First of all let me state that no changes arein the works or planned for the look of the site.
However, I just received an Email from someone who thinks the site is not visually friendly and should look more like some other I wont metion. I for one think the forum page is fine and not too busy. maybe the home page to some. But thats what this thread is for. To find out.
My questions to you are ...
what would you get rid of on the home page?
Is it too busy?
Have you displayed your threads in Threaded mode? This is a setting in our profile under Options and Thread display mode.
Do you like this site the way it is?
let me know. I am here to provide what I can. But I wont make any changes unless they are justifyable.
Thanks.
However, I just received an Email from someone who thinks the site is not visually friendly and should look more like some other I wont metion. I for one think the forum page is fine and not too busy. maybe the home page to some. But thats what this thread is for. To find out.
My questions to you are ...
what would you get rid of on the home page?
Is it too busy?
Have you displayed your threads in Threaded mode? This is a setting in our profile under Options and Thread display mode.
Do you like this site the way it is?
let me know. I am here to provide what I can. But I wont make any changes unless they are justifyable.
Thanks.
FrankS
Registered User
Hello Jorge. First off, I love this site, thank you! I only access the recent active posts page. There is some dead black space on the homepage. Could you organize the boxes into 2 columns instead of 3? I have not displayed the threads in Threaded mode. I like the setup the way it is. The recent changes that show thumb nail pictures in posts is great.
back alley
IMAGES
i think frank is on to something here.
2 columns would be easier on the eyes and appear less busy, i like it!
otherwise, the site is fine for me as is.
there will always be the possibility of better as long as it's not confused with just different.
joe
2 columns would be easier on the eyes and appear less busy, i like it!
otherwise, the site is fine for me as is.
there will always be the possibility of better as long as it's not confused with just different.
joe
S
Socke
Guest
I second FrankS except the thumbnails. The Thumnails themselfes are fine but when I click them they replace the site when I expect them to open inside the thread.
Don't know if vbulleting can do different, we use PHPBB in postnuke.
Don't know if vbulleting can do different, we use PHPBB in postnuke.
O
Oldprof
Guest
Don't let one critic throw you into a tizzy Jorge. I was one of those who advised against your recent redesign because I liked the previous one. Now I have gotten used to this one. The home page is a little busy because it packs so many elements into one page, but I can live with it. The "user friendliness" of the site depends on more than just the visual design and layout. Constant tinkering with the design might be a negative in terms of user friendliness.
R
Richard Black
Guest
I Like It The Way It Is. I Am A New Member And Don't Remember The Old One.
aizan
Veteran
i could go for a "participated threads" link, but i'm generally ok with the site as it is. reorganizing the front page is a matter of priority and categorization, so maybe those could be worked out by the community.
Fedzilla_Bob
man with cat
What is wrong with the design? Precious little.
As newbie I was able to find my way around most things. Identifying navigational elements was easier than some coporate sites that are lauded for their design.
My only nitpick would be that it could be made easier for newbs to find out basic stuff like setting up their galleries. Perhaps a simple text based instructional on how to do it. But that isn't a design isssue, is it?
The current visual approach is perfect enough for me. It has character without hitting me over the head with its visuals.
I'll bet the emailer was a designer. I have learned to recognize them. For I am one.
Should this become a poll? I for one think a poll would show how well liked/loved the design is.
As newbie I was able to find my way around most things. Identifying navigational elements was easier than some coporate sites that are lauded for their design.
My only nitpick would be that it could be made easier for newbs to find out basic stuff like setting up their galleries. Perhaps a simple text based instructional on how to do it. But that isn't a design isssue, is it?
The current visual approach is perfect enough for me. It has character without hitting me over the head with its visuals.
I'll bet the emailer was a designer. I have learned to recognize them. For I am one.
Should this become a poll? I for one think a poll would show how well liked/loved the design is.
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Marc Jutras
Guest
Jorge, so far, only one thing bugs me a little. It's only a matter of efficiency. At the bottom of the Active Threads sections on the main page, there's a button to see more threads more...). When you click this, you get the same threads, have to go down to click on the second page link. Would it be possible to replace that "more" by "1,2,3, ..." to avoid that unneccessary step?
Thanks.
Thanks.
akalai
Well-known
Haha, MARC YOU BEAT ME TO IT!
My only pet hate on this site is what Marc describes above, having to click on "more" then getting the same page but with the page numbers..."1,2,3,4,..."
Jorge, can you please make it more efficient by just having the page numbers displayed.
Cheers, and thankyou for asking for our imput!
AKALAI
My only pet hate on this site is what Marc describes above, having to click on "more" then getting the same page but with the page numbers..."1,2,3,4,..."
Jorge, can you please make it more efficient by just having the page numbers displayed.
Cheers, and thankyou for asking for our imput!
AKALAI
dmr
Registered Abuser
Jorge Torralba said:
Good
Personally, I find the look of this site to be a refreshing change from the hundreds of web boards that are visual clones of each other.
I would tend to agree. It lacks the spam frames and nonsense that you often see on web boards.
Yes, actually.
One suggestion I might make would be to look into what options a user could have regarding his/her personalized look or theme. Some web boards have things like that.
But again, I think this site is great the way it is.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Hi Jorge
take all the commercial content and place it in one specific area. It would make the site coherent.
The top right corner has commercial content,for Camera Quest, the right margin middle section has a donation for RFF, the left margin has ads for Adorama and KB, and links to other sites. I suggest all these go to one margin either left or right . The rest is cool, I like it.
take all the commercial content and place it in one specific area. It would make the site coherent.
The top right corner has commercial content,for Camera Quest, the right margin middle section has a donation for RFF, the left margin has ads for Adorama and KB, and links to other sites. I suggest all these go to one margin either left or right . The rest is cool, I like it.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
I think the site is great.
The only thing that really bugs me are the two login boxes located on the top right portion of the screen. The two boxes are linked in such a way that when you type in your username and then tab to type in your password, you actually tab to the OTHER username window wherein you end up typing your password in that username space, thus exposing it to whomever may be looking over your shoulder, and resulting in a failure to login, should you not notice it. Minor? Yes, I know, but that is all I could come up with (such a great site!). Of course the issue is easily resolvable by clicking the "remember me" box, but if you access the site from mulitple computers (some public-based) it can be a pain. The two boxes LOOK like a design flaw, because they are located right next to each other.
I would agree however with the comments concerning maintaining some continuity around the edges of the home page with advertising in one section, etc. IMHO, the only thing that should be in the site's banner space is the sites' name. I like the advertisers, but love the site.
Thanks for asking.
The only thing that really bugs me are the two login boxes located on the top right portion of the screen. The two boxes are linked in such a way that when you type in your username and then tab to type in your password, you actually tab to the OTHER username window wherein you end up typing your password in that username space, thus exposing it to whomever may be looking over your shoulder, and resulting in a failure to login, should you not notice it. Minor? Yes, I know, but that is all I could come up with (such a great site!). Of course the issue is easily resolvable by clicking the "remember me" box, but if you access the site from mulitple computers (some public-based) it can be a pain. The two boxes LOOK like a design flaw, because they are located right next to each other.
I would agree however with the comments concerning maintaining some continuity around the edges of the home page with advertising in one section, etc. IMHO, the only thing that should be in the site's banner space is the sites' name. I like the advertisers, but love the site.
Thanks for asking.
I am quite happy with the layout and can usually navigate quickly in it.
Of course I also hold to the theory that the only error message that a user requires is a locked keyboard and blank screen. Microsoft is close to my philosophy, but likes the color "Blue" to remind you of IBM.
Of course I also hold to the theory that the only error message that a user requires is a locked keyboard and blank screen. Microsoft is close to my philosophy, but likes the color "Blue" to remind you of IBM.
taffer
void
I usually enter via the main rff page, not the forums index. For me it's a kind of 'let's see what's up today at rff' action, and usually look for new things in the different boxes since my previous visit (which usually is not too long ago...)
Then, once I'm ready, I dive deeper into the forums, so I'm happy as it is now and look the 'different' look from some other forums out there. My only suggestion is the one Marc and Akalai already pointed out
Then, once I'm ready, I dive deeper into the forums, so I'm happy as it is now and look the 'different' look from some other forums out there. My only suggestion is the one Marc and Akalai already pointed out
oftheherd
Veteran
Some of the suggestions above may have merit, but basically, I really like it the way it is. No need for change just to change.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
Mike Richards
Well-known
Well designed as is. Agree with Marc about the "more" options. Also, the scroll jump at the end of a thread load is annoying. Usually I'm reading something, and the scroll jumps to someplace else in the thread. Have to hit the "Home" key and page down to get to where I was reading. Same effect with Safari and Firefox.
S
Stu :)
Guest
I quite like it the way it is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Just like Oscar I enter via the main page (www.rangefinderforum.com) and start my visit/pillage/reign of terror from there onwards.
I don't mind the two or three columns. Then again I do have the luxury of 19" monitor to view this wonderful site. A 15" might be too small and cause the cramping and "busyness" others describe.
Stu
Just like Oscar I enter via the main page (www.rangefinderforum.com) and start my visit/pillage/reign of terror from there onwards.
I don't mind the two or three columns. Then again I do have the luxury of 19" monitor to view this wonderful site. A 15" might be too small and cause the cramping and "busyness" others describe.
Stu
ABarGrill
Established
Permit me to join the "It ain't broke so why are you fixing it?" group. I like how the site is set up. The site works well for me, I have little trouble locating any information or thread I want to find. And I can't say that about every site that I visit!
Alan
Alan
Imagestreet
Member
Hi - I'm brand new to RFF with a spanking new Voigtlander R3A which is currently minus a rewind lever due to me snapping it off while rewinding the first roll of film. Now that you have some idea of my general technical competence, my relevant question is that I have traversed the length and breadth of this site and searched all the FAQs in vain to try to find how to set up a gallery and post photographs to it. I second Fedzilla_Bob above in that I think help for newbies is an area you need to focus on. That, and the design of the R3A rewind crank.