New layout Poll [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

back alley

04-09-2006, 05:36

has the forum pages changed in style?

or has my computer gone wonky?

Jorge Added the following:
I will merge the 2 thread started on the new layout into one. Cast your vote again :)

lynn

04-09-2006, 05:40

:-) I thought my display mode had suddenly started making its own decisions.
I like it. It's spacious. I'll see about finding myself a landscape-format avatar though.

rover

04-09-2006, 06:12

The post are different, header up above instead of to the left, but everything else looks the same to me.

c.poulton

04-09-2006, 06:14

Looks the same to me? :confused:

c.poulton

04-09-2006, 06:16

The post are different, header up above instead of to the left, but everything else looks the same to me.
Ah, I see now..... :)

Andy K

04-09-2006, 06:17

I like it. Much better than the old layout. The member location etc. being on the right of posts feels much roomier.

ray_g

04-09-2006, 06:19

Roomier is right. I don't have to scroll left-right to look at full-sized photos in the w/nw threads.

peter_n

04-09-2006, 06:31

I don't like it. I'd rather have the poster information all in one block.

Todd.Hanz

04-09-2006, 06:38

the gallery is a little "cleaner" too, only 4 images to preview.

Todd

Kim Coxon

04-09-2006, 06:56

A bit of a surprise but I am getting to like it now I am beginning to look in the right place.

Kim

Kin Lau

04-09-2006, 07:13

I find it easier to scroll up & down rather than sideways for the occasional widescreen post, especially with the wheel mouse, so the new layout works well for me.

Flyfisher Tom

04-09-2006, 07:16

I don't like it. I'd rather have the poster information all in one block.

Agree with Peter, easier for me to just look in one small area and see all the info than to scan across the page.

Gid

04-09-2006, 07:19

I was used to the old layout, but I'll get used to the new one too. The main thing is being able to access the site quickly.

RML

04-09-2006, 07:21

The avatars take up too much space IMO. All those one-line replies are really very difficult to read now.

jonasv

04-09-2006, 07:28

Uhm, this only makes sense if we would be posting full-size images instead of thumbnails.

why should there be more space now?

i think the new look is very annoying... it takes a lot more scrolling to read the posts. A thread is constantly interrupted by the avatars etc.

Rich Silfver

04-09-2006, 09:25

Anyone else noticed the new layout in threads? Your photo,etc is now presented in a row ontop of your posting?

How do you like it? I personally find it worse than the old layout - mostly because it gets VERY confusing in threads that contains attachments. The size of the avatars are about the same size as the attachments. Scrolling through a thread with both a bunch of avatars and attachment is...confusing.

May of course only be me. As I like old things. And don't like change. :)

peter_n

04-09-2006, 09:44

Agree. But presumably you didn't see the new look? (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21642) thread...

kvanderlaag

04-09-2006, 09:47

I don't mind it. All my other forums are like this. If the user info (join date/location/posts) were on the left next to the avatar as well, it'd be perfect.

enochRoot

04-09-2006, 09:56

i personally find it harder to read and follow. the flow of content seemed better the other way (ie: unimpeded by avatars, etc.) things read much slower this way.

John

04-09-2006, 10:01

Go back to the old way - if you can?? :)

BrianShaw

04-09-2006, 10:07

I just noticed it. I missed the "new look" thread. I like it.

einolu

04-09-2006, 10:34

we need smaller avatars, something less than 100px x 100px. Also, I would rather have more recent images and comments and not have the 'in gallery preview' thing...

Doug

04-09-2006, 10:41

There's more "wasted" space in this new layout... all that blank area between the member name and member info could be used productively, as in the previous layout.

FrankS

04-09-2006, 10:44

I prefer the previous layout. There seems to be more and too much empty space with this new layout. I'm sure I'll get used to it though if we keep it.

MP Guy

04-09-2006, 10:48

I will merge the 2 thread started on the new layout into one. Cast your vote again :)

jonasv

04-09-2006, 10:53

old-style!

the avatars etc interphere with the flow of the thread.. it's annoying when all you want to do is read the thread and each time a lot of stuff gets in between.

it's like using a rangefinder versus an SLR.

too much stuff gets in beween you and the subject (photo subject / text) with the nex layout / with an SLR.

PeterL

04-09-2006, 10:54

I like it, it's spacier and gives a more relaxed feeling. I hate web sites that are too busy. Unfortunately, I'm also very much against all those moving images, like the Photo Village commercial. I should switch it off in my browser. But anyway, I prefer the new layout.

Peter.

RayPA

04-09-2006, 10:55

I voted for the Old style, because I was used to it. This one isn't bad. It is spacious, but sometimes it gets a little funky and displays strangely.

rbiemer

04-09-2006, 11:02

I thought it was my browser acting weird, since it's not, it doesn't bother me either way.
Rob
edit: if it stays like this, can we have panoramic avatars to take advantage of the "extra" space? 100x 500 or so?
R

kmack

04-09-2006, 11:13

I like it, looks better and loads better on my MAC.

back alley

04-09-2006, 11:14

just to be clear, this is not my poll.
i started a thread asking if there was a new layout or if it was due to my computer.

after living with this layout for a bit of time i will say that i like it.
i find it easier to read and i like being able to see the avatars a bit better.
some of our avatars are are great little photos so i see it as a small bonus.

just my 2 cents...

a.black

04-09-2006, 11:20

while this is not simply a "new is innatly better, old is innatly bad", I like the new one. Maybe just because it is new, something fresh that gives RFF a new look. Kind of like being "reborn" :o

another $.02 :D

adam

Rich Silfver

04-09-2006, 11:20

.and the avatars are WAY too big..

and has anyone gone into a W/NW thread with a bunch of thumbnails? The big avatars located 'in' the threads makes looking through w/wn threads a paaaain....

a ONE line reply now covers 75% of my laptop screen. ONE line....

Byuphoto

04-09-2006, 11:27

no option for "it don't matter to me"

a.black

04-09-2006, 11:28

no option for "it don't matter to me"

you're either "with us, or against us" :D

lynn

04-09-2006, 11:57

I think the avatars are the same ol' size: 125 by whatever.
It's the new layout that gives them "presence".

Socke

04-09-2006, 12:09

I got used to it pretty fast.

Honu-Hugger

04-09-2006, 12:20

I find it distracting from the message content. It interrupts the flow of being able to seamlessly read down a list of posts. And it makes the sender information as primary as the message when it is actually secondary -- it easy to glance once to the side to see who wrote the post, in my opinion this information does not need to be displayed so prominently.

Gabriel M.A.

04-09-2006, 12:24

I saw it happening last night (around 11pm CST). I also thought there was a problem with my browser at first. It is a little harder to read the threads this way, imho.

ywenz

04-09-2006, 12:28

new layout sux. Purely for the reason that one has to scroll A LOT more now than before. The header being on top of each post makes the page longer...... The only improvement is the larger avater, but at the cost of more scrolling...

Brian Sweeney

04-09-2006, 12:36

The older style appears to be more efficient in terms of number of posts on the page. The Avatars are the culprit: lots of dead space across the page on the rows that the Avatar appears.

Goodyear

04-09-2006, 12:51

I go away for a week and come back and everything's different!

The new layout (poster info above each post rather than to the left) breaks the flow big-style. Previously the extra info was easily ignored, but now when reading down a page of posts the eye has to constantly skip past stuff and hunt for the posting.

Mark me up for the old style.

Does vB allow it to be a user-configurable option? Seems silly if it doesn't...

izo

04-09-2006, 13:18

yep, i also like avatars on left better, saves some space, too.

Trius

04-09-2006, 13:41

I voted before I took a look at the results. I agree with most it seems, I prefer the old layout. I think the old layout is visually cleaner and conveys "essential" information more efficiently.

Andy K

04-09-2006, 15:34

FrankS

04-09-2006, 15:48

Ah, thank you! Back to normal.

shutterflower

04-09-2006, 15:53

yeah, definitely the old layout. It has a nice, low key, simple way about it that contrasts with all the other forums/sites on the net.

back alley

04-09-2006, 15:55

ah, too bad, i liked the new set up.

for a creative bunch there sure is a lot of liking the old kinda rigidity here.

i would have thought that those that like to insert photos directly into a post would have preferred that more spacious look.

Andy K

04-09-2006, 15:57

Gabriel M.A.

04-09-2006, 16:20

Here's an idea, how about all the sponsors ads and the Cool Links bit be put in a block at the bottom of the page? Then we get a decent page width again, and can keep the profile information at the left.
Hmm...! Or the top. That is a good idea.

BTW, it wasn't about "change" for mere dislike of change; in this particular case, imo, it made the posts harder to read, that's all.

Rich Silfver

04-09-2006, 16:26

ah back to the old look. muuch better! thanks!

peter_n

04-09-2006, 16:27

The new layout was far superior. The pages felt more spacious and open. There was no need to scroll the page about to view pictures. This old layout is cramped and ugly with a third of the screen width wasted by advertising and avatars.

<--- Look at all that space wasted. Is this forum here for members to enjoy photography, or are the sponsors now more important? The member profile information above their posts was much better.Andy my understanding is that the forums are for text, and so thumbnails are supposed to be posted in the forums, not photos. That gives members who may be on slower connections better performance, and the rest of us the opportunity to click on the thumbnail if we want to see the pics. The gallery is for posting photos.

Personally I'm glad that we're back to the old format - much easier to read.

Doug

04-09-2006, 16:30

Hmmm... I guess it depends... The old layout (now restored) does have a minimum height due to the size of the poster information area at the left. For long posts that is not limiting. But for short posts it wastes a lot of message area. If the poster information were tightened up somewhat, for instance by putting the informational lines closer together, that would make it more efficient.

The (briefly) new layout wastes the same amount of space for every post... though much less when there is no avatar photo. Of course lack of avatar shortens up the old layout's minimum height too...

MP Guy

04-09-2006, 16:38

Dont get too excited. :) I put the old one back to remind users of the look. The final poll numbers will decide the layout.

John

04-09-2006, 17:04

Ahh thats better :angel: :angel:

BJ Bignell

04-09-2006, 23:31

If there is an option to control the way the forum appears, we should be able to make that choice ourselves. In the interest of keeping this completely on-topic: I voted for "old style".

Cheers!

Simon Larbalestier

04-10-2006, 01:24

maybe it's my mac Safari browser but the photo/avatar is on the left hand side same as before? Did i miss something here in Bangkok :confused:

ClaremontPhoto

04-10-2006, 01:33

Simon: they changed it to horizontal display, and it was fine in Safari and then they changed it back to vertical display of username and location and so on.

Andy K

04-10-2006, 01:39

Goodyear

04-10-2006, 01:44

How about a display option so members can choose whether or not they see the sponsors ads? Speaking for myself I find the ads a nuisance and would prefer they didn't take up page width at the expense of members' enjoyment of the site.
Surely that would decrease the site's income from the sponsors - even by making it a less attractive prospect to sponsors.

Ads like that are a necessarily evil - a forum the size of this costs real money to run. The other option would be to make RFF a pay site. I know I would perfectly willing to put my hand in my pocket and pay for this place - but that makes it a much less attractive prospect to new members.

Simon Larbalestier

04-10-2006, 02:41

Simon: they changed it to horizontal display, and it was fine in Safari and then they changed it back to vertical display of username and location and so on.

Ah! thanks Jon i must have missed in my timezone? :eek:

I subscribe to PNet so i'd be happy to subscribe here :angel:

Ken Ford

04-10-2006, 04:47

Jorge, is there any reason you can't implement vB's user selectable skins? The vB board I co-mod is set up that way.

back alley

04-10-2006, 05:21