This is awful!

30 March 2002 | Me

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

How do I get rid of the Local State Messages at the top of my screen? I had it disabled in the old version, but now those idiotic message keep appearing on the top of my screen.

I guess this new format means my house will be cleaner, my grass will be greener, and I will get more work done at the office. This is not worth my time anymore.

[Petronski]

How about reducing server burden and network demand? What is wrong with you people?

How does reducing font size save server burden? How does the useless left gutter save server burden? If I need to load a new page just to launch a search, haven't I increased server burden? How is it that the regional comment at the top of the page, or the user poll, aren't additional server burdens?

[RGSpincich]

How about reducing server burden and network demand? What is wrong with you people?

You are saying that the recent changes do this?

In any event, those complaining are letting John know how well he was doing prior to the change over. What's wrong with you? Maybe John didn't know how pleased people were with the system as it was.

[VA Advogado]

I'm a programmer. Telling me "I hate it" doesn't get you noticed. People who don't have specific complaints generally are just complainers who eventually just go along with whatever happens. In two years, they will complain about the next format too. But they will go along with that one too

With that attiude you've probably never heard of customer service/satisfaction. You work for the government, right?

[SouthernFreebird]

The scrolling is killing me......my head hurts within minits I really liked the simple,easy layout of the old format.

[not-an-ostrich]

The sidebar, as it was, was my main source of latest breaking news.

[oyez]

Now what?

[VA Advogado]

The simplicity of the old setup I think had a lot to do with FRs popularity.

Look at Drudge's site. Number 1 site on the internet and he hasn't changed a thing. Simple black and white and no graphics. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

[Goldi-Lox]

It appears that Free Republic has been Balkanized in order to keep the warring factions segregated. Solution: Civility.

[Gore_ War_ Vet]

"Click on "Search" and in bold maroon letters up top it says:"

So now one needs to navigate thru TWO pages where only one previously sufficed--and that is supposed to be an IMPROVEMENT?? I think not!

The "new and improved" look and feel is anything but. It is visually atrocious, far more user hostile, and significantly slower.

No thanks!

Ouch!

True and I agree, but ouch.

[Valin]

"Any time you change things people have issues. Just be patient and let the powers that be respond to these problems."

Murphys 7th law states, No matter how hard you try to please everyone...someones not going to like it.

[KS Flyover]

Good grief, what a mess!

Latest Posts/Threads (whatever) takes FOREVER to load. I feel like I'm on a dial-up again!

I don't want 250 messages on the "latest threads" page, only on the threads themselfs.

Instead of scrolling, it jumps.

Right sidebar is off the screne sometimes.

Site navigation is a maze. What a cluttered mess!

What the hell happened to the "Find in Forum" feature on the FReeper Home Pages?????

What a friggen' nightmare!

THIS SUCKS !!!!!!!

This FR makeover ain't EVEN ready for prime time! Bring back yesterdays full feature, faster version.

[BobP]

I liked the old better.

If this is a beta, please make us all happy and scrap it now before it drives people away!!!

If you don't, at least get rid of the Local/State Messages at the top of my screen!!!

So . . . What's next John?

-------------
A not happy,
Bob P

[VA Advogado]

Solution: Civility.

Solution: Get rid of the libertarians or house break 'em.

[not-an-ostrich]

Well I always trusted FR sidebar posters. Without the time saving sidebar FR doesn't work for me.

[AppyPappy]

I've never had a customer complaint and I worked in the corporate world for 20 years. People who whine (complain without offering any information) are happy if you just pat them on the head and pretend to listen to them. They will generally go along after they've had a chance to "vent". The people who offer specific information are the people you don't ignore. They will hound you until they get what they want.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I guess my thought is that we don't know yet if it's easier or better. I want to give it a try to see what I think. Many things seem difficult at first just because they're different. I'm just saying that I look forward to seeing how the "new" FR works. I may not like it in the end, but I'm going to fiddle around with it for a week or so before drawing any conslusions. I should probably look for posts from the people who tried it out last week. I didn't do it.

[AppyPappy]

Solution: Get rid of the libertarians or house break 'em.

You get a standing ovation. Best advice today.

[pepperhead]

Well thank you Appy. I understand alot of work went into this new design and it is here to stay. It seems like most of the people who have commented in this thread really liked the old breaking news sidebar. Many of us thought it was one of this sites best feature. Any change made to make the breaking news sidebar more like the old one would probably be well received.

[Lokibob]

An interesting thing happens when you use a mouse with a wheel.  If you push the wheel and crank the image to go to the top (or bottom), the text goes flying by, but the flags on the left slowly drift up.  It is related to the refresh rate of the monitor and the size of the flag logo.  Reminds me of the old time westerns where the wheels of the stage coach turned and as it picked up speed, the spokes slowed, stopped, and reversed themselves.

BTW, does this color text bother anybody?  I compose my responses in outlook express, use the spell check, then cut and paste the HTML into the response box.