Printable catalog (PDF)
An email from the inimitable Michael Baker reminded me that I have a blog. “Hello blog! I apologize for locking you in a closet and forgetting to feed you.”
Today we will look at what happens when electronics companies have bad web-designers. To wit, I am currently designing more cellphone jammers and I was visiting my favorite source of high frequency VCOs, MiniCircuits, to spec some parts. Click on that link. Now lets start with the main image.
OK, now, what exactly is going on here? There are 10 guiding principles, some sort of dodgeball game going on, and only ‘SPEED’ is in all caps. Why is passion getting attacked? What exactly is a “Quality Culture”?
For bonus points, please explain why the “Dynamic Product Search Engine” (which works pretty well) is named with a synonym for “vagina”:
FEED
That’s very special. It sure looks like the people who designed the Mini-Circuits web site are not native English speakers – except that I believe that Mini-Circuits is in fact based in the US, so WTF? My employer occasionally sends me to the facility of our contract manufacturing partner in Malaysia, and they’ve got some real chestnuts in the company propaganda which is posted all over the factory. I’m inclined to forgive a great deal when I know I’m dealing with English that was written by people whose first language is Mandarin and second language is Malay. Even still, it’s a bit hard not to giggle, or at least smile, when passing slogans involving terminology such as “to assure a strong climax” writ large on the walls…
Comment by tober — April 17, 2006 @ 11:43 am
Wow… i didn’t know people actually read marketing materials for circuit stuff. I used to get the Maxim-IC brochures and those had some really choice marketing pictures. I mean… imagine you are a marketing person charged with the task of making low-power bandgap references exciting. I mean… I’d probably rely on violence and genital metaphors too. Clearly, I’m not the only person who sees circuits this way…
Comment by engyn — April 18, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
… oh… and sorry that I reminded you that you have blogs. I would never try to make more work for you…
Comment by engyn — April 19, 2006 @ 9:02 am