In response to your question, I would always place functionality and readability over pretty visuals: a fiction site is primarily about the text. Forks in my eyes? Well, slowly-loading graphics tend to keep me out of a site altogether, while broken links and tiny, white-on-black text tend to cause me more frustration once I'm actually there.
In general, I would agree with the parameters you've listed, the only exceptions being that 1) I don't really have an issue with links opening new windows, and 2) I find that dark text on a pale-coloured background can be as easy to read--and sometimes more restful on the eyes--than black on white (although, when choosing those colours, it's important to remember readers with red/green colourblindness).
On the white-space issue: I think white space is often underused on web sites. I certainly wouldn't object to a $5 bill's worth of it.
Thanks very much for taking into account those of us with ancient browsers!
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In general, I would agree with the parameters you've listed, the only exceptions being that 1) I don't really have an issue with links opening new windows, and 2) I find that dark text on a pale-coloured background can be as easy to read--and sometimes more restful on the eyes--than black on white (although, when choosing those colours, it's important to remember readers with red/green colourblindness).
On the white-space issue: I think white space is often underused on web sites. I certainly wouldn't object to a $5 bill's worth of it.
Thanks very much for taking into account those of us with ancient browsers!
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