Grant MacLaren
answers some FAQs about his web work:

Grant MacLaren

Here are some questions I'm asked about the web pages I create and maintain:

• What page design program do your use?
  I have not found a program that satisfies me, so I write HTML in Word and save it as text.
• How did you learn HTML?
  I read a paperback book by Laura Lemay, but in retrospect wonder why I didn't simply go to the 'web and find a simple text there. There are lots of them. After I learned the basics, whenever I saw a page I liked, I simply saved it as "text" on my Mac, opened it with Word and looked at how the author wrote the code. I've found this to be the best way for me to learn.
• What Browser do you use?
  Netscape. (I also have Explorer and AOL's browser on my Mac. They are used to "test" pages I'm paid for. But I prefer using Netscape.)
• What are your most valuable 'secrets?'
  1) Content is the key to good web sites. 2) KISS -- Keep it simple, stupid! 3) Use tables. 4) Use META tags. 5) Keep graphic files small. 6) White backgrounds are usually best. 7) Remember, lots of people have slow modems and low-res screens.
• What computer do you use?
  A Macintosh 8600/200 with 200 megs of ram, one 2 gig hard drives and one 9 gig (one backs up the other) and an Agfa Studio Scan IIsi color scanner. I also use my wife's Macintosh LC III and old HP scanner with OmniPage for OCR scans.
• What monitor?
  The AppleVision you see in the picture above. The big screen is a "must" for the type of work I do on the computer. I can't imagine not being able to see most of a full size 11" x 17" page, or not having two 8.5" x 11" sheets to compare side-by-side.
• How is your monitor set?
  For web work: "Thousands of colors," 1024 x 768, 75 Hz.
• How do you "test" your pages?
  Three ways, 1) I "open" them on my computer using a browser. 2) After uploading I open them on-line just like you do, and 3) I open them on-line whenever I see a "free" terminal at the public library, at computer trade shows, in the airport terminal when waiting for a flight, etc. They always look best on a Macintosh running Netscape. And they usually look pretty bad on a Wintel machine running AOL's browser.
• Why do you use AOL?
  I use AOL only for email, the "free" web space it offers and acquiring information for investment portfolio management. I've had an AOL email address for many years and don't want to lose it. If AOL ever gets reliable, "full-time" network availability, I'll use them for net-surfing, too.
• How do you "FTP" stuff to the web?
  I use 'Transmit" for all sites other than those on the AOL server.