Feedback on the new site

Hard to tell yet I suppose, what with a significant proportion of the most prolific posters galavanting across Siberia and China over the last week or so. But I have noticed the same Dave.

As for Franks suggestion about linking back to a fullscreen forum. TBH I don't think there is a need to go that far. The little bugs and glitches I can understand and live with as I know they will be ironed eventually. I can also see the advantage of the current layout. It is used to great affect over on the aussie Iceinspace forums. I think the only problem is the screen real estate devoted to the post/text area of the forum frame caused by the blank frames either side, themselves necessitated to accomodate different user display resolutions. The lads have already acknowledged this and I think they mentioned creating templates for different resolutions, ie the site will interagate the browser for the users display resolution and then deliver a page tailored for that resolution. I think it is just a question of them getting the time to ceate the different resolution templates.

I actually noticed a drop off in new posts and replies also.

Look,
it's like this,
I don't want to go offending anyone
(and God knows this happens when people put time and effort into something)
But the point is that feedback was asked for and I'm giving my 2 cents worth.
There is no malaise in what I'm saying.

I understand that the lads want to grow the site
and create all these other areas.
Fine.

But for me, personally,
I think the message boards are THE most important part of the site.
Like everything else on the web,
when it comes to good design,
a site has to do exactly what it says on the tin,
and within only a few seconds.

If the boards die the site dies.
Thats just how I see it.

I know the layout at the moment is going to change and
that ye are designing it to fit into everyones browser
but I wanted to visually show ye what I mean.
Again lads,
don't take this personally please for gods sake!


I just find the main page very cluttered with stuff like:
''Written by Administrator
Friday, 16 May 2008 09:47''

''Last Updated ( Saturday, 19 July 2008 10:50 )''

The
PDF Print E-mail edit
Icons.

And the uneven segment spacing and
switching of the layout between paragraph style to
double column style.

It just becomes all too much for the eye
(remember folks, the best most successful websites
are the least cluttered! eg Google!)

This is what I like...
farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2736402333_6d31fbec2b_o.jpg

Clear segmented vertical scrolling / reading.
3 distinct columns.
The one on the left with
Main Menu
User Menu
Moon Phase
Pending Actions

The one on the right with
Login
Who is online
Upcoming events
Recent Classifieds
Observing Challenges

and then the Clear White segment in the center
that has distinct paragraph layout
for the changing content.

My two cents.

Some odd behaviour...

When clicking on one of the "Recent Posts to Forums" on the main IFAS Home page (I clicked on "Re:Speaker Tour by R.Newman") I was directed to a new page "Welcome to Groups... Admin(5)" and not the message I was expecting!

The message address is:
www.irishastronomy.org/forum?func=view&catid=516&id=72057#72057

The Groups page address is: www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=com_groupjive#72057

I've come across this type of duff link on the new boards before and thought I'd mention it as it seems to be a reoccurring bug.

Phil.

Edit: PS - The smilies above were inserted by the text boards editor misinterpreting ordinary text!

Frank,

I agree with everything you just said in your last post. I have all the same concerns. My point was that although something needs to be done, I am not sure we need to go all the way back to the bare bones forum structure of the old forum and that I think the guys have acknowledged all our concerns but its just a matter of spare time for them to address each of them.

Have you had a look at iceinspace.com. Same layout as here. ie banner across the top, Menu down the side. Its just its tailored specifically to my resolution and makes full use of all the screen real estate.

To me it works, perfect combination of the feel of our old forum but with the benefits of the new design.

[edit] refers to franks second to last post before this one.

Ice in space is very well designed.
I love the big red
''IceInSpace Astronomy Forums'' image
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