[joewehry]

I checked out the new web site and simply hate --can't think of a stronger word-- the use of Flash on Leica's intro pages.

If this was my first visit to Leica, I would conclude their products were as confusing to use as the menus. Worse, I really wasn't clear on the product benefits. And half the time I wasn't even certain what I was supposed to be learning about Leica.

To be clear, my complaint is with the Flash, not the concept. The 1 1/2 love stories and "changes in perspective" is obviously the result of a lot of talented hard work, and is a good concept for expanding Leicas market. I think the images would work great in print advertising and equally for a commercial, but not for information-getting on the internet. (In fact, the whole flash intro would work better as a QuickTime movie commercial. Hell, load it on YouTube for that matter.)

But in particular, the web navigation on the Flash is simply confusing: too many arrows, pop up windows, and movement coming from too many places. I felt like I was using a Canon.

On the old site it only took a couple of clicks to get to useful information. With the Flash intro, I was clicking everywhere, and getting nowhere.

And don't get me started on the music. Pretty at first, but didn't add to the message. I turned it off, launched iTunes and listened to the Bugaloos instead. There's so much more that you can do to make the world a better place to be....

(As a side comment: "Don't Make Me Think" and "Homepage Usability" are great books for building web sites as perfect as an MP. And would make a great gift for Leica's web designer....)

I would be interested in hearing what others think about Leica's new intro, especially fron other parts of the country. As a New Yorker, I am bombarded with messages, so whenever I encounter Flash on a site, I wonder if the business really has anything of value to sell.Otherwise, why hide behind all the razzle dazzle, and not just provide information simply, clearly and honestly? But maybe this is cultural, and the midwest, north south or west coast have other things to say?

Finally, my suggestion: If Leica wants to use flash for multimedia selling, go for it. But put that stuff on a page that customers can choose to go to rather than forcing it down everyone's throat upfront. They could call the link the Leica Experience, or etwas. And visitors who like that can click on it and get their fill of multimedia, while the rest are downloading the MTF graphs...

I do hope their web master tracks the number of bounced visitors, error links, decrease or increase in page depth per visit, etc., the Flash addition causes. The first two browsers I tried gave me errors. Not a good sign. I love Leica and would hate if this caused more problems than welcomed new users.

On a more positive note, I do think the dark grey theme and atmospheric picture links create an updated look. But only as static images adding a visual element to the text, or as a picture link to product details.

But, please Leica, trash the Flash on startup. You don't need it. Only the competition does.