[tatilsever]

When I connected via Firefox on Windows, the site forced me to unblock pop-up windows before I could paste some text. Then it opened a new window for me to paste the text, which got pasted into my post once I was done with that pop-up window. Very slow and annoying... Now with Safari on OSX, I can paste regularly. Was that a glitch or am I going to need to stop pop-up blocking on Windows before I can paste anything?

[cpoff]

I honestly don't know what's going on there.

Working from a Mac, I can honestly say I've never been forced to use any pop-up windows in the Macworld Forums.

-cp

[Agnitio]

On another bug note,
When using the search at the top of the MacWorld page, the right side is not filled with any information besides the text "section right"

[Cormac]

It's too busy. Top Stories? For when? What about a Daily Top story section? I think some here and at Macworld have confused change and new as something good.

[tbell]

Yeah I completely agree. The "Top Stories" section in the middle of the homepage just doesn't seem positioned intelligently. Seriously consider giving more attention to the news section of the
site. For example, allow the news section to span the left 2/3 of the
homepage rather than forcing us to glaze over the "featured stories"
section with a mere two stories that we're already tired of looking at. One of the features I liked best about coming to MacWorld for news was that NEW posts were RIGHT THERE as soon as the page loaded. No scrolling down or having to "find" the daily feed, it was so well positioned and impossible to miss. And finally, clearly segmenting the posts by post date headers was much nicer than it is now. :(

Despite the flashy new look I'm not a fan of the new feel. Take a cue from the old MW and get back to your roots.

[charlieartist]

Looks pretty nice, but it took me a bit to get the login (and I design sites). Some organization on the homepage could be reworked, as well as how things display above/below the fold. I want to spend some more time before I comment more, though...

[Mac-Ale]

Quite different, some parts of the forum I like better than the format of the last 3 or 4 years.



And I think I only lost some 3,000 posts on my old count...

[Kyan]

I most miss being able to easily see what sections have new posts and what posts have new replies. Mark me up on the side off those who miss the old forum style. Can you add back in the number of new posts and topics in parentheses in the left side bar?

Question: Why do the choices "New, Your Stuff, History and Browse" have underlined first letters? Is this supposed to represent quick find letters like in Windows menus? That is either very, very funny or completely bewildering.

Also, what's up with the washed out pale pastel blue and pink? Are all announcements going to come in a soft pink now?

Last (hehe - for now), if someone's avatar is blank, can it simply not be shown? Scores of identical default avatars are reminiscent of a horde of zombies...

I've hopes for the gamma release and expect it will be better than beta. :)

[Cormac]

What a god awful mess! It all looks all so bland! I don't like the "new & improved" look at all. Go back to the old design, please! That includes the news section.

[Kyan]

I actually have to agree. My post above was more diplomatic and I'm betting the powers-that-be who decided to implement the new forums style will not go back to the way it was before. There are few people who would be willing to admit to their bosses that they were far too carried away in their enthusiasm for "new" to see the good in the "old".

That is, IMHO the forum structure should have stayed the same. I'm can handle some remodeling, but see no need to have torn down the house and built from scratch.

So, go for the previous colour scheme, maybe tweak the colours a bit and put in a few "round corners" that are the rage these days. But leave us with a familiar surrounding.

As for the news section, I don't care what it looks like as long as my RSS feed keeps working.

And yes - INCREDIBLY BLAND.

[dmod415]

Well, I've waited, and watched, and I am NOT impressed. I agree with much of what tbell, Cormac and Kyan say.

1. I chose the "Website Feedback", read messages, and looked everywhere(?)...no "reply" option. OK, I wasn't signed in. THEN I looked everywhere(?)...no obvious place to click so as to sign in. Decided, in desperation, to send a private message to Griffman...(poof) sign in screen. Good grief, people!

2. I have a 20" wide screen...liked to call up several forums side-by-side to save time working between them. Your new added width format is not appreciated.

3. The "old" red masthead stood out...I knew where I was. Don't like being taken to Smurfland involuntarily.

4. Takes wayyy too long to load. Not everyone has high speed internet. I average 70-79 kbps, and the long loading will really discourage anyone on regular dial-up. (loose their participation if loading isn't made faster)

5. The "old" way of having the latest comments up and on top is "right". The "new" way is NOT!

6. The "old" presentation gave me BOLD titles either for today's messages, or those I hadn't read before. That was a time saver. I liked it. I miss it.

7. I'll never be a prolific poster, but I think a post is a post. The "new" touchy-feeley "feedback is silly. The thanks received via replies or personal messages was entirely adequate.

My greatest emotion, by far, is that you did with this site what Apple did with OSX. It was scorched earth, throw the good with the bad OUT...followed by IN YOUR FACE change... look how smart we are, now you learn to cope as best you can.

Change is best and best accepted when evolutionary...NOT revolutionary. KEEP what works! While I am comfortable in OSX now (2+ years later, but still in Panther ;<) it still (can you tell?) rankles that it took me about six months to get it looking and feeling like "home" (OS 9). I'll plead guilty to being an unapologetic Luddite who values function over form ANY DAY!

[PeteVG]

I Hate the new look. It used to be easy to see new content because the items were separated by days. Also the pastel colors and small fonts make it harder to read. If it were up to me, I would return to the old format.

[karstky]

Somewhat ambivalent about your new site design: Not thrilled with it, but can live with it.

Some comments:

Please add a PAGE UPDATE DATE & TIME to the page. I often visit the MacWorld.com page several times a day checking for new articles. I have no immedate way to determine if you have added content or updated since my last visit.

More content please. Fewer ads.

Forums: I could not immediately find it at all, Finally found it under COMMUNITY. Forums design changes not for the best.

In any case keep trying. Appreciate MacWorld.com.


Like some others, I had long forgotten just what email address I had registered under in order to LOGON. You might go back to USER name or ID.

[hikerdave]

Just throwing in my 2?. I think the new site is hard to read, I liked the old site better.