New Format

[Jay Greer]

Just wondering how you guys like the new format? Being an old dog, it is an abrupt change for me and needs to soak in a bit. I do feel that the old format was visualy more appealing and easier to work with.
Jay

[Garret]

2 other threads (Our New Look & Change the Colors) are attacking Scot as we speak. People really don't like change & they also seem to expect Scot to get everything exactly right in 30 seconds or so. Sorry, the whining in those threads is just too much.....

[ARW123]

I rather like it ..............and my wife says I'm stuck in the past, so much so that apparently I "would prefer a conversation with a fossil than living beings"

[bott]

2 other threads (Our New Look & Change the Colors) are attacking Scot as we speak. People really don't like change & they also seem to expect Scot to get everything exactly right in 30 seconds or so. Sorry, the whining in those threads is just too much.....

Couldn't agree more.

[RodB]

I think web design is tricky...and the old style was very easy to use and also looked better. The degree of contrast of the format was more and it was very easy to locate anything you wanted and click on it. This new look needs to get away from a "monochrome" look where you have to look harder to be sure about what you are clicking on. Hopefully they will improve the graphics for a more user friendly look.

RodB

[ssor]

I preferred the previous format, it refreshed a thread more easily and was faster and easier to navigate.

[DGentry]

It's the right color, now, and there's a boat at the top, so it's fine as far as I'm concerned!

[orbb]

I blame Microsoft and Apple for the attitudes shown in the various threads. Microsoft and Apple have done a good job of taking complex programs and making them user friendly, such that inexperienced people can customize computer programs very easily. It leads to the belief that everything should be so user-friendly and customizable, and that changes should happen quickly.

I have several websites that I run, and I when I first set them up, I thought that there would be a button to push to change colors and pictures. There wasn't. I had to learn to edit code, just to change the colors of the background and other simple things. I suspect Scot is going through the same process, and that process takes time.

If it makes you unhappy, demand a refund of your subscription fee. I'm sure that it will be a long soon.

[johnw]

I guess I'll get used to it, but I'm finding it harder to read with the less contrasty background and harder to navigate with the change in interface. A white background for the posts and a return of the user cp button would be welcome.

[gary porter]

Nope, don't like it at all, hard on the eyes, looks like something from a Bordello.
Would be ok if this format was used just in the Bilge but something about all this just doesn't ring Wooden Boat.
Change should be for gain and I see none here.
Gary

[Russ Manheimer]

Next!

[MaizieDerrick]

aloha I much prefer the older version, not whining but it was hard enough to see on a small screen, and as I,m mobile most of the time I,m stuck with a laptop...the older you get the harder it becomes to see and focus on stuff..but hey maybe they will do some more improvements...

[BA.Barcolounger]

I like the way quoted posts look.

[xtiffer]

Not too impressed with the new format.
"If it works don't fix it" is the phrase that springs to mind.
Cheers,
Chris

[bob easton]

While I don't mind the modern aspect of this design, it has SERIOUS accessibility problems. There's too little contrast between some of the elements. As an Accessibility Consultant, I can assert that about 20% of people have some level of visual impairment, ranging from very minor to completely blind. Discounting the blind (who have other tools for reading computer screens), a large percentage of the rest of us experience gradual dimunition due to aging. Those problems become more acute when font sizes decrease and when contrast levels decrease. The font size did not change noticeably with this new design, but the contrast certainly did.

(Again, as an Accessibilty Consultant,) I recommend:
1) ensuring all typography is actual black, or no less dark than x222.
2) eliminate any background color behind text, or lighten it to no darker than xeee.

[ahp]

The previous format was both more compact and easier to read.

[AstoriaDave]

I'll adjust. I agree greater contrast on the listings of posts would help these old eyes.

As others have said, the admin gets heat for changes, and he does not need it. Quiet communications to him via the Contact mechanism seem to work very well.

Remember, this is free, damn it!

[Jay Greer]

Well it kind of feels like the time someone asked me to crew on his fiberglass H28!

Jay

[snow(Alan H)]

Some driving instructions would be good. Also advance warning - I thought my computer was having a flip/flop yesterday.

[Jay Greer]

After a few minutes perusing the site, my eyes hurt. So, I am quitting for the day. In fact, I am not motivated to explore or use it as much as I have in the past.
Jay

[rbgarr]

Adding images looks like it will be easier (for mini-moron me) but the type size is small and the colors are drab.

[Yeadon]

The plan to thin the herd is underway.

[Peter_Crowl]

The format is ok - I frequent many different forums and they all have their plusses and minuses - the colors and contrast is what I have a problem with.

Black text on a white background would be most welcome.

[stevedwyer]

I also think the format is tiring. Yawn.
Tho' the links seem streamlined in function, the graphics don't turn it on for me.

[snow(Alan H)]

The style / layout we have in NZ works for me.

;

[minitugboattodd]

I agree with Jay Greer. The contrast needs to be more defined. I am not that old, but still have a hard time reading with the new format. The old format was fine, and so were the colors. Why the change??? I am not opposed to change as long as it doesn't affect how well I can read it!
I also have found that when I have this hard of a time reading it, I will just stop and go somewhere else on the internet. Hopefully something will be done soon on this, as I really enjoy this forum!!

[willmarsh3]

I notice improvements each time I come here as Scot has been tweaking things. I can't really complain as Scot has been doing an exemplary job of maintaining the WBF. The only real adjustment I can suggest at this point would be to make the background of the post bodies be white. Then make the header above each post that has the name of the poster and their location be that light gray color.

[minitugboattodd]

For instance, go to your private messages, and try to read the subject line of the message. You can just barely make it out.

[John B]

The style / layout we have in NZ works for me.

;

The problem with pages designed like that Snow is that although they look pretty, nearly any image at all requires sideways scrolling to see it. Its much better to have the 'full width ' that the wbf has.

[mizzenman]

I've got no prob with this.

Rock on WBF

[Windsong]

This has the same feeling as sailing on a fiberglass boat. Or going from a Ship Chandlery to a West Marine. It is a little like changing the color and name of your boat.
Still has the good people though. So its not all that bad.
I'm going sailing.
Cheers
Lars

[Bruce Keefauver]

Still; not so good, but better than yesterday!

[Yeadon]

Buncha weenies.

That's right!

[G.Sherman]

The previous version had a little too much white space for my taste, yesterday' s "blue phase" was awful..... this is better.

[bob easton]

THANKS Scot for improving the contrast!!! Very much appreciated!!!

[kc8pql]

I'll get used to it I guess.

[Nanoose]

You're doing great, Scot....yet again!
Thanks.

[johnw]

THANKS Scot for improving the contrast!!! Very much appreciated!!!

Yes, that's a lot easier on the eyes. Thanks!

[Lew Barrett]

I'm with Yeadon.

It's funny, everyone is opposed to change unless they are talking about a new car or a new girlfriend. Then they are all over it!
Just pretend this format is a new girlfriend and it will quickly become clear that it will be a lot of fun to explore it!

The whole change thing is so yesterday!

[johnw]

I've noticed the thread titles are hard to read when I'm looking for new posts, but like the contrast issue, it's an easy fix.

[Candyfloss]

And please Scot, can you do away with the "Reply to Post" button at the top of the page? It serves no useful purpose up there, catches the eye, and obscures access to the "Forum" & "Whatever-this-department-is" buttons.

Otherwise I love it. Much easier to navigate. Runs faster than the old one for me.

[alkorn]

I don't find the new format particularly better or worse than the old. But I don't understand the reason for the change. Much effort! Why?

[johnw]

Has anyone found a good way to see what's happening with the threads you're subscribed to? I used to just hit the user cp button and get a list of the ones with new posts. Am I missing the new way to do this?

[JPhoenix]

This format works well on an iPhone at 37,000 feet - using Alaska Airline's in-flight free wi-fi to kill a five hour trip from DC to Seattle. I'm reading threads I've never read before! The format works well for the "mobile device".

I like it!

Jim

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

I find it difficult to read the thread titles in that soft color they are using.

[RodB]

Scott, please make the name of the poster darker... and the links to what forum were in and the title of the thread.... all darker... "Reply to thread"... needs more contrast too. ... Everything needs more contrast... much darker letters... from backgrounds. Please make all type from peoples comments darker... The entire new look is just too washed out, too high key! Pastel colors are just not going to work as well as what we had in the past... Pleaaaaaaaase mimick the original looks.

The brown bars need to be 85% density if not 100... any color you select for the poster's name needs to be much darker,

Just go maximum darkness and lightness on all contrasting graphics and it will be wonderful.

Trust this graphics professional, I'm telling you gospel truth.

Thanks


RodB

[yesiam]

If there was a vote or a survey, I would have to go for the way it was.

[Rich Jones]

I find it difficult to read the thread titles in that soft color they are using.

Ditto! Plus, I'm an old goat who doesn't like change. That brown is too soft and the print is way too small. Bring back the old. It wasn't broke, so why change it?

[richbeck]

The format I can get used to. the contrast however is a different story. It is very hard on my old eyes. Hopefully they can make some improvements. I really enjoy this forum, but my eyes tell me to move on to something else.

[Jeff Benagh]

don't much care for it. it's very non-intuitive. still not sure what the colors mean.