New Corporate Design - Please Critique

[Qadimodo]

Hi all, the 2 sites (below) are for a company specialisiing in Call Centre software.

The 1st one http://www.noetica.com/new_site/ is the companies main site and a 1st port of call for potential clients.

Site 2, http://www.noetica.com/new_microsite/ is a microsite detailing a new product.

What I'd like to know if anyone has the time is :

-What are the loading times like ?
-Is the site easily navigable ?
-How is the general layout, easy to follow, cluttered ?
-Any technical problems you can see ? I've noticed certain sections EAT the processor, why is that ?
-How is the content put across ? If you were looking to find out info on the company and their services, would the sites current layout aid in this ? http://www.noetica.com/new_microsite/ especially.
-How could it be improved?
-Finally, any positive/negative comments about the site as a whole; ideas, likes, dislikes ?

Also, if you could include ur setup that you're checking the site on that would be extremely handy.
-Are you on mac or pc ?
-What connection are you using?
-What browser?
-System specs

Cheers, any feedback will be greatly appreciated !!

[Billy T]

plugin detection doesn't work...I have V6 ....

[snapple]

The first site, i liked it, but there are a few minor problems with it.

The site fundimentally has got very good usability, ( i think that it is hard to combine flash and usablility - but you've done it well), in that the menu does not disppear in anyway when using the site.

But the way the 'sub-menus' are layed out (i.e like a folders / sub folders in wind explorer) can give the impression that different sub menu's belong to different buttons, if you see what i mean ?

For example, the 'news' button, when pressed, can give the user the impression that the 'home' button is actually called 'case studies'. But over all i really think that the site has GREAT usability, everything is clear, and structured, which can be hard because people tend to use unecessary flash that can complicate matters.

Loading times for me were fine (3-6 seconds), pre-loaders were rather fun too !

The orange text on the purple (on the lower half of the screen is a little hard to read) - i know these are probably corperarte colors, but still it could be improved.


The site was uncluttered, mainly because the layout is consistant, (i.e) - the site is effectively split into 2, naviagtion + content - which is a nice touch.

The map that uses masks to let the user know your location is a little fast, perhaps you should consider allowing for user input (i.e. buttons for the user when they feel like they''ve studied the map enough) - the lines are a little messy (the ones thta follow the mask to reveal the actual map) - i know that the left one is deliberatly off the map, but it just looks a little scrappy.

Other than that, it is a really good site, everything worked fine for me, i was really impressed with the usablility of it and the site had an organised impression about it.

(have not looked at the second site yet)

Good job. hope it has a good impression on everyone !

Snapple :)