When I took over the management of my company's web site, I did the same
kind of redesigning to HTML 4/CSS. In particular, I replaced the main
Navigation bar, which used to incorporate over 20 separate graphics,
including those needed for mouseOvers. I also optimized graphics that
remained and generally cleaned up the code (there were tables within tables
within tables everywhere, courtesy of someone's WYSIWYG HTML editor, I
assume). 

I cut the total overhead of the main page
(http://www.captura.com/en/index.html) from way over 100K to around 40K.
Granted, I have to live with the fact that non-CSS browsers will NOT see my
site as intended. However, they WILL see the site, and they WILL get the
information we present. (Our most current web stats put CSS-capable browsers
at 92% of site traffic.)

---------------------------------------------------------
Chuck Evans
Web Marketing Manager
Captura Software, Inc.
(425) 424-1155
chucke(at)captura.com
www.captura.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Stenning [mailto:roger(at)isgwds.enterprise-plc.com]

<snip>

The problem is this: The server logs seem to indicate that the site is
visited by browsers of level 4 and above (IE4 + and NN4 +). Since both
should be able to handle HTML4 with ease, I am seriously considering
changing the DTD of the site from 3.2 to 4, and incorporating stylesheets as
well.

I would then be able to remove the button images, and rely on straight text
and hover (I know NN doesn't support the a.hover element!), thus drastically
improving loading time (and cutting the file sizes as well, due to the
removal of the JavaScript required to make the button rollovers work!).

I'm currently leaning about 70:30 in favour of this move, but need to know
if anyone can see any potential pitfalls with this proposed move of HTML
standard.

<snip>

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