Constructive Criticism

Design and Functionality related issues with the new layout from my perspective:

• Far too much white-space between content in threads, forum listings, and basically everywhere else. It's ridiculous to have to scroll after reading 3 posts. Limiting the width to 1100px kinda sucks, too.
  
  • Cut the spacing between threads in the listings to 75% of current, and eliminate some of the excess padding elsewhere.
• Text is flipping HUGE pretty much everywhere. Way bigger than necessary. Particularly when composing a post. Are there that many blind guys here?
  • Reduce it by 2 pts or whatever.
• The inability to turn off display of avatars in threads (which are unnecessarily large, BTW). My boss doesn't need to see a bunch of pin-ups on my screen, nor do I care to be forced to waste screen-space on seeing avatars.
  • At least we can turn of seeing signatures.

I'm sure I'd find more after spending more than 5 minutes with the new layout, but for now, I'm switching the the default XenFolo one.

The inefficient use of space KILLS its useability and readability. Work on making it useable and efficient before trying to make it "pretty". How much testing and feedback from real users did you get before launch? Buddy-buddy HAMB members, friends, family, etc. don't count.

FWIW, the screenshots are on a 1680x1050 resolution screen and from, respectively, Firefox 29, Safari, Chrome.

 

Here's another suggestion:

Move the most recent thread notice below the heading for the sub-forum instead of cramming in the side and truncating the thread title text.

 

I've given it a few days to try and get used to the new format, but I gotta side with CRR. There is just too much open spacing and large font that makes it's difficult to read. I get worn out scanning the whole page and scrolling. There are some other little things that could use some improvement, but beggers can't be choosers so I'm waiting to see how it goes. The spacing and font are the biggest distraction for me.

 

I agree WAY too much space, MUCH slower to navigate through any forum looking for stuff of interest.

 

Since you are using FireFox, are you using the extension AdBlockPlus? If so, adding the following filter to your Block List will remove all the avatars and reclaim some of the wasted real estate.......

|http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/data/avatars/*

 

I hope my constructive criticism isn't misconstrued but many of us appreciate the larger font,,my eyes ain't as good as they use to be. HRP

 

I'm with you there, HRP.

 

I like the font size now.

 

Actually it's good right now.

 

I liked it better bigger, but I can live with it as is now.

 

Better now imho.

 

I'm not sure if this is the new font or the one we were viewing yesterday,but I can live with what is on the screen at the present time. HRP

 

Font size and spacing much better now. I think a light blue border behind the avatars would take care of the whiteness. I can live with it , probably get used to it some day.
Thanks for listening to the feedback.

 

I like the present font size...and I'm definitely an old fart with geezer vision! It works for me. Thanks Ryan, for the remendous amount of work you do in providing this wonderful place for all of us, both young and old, to hang out. Thanks also for putting up with all the whining which would test God's patience.

 

My page view is at 125%. Most text is just fine for me now. However, comma, some of the text / page buttons are so freaking small I didn't even notice them at first. How about only two sizes? Agree with too much open space, and I thought it was already excessive on the previous version. I've been holding off on my nit-picking, waiting for the self-leveling feature on your air ride to engage! Gary

 

I, personally, liked the bigger size but I can live with this current font size.

 

I find reading the forum most comfortable at 75% zoom and 90% brightness.

I do like the 'white space'...it is much easier on these 37 y.o. eyes than the vbulletin format we had prior.

 

I don't know if it's able to be done with the software or not, but how about adding some pale background colors, letting each user choose which color works best for them? Say 4-5 choices at the most, with the text in a contrasting color. The large amount of white does cause a strain on the eyes after a while. Just something to think about.

 

I'm sure you will kill them all Boss! HRP

 

Still a bit big. I would suggest setting the default size to match that which is commonly used throughout the internet on sites such as Google, Bing, MSN, CNN, etc. Those with vision that requires larger text likely require it on all sites, and would (or should) set their browser defaults to larger sizes. For those of us who don't, being required to reduce the sizing specifically for the HAMB is really annoying when we then have to size back up for everything else.

I can understand the desire for white space as a designer (my engineering degree was paid for by a web design scholarship... figure that one out), but what works on a poster or other piece of art doesn't always translate to things that are intended to convey information through large amounts of text. Books, magazines, and newspapers don't have a bunch of white space between the text because of this.

 

If the font get's much smaller I going have to get a big magnifying glass,personally I would like to see it look like the bold size font that I am seeing as I am typing in my reply.

When it's posted it becomes smaller.

Just a observation from a member who's eyes ain't as good as Chickridge! HRP

 

Ok, but what you've got going on the "Atomic Industry | About Atomic" page is just about perfect as far as readability and proportion between text and white space.

Dude, if I didn't have corrective lenses I'd be blind (and I'm only 31). If I hold my hand up in front of me, it's blurry up until it's about 4" in front of my eyes. I can't even tell there are words on the computer screen with my glasses off; they mush into faint, blurry, blobs of black on a white background. Heck, I can't even tell what the HAMB logo is up at the top; it's a red spot with some white in it.

Are major sites elsewhere on the internet tough for you to read text on when viewing? ie) Google search results, Wikipedia, CNN, etc. If so, I'd recommend tweaking your browser preferences to bump up the sizes across all pages. All of the browsers have the ability to change fonts and sizes for serif, sans-serif, proportional, and mono-spaced text.

 

I ain't dude!

and I ain't a graphic designer nor do I play one on the internet! HRP