Forum Redesign Thoughts

Haha Lash...we r so juvenile. I was just saying the same thing. Nice.

Edited to see what it says when you edit a post.

Okay, so I must add, yes having the PM part on top is really great. Once the pop-up blocker and the "I don't want to get e-mails each time I receive a PM, my box is already too cluttered" have passed through it, I at least need that to finally notice the PMs slowly piling up

I'm assuming this isn't the final visual design and that they'll be tweaking it a bit more. I really doubt they intend to keep those default icons... just give them some time to make some appropriate to the color scheme.

The narrower format of the old forums was definitely preferable - and we know that its possible with this version of vBulletin from seeing that other site Torley linked to.

The icons signifying new posts etc.. ought to be more graphic and simplified.

And I agree that the the big avatar info header above every post is unnecessary and obtrusive. This may be a built-in format for the new vBulletin though. I do prefer the two-column format of the old one.

All in all though I'm glad they updated to the newest version. Once the tweaks are ironed out I'm sure it will be more powerful and useful.

Sounds like the text size is set in absolute terms, rather than relative terms (against WAI guidelines).

The text is small for me too, but it's the same size it was on the old forums. Check in the User Control panel to see if there's an option to increase the viewing font size there.

(Using Safari/OS X here)

Maxthon is even better as an IE replacement than Avant, IMO.

http://www.maxthon.com/en/index.htm

1. My posts were constructive criticism and personal opiinion based on the original post in this thread. Constructive is a question of motivation and perspective. Criticism is analysis - not necessarily negative.
2. My opinion is apparently shared by at least a few people... If you don't share it... read another post.
3. LL did not start this thread. A resident did. If LL actually reads the posts, maybe they will ensure that what we say is considered before rolling out the "final design"... then again, they did roll out 1.5 with insufficient testing (Philip's words, not mine), so I will hold my breath on that one.
4. At least one person has taken a thinly veiled shot at my posts as being anti-LL... I am not anti-LL. However, I am someone who expects things I pay for to work out of the box. I am not getting paid to be a beta tester. This forum is, in my perspective, part of what I am paying for as only SL subscribers can access the forums. So, rather than roll out something that is unfinished, why not delay it until it's ready? THAT is what I am railing about.... the inconceivability of inconsistent managerial decisions that are being foisted on us, the paying consumers. If it ain't broke don't fix it.. this is not something that was NECESSARY to fix. It represents a certain amount of manpower that I personally would rather have had applied to the primary SL product bug-ridden and feature-promised-but-not-delivered as it is.
5.Finally, what you or anyone else thinks is positive or useful really doesn't concern me, nor should it concern anyone else. I post what I feel relevant. If you don't see the relevance... read on elsewhere.

Having read the rest of this thread, I'm amazed by the number of people commenting on the smaller fonts and different color scheme.

In my browser (Safari), the font size and text/background colors are identical to the old forum. Sounds like either the old software or the new software is rather bad at cross-browser compatibility.

...except this is not the final design. We'll be seeing that on Wednesday.

All we did to day is to update the software to a much more recent version. The rest of today and tomorrow we'll be making a back-up and making sure it's stable.

Wednesday we'll restructure the forums -- new list and updated moderation policies.

The design is a mess -- no question about it. But Bub hasn't gotten to it yet, and won't until we redesign the rest of the website. Stay tuned for the new, improved community website, due in about 4-5 weeks.

We'll make note of the request for a larger font!

I'd much rather look at extra line spacers then flat out negativity and someone's desire to bitch about how wronged they are with service they see as sub par. Linden's already posted in this thread so I am sure that if you took the time to read rather then just rant, you would understand - It isn't DONE!

I personally have never seen a forum upgrade completely developed offline and then brought to production online immediately. I guess the other 50 or so forums I have been a part of over hte years weren't as perfect as those in Korg's life. For the record Korg...that post wasn't directed solely at you, nor did I directly quote you as you did me, nor did i say you were anti-LL. Just sick and tired of reading bitch fest's about how poor things are done around here...I give them slack because i can empathise with their growing pains because that's how business and life tends to go. I also have been in similar situations. Too many people on these forums bitch for bitching sake, and make no actions or offer any actual suggestions. If people are that unhappy with things why don't they jsut leave? I come to these forums for information about the world i thoroughly enjoy...unfortunately some people jsut like to whine and complain... cest la'vie

-I prefer Maxthon to Avant Browser as well, and have used both extensively

-I still have a difficult time reading the posts in threads with the light-gray-on-darker-gray -- however, when actually making a post, that's a different story. The text is black-on-white and the font is comfortably larger.

-the default font here for threads being viewed is smaller than most other forums I visit (FORUMS.GATEWORLD.COM being one based on what appears to be similar software). I know this because when I increase size here and go to those forums, the font on them is YUGE and I have to scale down again

-different color schemes would definitely be nice. After all, the very front page of SECONDLIFE.COM is so optimistic and cheery, isn't it?

I like it, with some tweeks I'll like it even more.

I am missing the "mark posts as read" button.
Is it somewhere I'm not looking?

Wow, Maxthon looks very cool. Can't find the zoom feature, but I just downloaded it

I didn't read all five pages, so I apoligize if this stuff was covered before...

Thanks for a "User CP" link! I don't know how many times that's been asked, including by myself.

I don't like how the author information is above the posts. This separates the replies and takes away from the conversational feel. I say the less on the screen the better. It seems to look junkier now.

Third, the icons are too big and don't have that much differentiation. For example, it's harder to tell which threads have unread posts.

I liked it better when the user info area was to the left of the post instead of above it. It's like that on every other forum I've been to, except Slashdot.

It's on the view menu. I have the full interface enabled not sure if that matters.

Jay... I quoted you because your post summarized a point of view of more than one person in this thread, not as a means of directing my statements to you alone.

Otoh, you did mention two things that I myself had pointed out as needing attention... out of the three things you mentioned specifically as "positives".

So, that said.. so what?

I KNOW this is not a finalized design. I happen to hate unfinished products being tossed out to consumers. If there is no negative response, then there might be a tendency to let good enough pass as just that... good enough. Well, this certainly isn't good enough for my money, and I said so. LL is having toough times due to rapid expansion and a DOS attack. So what from my end? I pay a fee for X product... this is part of the product. They toss it out for observation, use and comment. I comment.

Again, so what.

Move on. Nothing to argue about here.

I agree, I wonder if that person also buys dark grey colored paper and light grey colored pencils and if not why not iif they like it so much on the computer. The post area is very easy to see, black on white, the font could be a little smaller in the post area and a little larger in the forum.

I miss seeing the "Users browsing this forum" on the top. Can we bring that back? I know we can scroll down to see who's here, but I liked the other way better. I feel so alone (said the goober in invisible mode).

Currently using Mozilla 1.7 for Windows (have not tried Solaris yet, I'm on vacation). Since no one else has said anything about this browser I have couple quick points for the Lindens to note (other than what was already mentioned since I agree with most of them):

- Yes, the reply section much better, though the fonts are a bit odd there too (I use 1280x1024 LCD).

- Another forum using vBulletin 3 is the Notebook Forums (http://notebookforums.com), which is the best designed site for my eyes IMHO. At least when you use the Pale Blue format.

Also, if you look at Notebook Forums, the user stuff is on left like it was here before. So it should be possible, just may take time (especially if the layouts are horribly mutable).

Wow, that's the second forum I deal with that's upgraded recently, the other is still going on...

I like some aspects, but dislike others. I hate the names being ontop of the posts, and the graphics being icky. But hopefully that'll all get better. I trust you Bub, don't let me down!

I'd suggest, if possible, to make it up to us to change the font sizes and colors of the forum. I myself think the text could be a tad bigger, but someone elses idea of a good size for text may be *too* big for me. Same as colors. If you could have different color themes.

Also, I liked it when you clicked on a image, it opened a new wubdiw, currently it seems to load the link in your current window which makes you have to go back instead of close which can be annoying especialy if you lose track and forget.

What I dooo like, is the new edit screen, and the quick links bar at the top of the forums!

This forum was in-need of an upgrade, good to see its progressing!

Edit: Correction on new links opening in a new window(they do), but images do not.

I'm not sure about the font size, actually for me it was too small *before* the upgrade.... it's still small now, but doesn't force me to do a Ctrl/+ every time I want to read posts that contain more than two lines. And I know I haven't changed anything in my own browser's settings, so it's very likely not on my end.

The clear font on black background isn't that a bad thing though, I think. A sure fact at least is that when you browse the forums at 2 am with tired and/or sensitive eyes, well, such a scheme hurt said eyes well less than black on bright white. Unless I'm already half-blind and don't know it yet.

I'm sure anyway that we'll have new things to comment on once Wednesday's upgrade hits the forums, hehe

Good:
- Wider area for posts displayed.
- PM indicator up top instead of on the bottom so I can see when I have them.
- Easier access to the User Options area
Bad:
- Comments in posts are harder to read... I liked having the people's names and pictures on the left.

OK. Final comments, in view of the fact that suggestions have been asked for.

1. Don't know what was wrong with the previous forum software (apart from the text of postings being too small).

2. No View Latest Posts button! Please restore this if at all possible. Without it, the forum will be far less attractive to me.

3. The text of postings is too small. I am using 1280x960 resolution, and when I increase text size in my browser it has no effect on the forum. The names above the postings are fine, from my point of view. (You can't please everybody!).

4. In my resolution, the rows are far too wide. I counted one row, and it was no less than 40 words wide! This makes postings very uncomfortable to read.

5. The current page on the page link is indicated by a change in colour. The number of the current page is white. On the old forum it was underlined. Because the text is so small, this makes it very difficult (for someone with less than perfect eyesight) to read. Probably it would be ok if it were coloured yellow or red or something. Or even underlined.