Textures are one of the most used resources in making great designs. They can accentuate your images to better portray the feel of the design you’re aiming for. Vintage textures, for instance, can add a classic or nostalgic touch to your work.

Go check them out >

I’ve never used IE6 for anything other than “making sure something looks OK in it.” Therein lies my point. It’s fine to state “Death to IE6” and I fully support not supporting Internet Explorer 6, but that’s not a realistic option for most of the web designers out there. Myself included. When was the last time someone said, “You know, I don’t really care if my website looks different in other browsers.” It’s never happened to me. Never. And it probably never will, because website owners do not want to risk ostracizing their users. Who can blame them?

Are there alternatives that you can use to ensures that your IE6 users, no matter how few or many, will get a similar experience as the rest of your more standards-based browser users? Yes. Web designers have figured out plenty of options to serve up style sheets for Internet Explorer versions that are less standards-capable. I prefer the conditional comments solution.

In a perfect world could you neglect outdated Internet Explorer versions? Of course. However, the reality is enough users still use the outdated browsers that just completely neglecting them would mean cutting a percentage of traffic that you may not be able to afford to lose. Can you serve up a stripped down version for outdated browsers? Sure. If your website will still function properly for those users, you should not be afraid to give them a simpler design with less ‘bells and whistles’ in place. If the design and site still look and function how they’d expect then they will never know they are missing out unless you tell them.

Continue reading at A List Apart

Like a plus-sized dress on a skinny runway model, Windows just doesn’t fit when it’s loaded on a netbook.

Wired has written an article discussing the direction many operating system developers are taking in creating netbook-specific operating systems. The Windows operating system has never been known for it’s streamlined performance, and when running on a netbook it just can’t deliver.

With a decline in PC sales, consumers are looking for a budget-conscious alternative when all they want is email, Facebook, and Instant Messaging.

Continue reading at Wired.com

Please do not use the fire extinguisher unless there is no water in the toilets.

It is with deep regret that we inform you of certain cost-cutting measures that will be taken in the coming days so that we can remain competitive. But first some good news. We are happy to report that Bring Your Child to Work Day has been renamed Bring Your Child to Do Work Day. We hope you will contribute unstintingly to the Gummy Bears Overtime Fund.

Now for the harsh realities. We will no longer be serving complimentary cold cuts and soda on Cold Cuts and Soda Day. Stairs will go up, but not down. Please do not use the fire extinguisher unless there is no water in the toilets. Anyone wishing to put out a medium-to-large fire must first fill out form X34J (if in stock). Mr. Johnson and Mr. Green, you will be sharing a desk chair, although you may keep separate desks. With regard to our annual retreat, spouses of non-management employees will be considered luggage. The letters “K,” “Q,” and “Z” are costly and should be used sparingly. Anyone who would like to volunteer for the human weather-stripping experiment, contact Nan Newberg. Also, as of next Wednesday, there will be no Wednesdays.

Read More at The New Yorker »