New look Forum for non-logged in visitors

xcarlyx

I'm glad it only appeared on the page before my log in screen otherwise I don't think I would use these forums anymore

jigsy_in_spain

Can only agree with everyone else,this new site is terrible!!!!!
I tried to use it two or three times last night and just gave up.
Very difficult to find what you are looking for, and when you do, it's not easy to read.
PLEASE CHANGE IT BACK TO THE OLD FORMAT!!!!

vm2pensioner

Agreed. At first I thought perhaps it was just me, but yes, it does hurt your eyes and give you a headache.

warehouse

I've used forums for over a decade and this layout, without any doubt, is by far the worst I have ever seen.

Utter garbage.

vm2pensioner

torbrex wrote: »

It may be because of browser issues (IE8) but I found it difficult to navigate and the layout was too big for my screen.
I also disliked the new layout as far as what is displayed on the screen, there is still all the main site relates stuff and the forum related stuff seems to be stretched an awful lot.
I prefer to see multiple board and thread titles on a single view rather than have to constantly scroll down.

As others have said there is too much 'empty' space and too much work involved in navigating rather than getting straight into the forum stuff.

My experience exactly.

socookin

its way too spaced out. and the badges are not very visible

priorslee

I quite like the overall look of the new version, BUT there over-riding conclusion is a big thumbs down.

The big two issues for me are the significant increase in scrolling required and the persistent top deals/weekly email sign-up banners.

A typical listing page on the competitions board is about 1.25 screens on the current version. On the new version the same page is 2 screens long. Similarly a moderate length thread is about 4 screens on the current version, but 5-6 on the new version.

More scrolling down is not effective and will lead to an increased risk of RSI for heavy users.

The above is not helped by the multiple insertions of the top deals/email sign-up banners. Some pages have this 3 times which I find very irritating. Fine to promote your goods, but if I click to close the banner on one page, I don't want to see it a further 3 times on the next page I look at.

Sorry MSE, the new version doesn't get my vote.

Goldiegirl

warehouse wrote: »

I've used forums for over a decade and this layout, without any doubt, is by far the worst I have ever seen.

Utter garbage.

I used to participate on a big forum run by a big organisation. They introduced a new forum format that was universally hated by the users.

Now, a few years later, there is no forum - it was closed, due to general dis-satisfaction by both users and the organisation.

MSE is a very successful forum, no doubt due, in part at least, to the ease of use and clarity of the functionality.

I'm begging you, MSE, don't ruin it.

augustsmummy

Not impressed by the new look at all. I am with the previous poster who said it hurt their eyes. It has given me a headache after being on the site for a very short time.
If it stays that way I won't be able to stay on the site.

globetraveller

The log in couldn't really be any smaller. For those who like to read without logging in, you can't view today's posts so I think they just won't bother. The usernames don't appear in the box. There is far too much scrolling just read to read a thread and this is viewing it on a laptop so it is probably worse on a mobile. And I had to delete the newsletter pop up several times.
That is not to say it can't be tweeked to make it more user friendly. But I do wonder why you even got to the stage where you thought it was good enough to release on to the public. Surely it must have been obvious it wasn't right?
or is this a devious plan of showing everyone a format riddled with things wrong so that when you release the actual new format we will all be delighted?