New look Forum for non-logged in visitors

sparrer

I can only agree with all the negative comments, it's an untidy, confusing mess.
Difficult to find my way around, I gave up on two occasions.
It really is terrible, couldn't even find the log in button til I'd read some of the posts.
The original is so much easier to navigate, clearer and altogether neater.
I have no doubt a 10 year old could do better, they'd probably design it as it usually is.
If I came across this for the first time I'd go elsewhere.
Sadly, after many years of using the forums I don't think I'll stay if this is a permanent change.

mandi

Sorry to go against the grain , but I actually like the simplicity of it for new users .

It's clear & concise . I'll get my coat .. Or maybe not .

I think its great ..

Alex121

I normally read the forums but rarely post. I had to log in as I couldn't face the new look anymore! Lol! I don't like that you can't see how many posts/pages a thread is and you can skip to a specific page. Instead you have to trawl through pressing next. I'm so happy to be logged in and see the forum looking normal again! :-):A

anotheruser

I like it.

Yes, it does have some white-space issues but that's simply a design issue. I couldn't find the login box, but now I have then I will always know where it is. Displays fine in Chrome for me.

The old forum is very... old looking and is in dire need of updating. We're in 2014 afterall!

Of course people are reluctant to change, but with the thousands of users, this thread represents only a handful. Use it for a week and you WILL get used to it and perhaps even like it.

Greying_Pilgrim

As a usually upbeat, positive person, it pains me to write a negative post on MSE.

However, I have to join the 'No' Camp regarding the new layout on MSE for non-logged in users. I frequently check progress on threads without being logged in, and I'm afraid I find (as a user of the site for 7 yrs) it confusing, illogical and down-right difficult to navigate.

Users with differing devices eg tablets/phones/PC describe it as difficult to use;

Users with different browsers eg IE/firefox/chrome describe it as difficult to use;

Users with differing technical abilities describe it as difficult to use;

Users with eyesight/neurological disorders are telling you that it is difficult to use.........................

I specifically dislike the 1st page being where it is - it gets 'old' very quickly and I really dislike having the 'what's in the newsletter' thrust in my eyeline at every opportunity. The 'advertising' of the newsletter at the top of the page in the existing system is fine - you can investigate or ignore as is your want.

I'm not such a luddite that I am against change when it represents genuine progress, but this new layout doesn't even represent change for change's sake. Surely this will put off any casual browser? I cannot see one 'new' feature that is an improvement on the existing system.

I shall be sending this in e-mail form to the MSE team - thereby, whether they inundated with support for the 'new look' or with requests to retain the Status Quo, they will get what they asked for; feedback. If you feel strongly about the new look, please do the same, whatever your viewpoint.

If this new look remains and is extended to logged in users, then I'm afraid that I'm another one in the 'adios' MSE camp.

Greying Pilgrim

torbrex

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.

torbrex

Random screenshot of forum index.

aerostar

My feedback email

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Absolutely terrible-

There was nothing wrong with the original version.


Too much scrolling and waste of screen space -

Seems to be designed for tablets and swiping and not user friendly for the elder generation with stiff fingers etc for mouse scrolling, and some text is rather small.

Also for those many thousands of people still running XP it does not render well on IE8, FF is reasonable but still waste of screen space and does not render 100% correctly.

Even on Win 7 there are oddities.


When will you people realise...if it ain't broke..don't fixit


Go back to the original compact version - you will loose me as a user if not.

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Proxy

Awful awful awful. Stick with it and I just won't bother.

Here's a thing: I don't like mobile versions of sites automatically thrust upon me on a mobile phone. I only use full versions. I can't turn this off in the new forum.

ceecee1

Quite like the log in and quick reply but the rest of it is horrible. Too white. Not easy to differentiate between posts and VERY user unfriendly