i could do without the pictures on the left side and the recent posts.  the recent posts are at the top of the forum anyway.  i'm not sure how it looks/acts on other people's machines but as you scroll down, you can almost here the click as each line displays.  i'm sure the posting of vids and pictures will be better, but right now, it kind of hurts my eyes.

Well, the background does alternate, just not enough to really notice.  Just improving the contrast will do the trick here.  Note in the clip below the messages do have different contrast, it just needs to be a bit more pronounced.

I never use forum spell checkers, I'm much rather have that function performed locally with my browser.  It's much faster that way, and it puts less of a load on the forum servers as well.  It's a win-win for everyone.

I really don't like the facebook "picture" aspect at all.  It's actually kinda creepy... I would rather see the persons handle and where they are from again.

I agree with this comment, also seems slower right now as all the background information loaded.  I use the forum for information sharing so anything that is beyond that is not important to me.  G

I believe you could get rid of the "Likes".  It's such a Facebook thing, and not too many seem to want to use it.

Bring back "total views" instead.  It showed user interest betterr than "Likes".

Rich, I have a suggestion I don't think has been noticed before.  When you are at the end of reading the replies on a post, there is no link to the particular forum you are on to take you back to the home page for that forum.  You have to scroll back to the top to do so.

It would be convenient to have that link at the bottom of the page also.

thanks

Agreed, the likes is useless to me and facebookish as well.

BEST SUGGESTIONS SO FAR !!!

HATE IT

I think the new forum is great. I rearly like changes

I have backgrounds here on the desktop by none noticeable on my iphone.  Anyone else have this issue?

Clean up white space???  There is still a large white space on the right hand side...about a quarter width of the page!  What am I missing here?

No problem here.  Using Safari on the iPhone, the backgrounds are the same as on my desktops (one Mac Pro and one Mac Mini -- both viewing with Firefox).  Using the OGR app on the iPhone, its a bit different though.  Individual posts all have the same white background, but they're well delineated since each post sits inside a box with rounded corners.  And each of those boxes sits on what appears to be an overall black background.

I could see using the iPhone briefly to browse here for something quick.  But it would drive me nuts trying to type much on small devices like the iPhone.

The iPad is very workable using straight Safari.  I don't recommend using the iPhone app on the iPad, 'cause the 2X option only enlarges the pixel layout of the iPhone on the iPad's screen -- so text and graphics have lots of jagged edges.  Much better to use straight Safari with the iPad, IMHO.

David

old eyes like the bigger print.

For those more technical minded - Users and devices are going more mobile every day.  All you have to do is go into a Starbucks, airport, sporting event, restaurant and people are on their phones and iPads (tablets).  Desktop computers are only going to be seen in places that people need them for specific use - i.e. engineering, video production, but the average end user will be on a laptop, tablet or smart phone.

If you have an old desktop running windows XP you will be faced with the problem that soon, no matter what you do to try and keep your machine working - it will just not be compatible with new software, operating systems and web browsers.  Windows has already said that they are not supporting flash in their mobile operating system software; they said in a statement that browser plugins are not the future.  Adobe is no longer developing Flash for mobile Browsers.  Computing is changing and like it always has from when I had my first computer in 1987.  All computer companies worth anything understand the shift to mobile devices and they are adapting.

The change here is going to be better in the long run, it will ensure that the hobby has a place to share ideas.  Those that are having a hard time adapting to the change can call customer support on their rotary phone 

My dad is 74, he has an iPhone and a laptop and he does good many days and struggles other days, but he never gives up and is willing to try the new stuff.  Is he techno-tarded?  Sure, but he does really good for his generation.  One of the more fun times with him was showing him how to call my daughter on Skype, my parents love that they can talk to her via video call on the computer while she is away in college.

I look at these thing like cars.  I can drive any car you put infront of me.  Are all the dash board controls the same in every car? Is the key in the same place in every car?  how about the AC controls or radio?  No.  Do I care?  Do I get in a car and say I wont drive it because the radio knob is different?  No.  I just get in and drive.  So I just think of the Forum like I just got a new car - that it will take a few days to learn all about it.

If you have not seen the videos I made to navigate and use the Forum check them out:

Part I - Setting up you profile and preferences

Part II - Navigating the Forums

Part III - Using the Post Editor

A couple more to follow on photo uploads and video.

Everything on the right hand side needs to go. It takes up too much space. The "Watch this topic" box needs to be a blank default.

I applaud trying to make something better, but so far the new forum seems "jammed" -  too much stuff crammed into a small space, "over-busy" - too much going on at one time and I don't find it relaxing to view.

This forum  contains a lot of useless clutter with way too many personal pictures trying to grab the viewers attention. Sort-of-like a busy downtown street garishly vying  for your attention.

From the moment I saw the large white void on the right, I thought the new forum screen now resembles a highway scene. The wide open space on the right looks like prime real-estate, for future advertizing.

If you are into posting pictures, this forum seems to make that task fairly easy.

The new forum also seems way more laborious and convoluted.

No axe to grind, just my honest opinion. If you have some flexibility to change things... I would.

I wouldn't leave the forum because I don't like it, but it could be much better.

My advice, the posting section/viewing screen is your"drive-in movie screen", your bread and butter. Make the screen as big and clutter-free as possible.

Nowadays, people want big screens for their entertainment viewing.

You lost considerable ability to immediately grab a seasoned viewers attention, the moment the forum appears. The old forum instantly gave veterans a lot of easy-to-read what's-going-on type information, at a glace; and this forum doesn't do that.

I know it's hard to take criticism, even if it's constructive. 

lowen

Nobody cares what I think...but, I agree with all the "crowded, cramped, and jammed" comments.  This format will make me come back here much less. I don't know if I'll pay for whatever is coming in the "Premium Forum Member" class.

This is just another example of Facebook ruling the world.

And while I am thinking about it...all that clutter on the right side is completely unnecessary...recent posts...and the photos...don't need it...what's the point?  This thread is down here at the bottom and there seems to be miles and miles of unused white space on the right side before one even gets back to the unnecessary photos and "recent posts."  Use that space to widen this thread area.

I'll go along with the above.

John

It's like a new pair of shoes, at first they hurt, but as you walk with them, they eventually break in and feel better.

For those who are having trouble adjusting, read this book -

Seems to me that a premium member would be a member who subscribes to OGR, much as CTT has their content for subscribers only.

Still on the fence about the new format.  Will have to play with it more to decide, although its a mute point anyway.  I haven't had any of the problems (like unwanted e-mails) that some folks have. 

To me, the permanent archiving is a definate plus!  There are a lot of very good technical posts that previously would be lost.  Quite honestly, I likely won't use the new picture feature, as I've become quite comfortable with Photobucket. 

Jim

I have large monitors, yet when I go to the Main three rail forum, all I see are the stickied posts at the top. Maybe they can be consolidated a bit.

The new forum is just fine with me now that some of the initial issues have been corrected.  The webmaster has done a marvelous job addressing the concerns of the masses here and his work should be applauded.

^^^ To our webmaster.

I see over the past few days you've been able to expand the text box to at least reach across to the advertisements which is a great improvement.

There are two things that Would be great in my eyes to improve, but im not sure if your able to do it and other may disagree with me.

1. We really need to know the name of the thread starter in the forum. Ive been on here for awhile and have grown to know many names here, but i cant seem to match names to avatars so I have no clue who is the thread starter. Plus add in the fact that people change their avatars from time to time and its gets really confussing.

2. Now that youve been able to expand the text area, is it at all possible to expand posted pictures to fill the width of the screen as well so I dont have to click on each individual picture to get a good look at it?

Thanks for your time,

---Joe

I've read that book. Fascinating reading.

Gentlemen,

On the old forum, after an entry was read, the text heading turned purple and stayed that way.  On the new forum, I have to move the cursor over each entry.  If one has been read, it will change color but only while the cursor is present.  When the cursor is moved away, the color reverts to black.  Is there a way to recapture the old more permanent change of color?

Thanks,

Joe S

The HOME key on your keyboard will instantly take you to the top of the page.

I'm working on adding links to the bottom of the page.

That's very helpful, Ralph. Thanks a lot.

I love this new look!!!  Much better than the old forum.  I think it's much easier to navigate IMHO.  Kevin.

Answers...

1) A good point that has been mentioned by many. I will submit this to Hoopla as a suggestion because this is not something I can change within my admin control panel.

2) The pictures that appear within the text area of a thread will be sized down to fit the posting area. Clicking on the picture opens a new window where you can see the image full size. That's the way it works.

I like the challenge of adjusting to it, now that I've put some time aside to do so. The picture posting convenience was a breeze, once I copied the procedure down and followed it on my first attempt.

Frank M.

Well, it certainly is differant. Will take a bit getting used to. I really like the posting picture feature. Much easier.

Ahh, a year from now we'll be saying how we would never go back to the old way. I know some of us old farts don't like change, sometimes we wonder why change at all, well, there is an old saying, "to stand still is to move backwards". 

And although I am not very computer savy, I applaud Rich for making the changes. I, like many others look to it as a learning expiereance. I'm looking forward to being "forum savy"

Sounds good.

As others have mentioned it would be good to see what can be done about highlighting threads you have read with the magenta color. It really does make it easier to quickly check back with the topics you are interested in. Its funny that I can see the highlighted magenta in the forums and 3-rail links at the top of the tread, but it doesnt work anywhere else on the page.

Is there any chance more more personal customization? A way to controll how many posts we see per thread or how many thread topics on the main page?  Any chance these will be available to premium members.

If you care to share, is there any certain reason you decided to go with this format instead of something like vBulletin? I am not knocking your choice or anything, and i do love that you have brought us an update, expesially for those that have had a hard time with pictures and such in the past.

Thanks for your time, and all the hard work youve been doing to make all of us whiners happy over the past few days.

And I love that posts will be archived forever now. Very often i research something way in advance. And when i would go pack to search for the old thread again that I had started it would be gone. This is a major improvemnt as many will come to realize in due time.

---Joe

I just took the time to look over the forums and some of the posts.
It appears most people are acclimating after a few days.
Again, a work in progress. We may all be surprised after a week of tweaking.
I have to remember to uncheck that Watch this topic button before I hit Submit.
Maybe that will be changed in a week also! 
Greg

V-Bulletin could not guarantee that we could import all the data from the Eve platform into V-Bulletin. That was enough for me right there. We could not risk losing any of that information and then have to start all over.

We would have to host v-Bulletin on our own web server. Hoopla is hosted at a huge server farm in Seattle with full redundancy, hourly backups, diesel backup generators, T3 lines, etc. Our web server is in an excellent place with a great company, but they are not that big.

I believe we could be hoop-la's biggest clients and with ours and Rich's input hoop-la will get better.  Hoop-la seems open to some of the suggestions Rich has already made.

We are not the biggest, but we're probably in the top 5 to 10.

However, we may the most ACTIVE forum they have! We have had as many as 440 people on here at one time. We are routinely in the 300's and into the 400's in the evenings. It's about 10:30 pm EST now and we are still at 350 on line.

Too bad.  I use vBulletin daily on one of my professional forums, and I can say hands down that most folks here would have found the migration to very much be hand-in-a-glove from the former OGR forum (as far as user-interface experience that is).  But you're understandably looking at things with other criteria in mind as well.

David