Scrolling News

What do you recommend: java, DHTML flash.....

[le_gber]

Hi,

I wanted to add a scrolling news to one of my new sites, and I am wondering what you guys usually use:

java applets

DHTML Layers

javascript + HTML text box

flash movies

Iframes

What do you think is the best method to use?

Thanks

Leo

[whiterabbit]

how about the simple old marquee?

[le_gber]

It's only supported by Ie and loiks really odd the Opera and Netscape.

I should have said that I want the scrolling to be vertical.

Leo

[whiterabbit]

marquee scrolls vertical...having said that, if netscape doesn't support it, then that info is useless to you...;-)

[Wilma]

Scrolling news presents lots of usability problems. Items are hard to read when moving, move faster or slower than the viewer wants, makes people wait while until the item they want comes around again. Plus, any moving content is very visually distracting (mammalian vision prioritizes movement over all else) and makes the rest of your page's content just that much harder to read.

Whenever scrolling content gets featured on a Web Pages That Sucks Daily Sucker [webpagesthatsuck.com], it draws lots of complaints. I recommend you find another way to showcase new content.

[Visit Thailand]

I like Java scrollers and while some people may not like scrollers I think that stance is overstated.

If I could find a BBC type typewriter ticker I would use that on some of my sites.

Anyway back to the question I use Java and it works fine and brings in people.

[chiyo]

yep. i have to side with wilma. Ive experimented with a few, but concluded they really did not help us sell or for people to click on in our sites. I think wilma has summed up very well why!

I know you didnt ask whether you should use it or not, as it sounds like you have already decided, but just wanted to add a soft voice that in 99% of cases it just does not add value to the page/site.

You may well be the 1% and in that case congratulations!

[le_gber]

Hi all, thank for the answers,

I use Java and it works fine and brings in people

That's the one I thought I would use as well, because the worse thing that can happen is people not having the JVM installed. I won't look odd if view by older browser on buy those with Javascript turned off.

Wilma and Chiyo, thanks for your input, I thought of having one from the start but now I think I will test it first and see if it doesn't distract me from my main reading.

Just to add that there won't be a lot of news (only 3-4) and I think 2 should wbe visble at the same time so people won't have to wit to long to get the ones they want)

Leo