Free Republic's Great New Look - "The Fresno Team is consumer-oriented"

03/31/2002 | Lazamataz

[Peach]

Love the changes today - thank you to the Robinsons!

[Lazamataz]

You did a lot of acid in the '60's, dinchya? ;^)

[sirena]

Yesterday I was disraught, today I am delighted! JohnRob is a genius--but I am not. I really appreciated the time & effort put into the new format but it was way too fancy for my old eyes & webtv (and my "real PC" also). This format today is great--a big sigh of relief & a heartfelt thank-you!

[Anti-Bubba182]

I think Jim and John are listening and that is good. I hope some of the folks who said they were leaving will reconsider and that others are able to resolve their problems as well.

I think some further tweaking should be considered. For example, the left side bar. The left side bar limits the viewable area unnecessarily for the functionality it contains. If preferences are set to 50 posts, the left bar only contains information for about 10% of the page displayed, leaving the rest of that space an unattractive blank.

Also, the MY MAIL and the MY COMMENTS selections are duplicated in the top. Since the left bar only goes about 10% of the page down on a 50 post preference, the duplication does little good.

Is the poll displayed on the left bar necessary or wanted? Maybe that could be eliminated or placed elsewhere.

I suggest that the necessary items in the left bar be moved to the top and the left bar be eliminated or offered as an option.

[SFmom]

It's still not working for me. One screen can carry only three or four right sidebar headlines and the left is useless and empty. Elimination of the left sidebar would increase the room to read the right sidebar. I am having a great deal of difficulty with the new format and I don't see it as any improvement. Quite the contrary. And although the last 24 hours have brought some sanity back to the format, it still pales in comparison with the "old" Free Republic format. I hope you will continue to revise. Thanks

[pt17]

Many kudos to the Robinsons, and whoever else helped, for listening and working hard for their users. I, too, will up my contributions in the future if this movement back to simplicity and ease of use persists. Thanks, everyone and Happy Easter.

[Lazamataz]

It's still not working for me. One screen can carry only three or four right sidebar headlines and the left is useless and empty.

Give it time. Also, to address your concerns about how much a screen can carry: There is an option in your browser to reduce your font size. I did so and I have a LOT of comment headers on each page.

[HairOfTheDog]

You did a lot of acid in the '60's, dinchya? ;^)

I might have! If I wasn't only 4 years old when they ended! (Koombaya, my lord....)

;~D

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It has gotten better, I'm impressed. The first day looked awful. Good work!

[bvw]

Considerably improved since AM yesterday!

Yet, like you, I'd like the left hand bar to be able to go away. Optionally put that stuff on bottom bar, or pull down, or right bar bottom or some of it on a top bar.

The forum page is too noisy -- best to center the right-to-left reading eye on the article/reply -- with the left bar the eye is drawn to items in the bar as much as the article/reply. It's exhausting, confusing, cluttered.

Maybe the left bar is helpful for newbies -- otherwise its a distraction.

[AAABEST]

Whoa, much better guys.....much better.

Thanks so much for all you do.

[Lady Jag]

I liked the way it was ysterday. :)

[Dales]

I agree with you regarding the left bar.

Now can I be a sanctimonious prig? I could not believe the level of hostility that people had and were venting in the direction of the Robinsons yesterday. My God, people (not you AB), do you always treat your allies and friends with such scorn when they do something that you weren't expecting?

Sheesh!

[Lazamataz]

I liked the way it was ysterday. :)

AAAAAUAGHAAAYAAAUUUAGGHHH!!!

I pray for your death, you pagan!

;^)

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..best to center the right-to-left reading eye on the article/reply -- with the left bar the eye is drawn to items in the bar as much as the article/reply. It's exhausting, confusing, cluttered."

That is a good point.

[AAABEST]

PS - Having the first page opening up to the news was a FANTASTIC idea, very effective. I always thought the long front page with all of those banners was redundant.

The only thing I miss is the mission statement, I'm wondering if there's anyway to get that to a high profile position.

[Clara Lou]

I'm glad you said it first. I'd like for those people to say as much positively today as they said negatively yesterday.