Poll : What do you think of the NEW LOOK MSE

I_have_spoken

.Just used User CP to force the New Style when using iPad and it far worse than the current style. Font is far too small for tablet, so much wasted space.

DawnW

Serious question Martin - has the new design been tested at all by a selection of disabled users? The number of people saying that they find the expanses of white make them feel nauseous or cause headaches ring alarm bells.

I used to be a usability / HCI researcher, and know that some disability charities used to offer this as a service to web developers.

fermi

redux wrote: »

I'm rather surprised to hear it's been extensively tested, given I've found several issues this afternoon. Edit: and more just now.

Has been quite a bit of testing with a set of regular users and BGs, but a lot of the big usability issues highlighted on previous tests have not been sorted or addressed it seemed.

Pyxis

Forgive me if I'm missing something vital about mobile devices.

I have an iPad, which is my only computer. I don't have a desktop.

I joined MSE a year ago and have never had any problems at all using the current green format.

No problems whatsoever.

I don't, therefore, understand why the format has to be changed to make things easier for mobile devices!

fermi

fermi wrote: »

Has been quite a bit of testing with a set of regular users and BGs, but a lot of the big usability issues highlighted on previous tests have not been sorted or addressed it seemed.

I find it uncomfortable to look at for any period of time that you might expect even a new or regular user to spend here, and I have no sight problems or sensitivities at all.

[Deleted User]

MSE_Martin wrote: »

This redesign isn't perfect. I know that, but it is better than what we have now .......

Sorry, Martin, but it just ISN'T!!!!!!

Don't forget that a lot of long-term members of MSE have turned to it in desperate times, the community on here has really helped people to get their lives back on track both financially and emotionally. By imposing these prospective changes which a few testers seem to like on the majority is so unfair.

A lot of very vulnerable people will have nowhere to turn to for help if they jump ship. I always thought you prided yourself on the overall good that this site does and the way it can change people's lives for the better. It is so much more than a financial-advice service!

quidsy

I use the site on both desk top & tablet, no issue on either with the existing format.

It should be clarified that change is not the issue. The issue is the changes presented are crap, cause nausea & headache in many posters & that navigation has been made more difficult not easier.

I run a much larger website than this, any changes we make are gradual & for the benefit of the users, old & new, google do determine a lot of things but just ignoring the thousands of existing users is offensive.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the reply Martin, could I ask why you think the new format is better? and who is it better for? IS it better for the administrators and technicians who are running the site , as someone who uses the site from home it was NOT better for me, it was ugly on the screen, the tool bar wasn't there in the same way it is on this format and it was cumbersome to negociate. The size of the boxes for posts was huge but the posts in them were ordinary size and the colours used actually were too bright for comfort. When I first found the change the limited number of threads I use weren't all shown on the main menu, this rectified itself later in the day but was confusing coming out of the blue as it were. IF we have the choice to either remain with this format or to live with the new one there is no problem at all. If the old format is removed forever at any time it might cause some users to leave, so please could we have a guarantee that it will remain in this format for those of us who prefer it?

redux

Clearly by the range of replies, the site is being presented differently in different browsers, or even as I said differently in the same browser between a device held upright or landscape view.

I actually like some aspects, but having simple and useful navigational features completely missing in some presentations is bound to be frustrating.

In a board view, why omit the links for last post in a thread and for each page and last page? Do people want to have to go through several pages of a long thread they've been to several times before, just to reach the new posts?

espresso

MSE_Martin wrote: »

we would never do it without warning. What happened today was a !!!! up. Someone was meant to add a few tweaks to the existing trial users accounts. Yet they switchedit on for all.

Mistakes do happen but this proves that your trial users are totally ineffective and as far as I could see yesterday, non of the comments from the previous time that you foisted this new crap version onto us last Feb/Mar have been implemented to actually make it usable.

I was working on the weekly email the time. And when I heard I went ballistic . And asked immediately for it to be rolled back which is what happened.

in some ways this is why one of the reasons why I am sanguine about some of the comments above. We would never have done it this way. Never have communicated it this way. I'm not doinge it without giving people a clear explanation of what our plans are and how it all fits together

This angst could have and should have been avoided. And I apologise to anyone whoe was disturbed by it However we still do plan to roll out the changes at some point soon though we are of course listening to the feedback

As already pointed out, your team have totally ignored the comments that were raised when this beta version was trialed a year ago.

PS I am speech dictating this at speed while still heavily working on the weekly email as my RSI is back so apologies for anything that doesn't make sense

MSE_Martin wrote: »

We always knew long term users wouldn't like it, as in the 13 years I've had the forum, we've never once done a design change that has an instantly positively received by regulars - nor do others who run forums who I've discussed it with (1)). That's why we keep the rollback option - as if you want to use it a different way you can.

I totally understand that you will roll out this version and as long as you allow users the choice to use the old version, then that is fine.

Not everyone is glued to their mobile while walking in busy public places e.g. the main entrance to Waterloo station!

It is not about regulars not liking change. A separate option for mobile users is the way to go not a one site fits all approach that lacks usability on devices other than mobiles.

.............