web standards and today’s common practices. From the very beginning of this endeavor I’ve noticed that working with Internet Explorer (IE) has always been a hassle to me. At first I thought it was me. I thought that I didn’t know my way around development and that I was messing up. I found ways to work around IE to make it look good across most popular browsers. However, the fact that I have to take extra steps really pisses me off. Not that I don’t mind working extra hard. I just hate having to work extra hard for something that’s obsolete.

I’ve been learning how to build compatible sites for IE 6. IE 6! A browser that was released in 2001! IE 7 came out in 2006. It took M$ over 5 years to come out with a new browser. Meanwhile browsers like Firefox and Apple’s Safari have been coming out updates every other Tuesday (exaggeration). Technology evolves and develops on a daily basis. While people are still using a browser (IE 6) that doesn’t support transparent PNG’s, Firefox and Safari have been evolving along with the technology.

There is some hope for IE. With the recent announcement that IE 8 passed the Acid2 test, I’m left wondering if M$ has finally building a browser that works. As a designer I hope for no more work-arounds. I just want to write in my semantically correct code and have my site working the way I want it to.

I guess this is just a rant. I hate having to support something that not even M$ is supporting. IE 6 and 7 are dead browsers. If you are reading this blog from one of those browsers, please go here. Do yourself a favor and upgrade. You won’t be disappointed. It’ll take some time for you wash off the curse IE leaves you with, but once you’re done, you’ll never go back.

The Creative Drift Logo

As some of you may know, I’ve been preparing myself the last few months for something I’ve never done before. I have, with the help of a good friend of mine, been working hard to open up a web/graphic design business. Long hours have gone into research and studying the rules of the trade. I’ve written up contracts and price sheets for our new passion well into the wee small hours of the morning. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to bed minutes before sunrise. Hence, this blog was appropriately titled, Red Eye Life. In conjunction with my personal website RedEyeDesigner.com (still under development).

All very well worth it…

It is my pleasure to announce that Creative Drift is officially open for business! While we’re starting out as a team of (two) freelancers working together, God only knows what will come next. We have a couple of projects lined up and have even started early development on one of them. I’m really excited to see the outcome of this new endeavor. I will make sure to keep you all posted on any news as it comes in. In the mean time I’ll be drinking lots of coffee and taking this 1 step at a time. Starting with our business cards. I’ll be sending those off to print tomorrow!

Now I’m off before my head becomes to heavy to hold and I collapse in exhaustion…I really want to avoid having keyboard buttons imprinted on my forehead…for now…

Your Red Eye Designer,
-David

PS. Our website will be up and running soon!

I got this list from a site I visit frequently called NETTUTS:

Let’s face it. Web developers are geeks. But that’s okay! Who wants to be normal? As I always tell the children – “Geeks rule the world”. The problem is that “normal” people don’t know what to buy us for Christmas. That’s why we always end up with “Photoshop 6 For Dummies”. They’ll say in a rickety old voice, “It’s a little old, sonny – but I got a good deal on it.”

.NET Magazine Subscription

As a American, I hate that the greatest web design magazines all seem to come from Europe – resulting in a high subscription price that I can’t justify. This makes it a perfect gift!

$50 – Buy a Subscription

Macbook Pro

No one can deny how “dead sexy” these laptops are. You can’t hide from the huge price either! But if you have the money and want to dazzle your loved one, this will do the trick! Make sure you shop for a good price.

$1500(ish) – Buy It

Coda

For the mac enthusiast, you’ll have trouble finding a more fluid code editor than Coda. If he or she doesn’t own it already, buy it and get wrapping!

$99 – Buy It Online

The Non-Designer’s Design Book

This book is for anyone who has to design a newsletter, job ad, flyer, business card, memo, report or whatever, but has no idea what separates good design from bad. Except, of course, that the first looks clear, professional, sophisticated and right, and the second is an ugly, unreadable mess.

$15- Buy It

PHP Solutions

For the aspiring PHP developer, or the experienced one for that matter, this book will help a great deal!

$23- Buy It

Don’t Make Me Think

Years old, but still relevant. Many consider this book to be their web dev bible. If your loved one doesn’t own it, buy it!

$26- Buy It

Iomega 1 TB External Harddrive

You can never have too much harddrive space! Nowadays, don’t bother getting a smaller capacity. You can purchase up to 1 TB of space for under $150. He’ll love it!

$133- Buy It

Wacom PC Tablet

We all want one because we all can’t afford it! But if you have the pennies and want to see a “grown man cry like a baby”, this will do the trick!

$1999- Buy It

Apple 24 Inch LED Cinema Display

Another contender in the “blow your socks off category” is the beautiful 24 inch monitor. You won’t see him returning this the day after!

$899- Buy It

The Big Bang Theory – Season 1

Obviously, it’s impossible to determine the television preference of a complete stranger. However, I know many, many web developers that adore this show (including myself).

$19- Buy It

The Office

You’ll have trouble finding someone who doesn’t like The Office. Both the US and UK versions are fantastic and will fit quite nicely into his or her collection.

$30- Buy It

Nintendo Wii

Though irresponsible waggle can potentially destroy half of the items on this list, it’s hard to deny how enjoyable a well executed Wii game can be. And come on folks – they’re remaking Punch Out! That’s reason enough. If you grew up in the 80s, the updated music will give you goosebumps.

$30- Buy It

Learning jQuery

Learning jQuery is the best book available on the obvious subject. If you, or your loved one, is learning this library, buy it! (Shameless plug…Have you check out the “jQuery for Absolute Beginners” daily video tutorials over on the ThemeForest blog?

$35- Buy It

Logitech Cordless Laser Mouse

Wouldn’t we all like one of these? We touch the dang things enough!

$75- Buy It

Bose Around-the-Ear Headphones

Exceptional sound, lightweight, 5 foot cord….gosh I want one!

$125- Buy It

The PHP Cookbook

“This book is absolutely packed with quick solutions to common obstacles or ideas in PHP. The chapters on security are worth their weight in gold, as you’ll learn how to properly protect your site against unauthorised use.”

$29- Buy It

Adobe CS4 Creative Suite

We’ll all eventually upgrade to CS4, if we haven’t already. It costs a whopping $1400 to purchase the entire suite. But how quickly will it pay for itself?

$1375- Buy It

Notebook Engraver

I came across this one via a tweet from Collis. You can purchase an engraved notebook. You can use an image, drawing…pretty much anything.

Buy It

Amazing right?

Watch this video for a quick demo of the new Google app in action.

I tested it out and it’s pretty damn accurate. I can literally search for anything my heart desires and have it almost instantly come up on my phone. Movie times, restaurant info, even some math! For example I asked, “what’s 10 times pi”? And sure enough, it gave me the answer!

I can believe that technology like this is even available. This is seriously Back to the Future 2 stuff! All I need now is a delorean and flux capacitor and I think I’m set.

This blog is for people that may or may not know who I am. Mostly for those that do. I’ll be posting about things that happen in my life. I’ll be blogging about everything and anything that may catch my attention today. Anything from today’s news, gadgets I like, video games, and even movies!

I’m not really sure where this blog will go or how I will handle it. However, I hope to keep this site updated regularly. Feel free to comment and leave some feedback on this site. 

Hope you enjoy!