Hugo L.
Well-known member
I used to be a moderator on another forum. I actually quit when they changed the interface. Ruined the experience for me. Don’t fix what ain’t broke. This looks terrible.
The Garage Journal V3
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
- Status
When Ryan is ready to make the switch over. He's already mentioned this a few times.
The issues with VB have already been discussed. That is what is broke.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Bill did you click on the Husqvarna link? I clicked around a little bit on that site and I liked it.
sps4runner
Active member
Definitely don't like the one on the right. The left is crisp clear & straightforward. Reminds me of windows classic vs. windows XP themes.
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
Looking at those two, I think you are talking about how the Chevelle forum is less dense vertically. That is adjustable by choice of font size and thread spacing. And the choice to allow user icons or not.
But I suspect that is true in Vbulletin too.
My point is most of these differences are "style" or "theme" choices and are not dependent on the forum software chosen. The default styles between Xenforo and others will look different, but they are very customizable, well at least Xenforo is, I'm just assuming Vb is the same.
Ryan will have great control over how the board looks and works in Xenforo. If people have particular ideas or suggestions besides "no change!" people should consider dropping him a message with those particular ideas and requests.
Everyone should remember, designing the forum is one of the pleasures of being the forum owner and administrator. I think Ryan deserves the opportunity to do that design and then we can react. Some may love it, some may have suggestions and some may leave. We will see. I'm betting the new design attracts far more users than it loses!
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BillK
Well-known member
Actually exactly the opposite. The pic on the left is from here and is much denser vertically than the Team Chevelle site in the RH pic.
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
Sorry just a typo on my part, I fixed it in the original above. I should have said "less dense".
BillK
Well-known member
It will be interesting to see how Ryan formats it. I guess I have to use the computer so much during the day for actual business that every single extra mouse click or scroll action etc starts to get on my nerves. I prefer the simplest way possible to find information, which is what most of us are doing online.
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I am in for whatever changes are needed in the forum owners eyes. After all, we are all playing in his sandbox so if you don't like they toys he wants to share, go find your own I guess.
For me, this forum is much more than the "look and feel" that it presents visually. The knowledge that exists here is pretty wild if you think about what is all here. That holds more value than how the web page looks. I spend A LOT of time on thecombineforum that runs Xenforo and I think it's awesome. Compared to newagtalk it's literally decades ahead of the game and a ways ahead of GJ.
I'm here to stay as I like the community and the visibility that the owner/mods have on here. The people that run/operate the site actually use it as well. That means a lot to me.
Thank you Ryan for keeping this beast running so we can all enjoy it !!
For me, this forum is much more than the "look and feel" that it presents visually. The knowledge that exists here is pretty wild if you think about what is all here. That holds more value than how the web page looks. I spend A LOT of time on thecombineforum that runs Xenforo and I think it's awesome. Compared to newagtalk it's literally decades ahead of the game and a ways ahead of GJ.
I'm here to stay as I like the community and the visibility that the owner/mods have on here. The people that run/operate the site actually use it as well. That means a lot to me.
Thank you Ryan for keeping this beast running so we can all enjoy it !!
bctexas
Well-known member
Jblnut - couldn't have said it better myself.
I suppose the challenge is that differently people view things differently. From my view, the one on the right, the one you don't like, is so much easier to read and very much preferred. In addition, for the many people accessing the forum via phone the one on the right is better.
Probably no way to keep everybody happy, since it can't be both ways.
bradpac
Well-known member
go look at the HAMB if you want to see how Garagejournal will most likely end up looking since Ryan admins them both and the HAMB has been switched over for a while. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/
Two long time forums (decade+ each) I frequented decided to update to new versions.
It was the worst decision they ever made, the new layouts completely destroyed the familiarity and caused a massive decline in traffic. In both instances the amount of active members declined by 95%+.
One suggestion
Would we be able to hit a like button to the posts in threads? I read many post that I like, they may be amusing, something I agree with, good information or just present a good vibe. It would be nice to acknowledge positive contributions without having to create another post. A way to give props to others.
Thanks,
Griff
Would we be able to hit a like button to the posts in threads? I read many post that I like, they may be amusing, something I agree with, good information or just present a good vibe. It would be nice to acknowledge positive contributions without having to create another post. A way to give props to others.
Thanks,
Griff
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hugo L.
Well-known member
Holy ****, that is horrendous.
My point exactly.
I can see your point, but see the post I quoted above.
Granted, this is not MY forum, and I have far less posts (and, therefore I guess, weight in the matter, if any) than others. But saying that we are merely playing in Ryan's sandbox is not entirely true. As an admin, his job is precisely to put this sandbox at our disposal for us to play in. If he decides that the sandbox can double as a kitty litter, people won't play in it anymore.
Yes, the options for garage forums are limited out there, and for a few members that leave, some new ones will join and it might even out. But if the new layout drives aways folks for whom this sandbox is not a «necessity» (as if any forum really is, but you get my point), but rather a pastime, this becomes a huge mistake.
That's all I'm saying.
It just seems to me that doing this sort of beta-testing on your core market is a huge and unnecessary gamble. I like this community, but if I hate the new layout, I'll leave. If I like it, I'll stay. No one will bat an eye either way, I'm fully aware of that. But if a significant percentage of people leave, you lose the game.
justanengineer
Well-known member
Ill be curious to see if the change is noticeable on apps. Tapatalk makes them all look the same to me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
harley jim
Well-known member
I think the Beta testing was done long ago. The hamb works just fine, some left but were not missed.
As for tap a talk Ryan has already said he is not sure if it will live here anyway.
I guess it's just hard for me to criticize a Man for spending his money the way he sees fit to.
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
As for tap a talk Ryan has already said he is not sure if it will live here anyway.
I guess it's just hard for me to criticize a Man for spending his money the way he sees fit to.
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Bad Eye Bill
Well-known member
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I totally get your point about people leaving if they don't like how it looks when it's all redone but that is not really a concern for you or I to worry about. If I dislike it so much that I find it hard to deal with I'll probably be out the door as well but I highly doubt that'll happen. I, as many on here I'd imagine, have been a part of forums since USENET's learned about message boards from their founders the bulletin boards. Things change and morph and change again. Ryan clearly cares about what he does with the online assets he manages and I fully embrace anyone's desire to change the look and feel of something they care so much about.
Fix Until Broke
Well-known member
Maybe one thing that might help put this in perspective....
If this change is not made - garage journal won't continue to exist. The current platform is not sustainable. There is no option to leave things as they are.
We can piss and moan and whine about what it -might- be based on whatever justification you want, but until we see the nearly infinite range of possibilities that it -could- look and function like, it's all speculation.
It's your individual choice to continue participating in this community - but if you want to have a choice to make, this change has to happen.
If this change is not made - garage journal won't continue to exist. The current platform is not sustainable. There is no option to leave things as they are.
We can piss and moan and whine about what it -might- be based on whatever justification you want, but until we see the nearly infinite range of possibilities that it -could- look and function like, it's all speculation.
It's your individual choice to continue participating in this community - but if you want to have a choice to make, this change has to happen.
TwoBytes
Well-known member
I LOVE this!
I work in IT, and this really resonates with me. I will definitely be borrowing this analogy, and expect to repeat it often.
I don't get it. What's horrendous about it? Can anybody who hates the HAMB layout take the time to explain why? It's certainly different to GJ, and design is subjective, but I like it.
I really appreciate Ryan's work on what is far and away my favourite and most visited website.
Ryan, I feel for the flak that you are copping (and will continue to cop) over the change, mate. Ignore the haters.
I fully understand the reasons this has to happen, and I'm looking forward to the improvements that the upgrade will bring.
I'm sure there will be some things I don't like about the change, but I'll push through. I have full confidence that this will continue to be the best site on the internet.
justanengineer
Well-known member
IJS, given the whining about new software, it’d be hilarious if during the reboot everyone’s post count got restarted at zero.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
atch
Well-known member
I've been on here since '06.
I've been on the H.A.M.B. since '02.
Y'all are whining about nothing. You'll like the new GJ just fine. Trust me.
I've been on the H.A.M.B. since '02.
Y'all are whining about nothing. You'll like the new GJ just fine. Trust me.
Crazyhorse
Active member
I know this is possible in the Current version of Vbulletin, I assume it is also possible in xenforo. I'm not sure if the old version of vbulletin on this site supports it or not.
Wrench97
Well-known member
There are several Vbulliten addin's but they have some performance hits, XenForo's in built in by default.
Crazyhorse
Active member
I don't find the HAMB terrible, I do prefer smaller fonts though, and find wider is better to an extent. That said, from a viewing standpoint the HQadventure forum is excellent for my eyes. I find light on dark to be much easier to read.
Either way, There's no better info board out there that I've found, so I'll be here till VerticleSuck buys it and ruins it I expect...
BillK
Well-known member
Bad Eye Bill
Well-known member
To you guys complaining about the new format possibilities, is this the only forum on the internet that you visit?
If you do visit others, are they laid out the same as this one is? If not, how do you manage to use them?
I find it very rare to find any two forums on any topic to have an identical or very close layout.
It really seems like a bunch of whining about nothing to me.
If you do visit others, are they laid out the same as this one is? If not, how do you manage to use them?
I find it very rare to find any two forums on any topic to have an identical or very close layout.
It really seems like a bunch of whining about nothing to me.
lostmind
Well-known member
The HAMB site has a " like" tab !
Lyndon
Well-known member
Ryan
This has been under discussion now for months/years....
When is it happening/Is it still happening?
Lyndon
This has been under discussion now for months/years....
When is it happening/Is it still happening?
Lyndon
Bad Eye Bill
Well-known member
I don't want to speak for Ryan but when this was taking place on the H.A.M.B. it was quite some time being implemented for reasons that I do not know.
I speculated at the time that it was because he was testing, testing, and then testing some more so that when the switch was made it would go smoothly.
That and whatever else he had on his plate.
I seem to recall a few glitches but overall it very went well I think. I expect similar results here.
PCMusicGuy
Well-known member
Sure. For starters, on computer monitor (1920 x 1200), I can see 24 threads listed at the same time. On HAMB, I can only see 12. If I'm looking at a website, especially a forum, I want it to be designed first and foremost for a computer, not a tablet or phone. Being able to see less information is a worse design. It's not like there is any useful additional content provided by only seeing half the amount of threads.
I also think the icons at the top for forums/members/search is less useful than the current text that is used on the garage journal.
Since I'm not a member, I can't really see how the HAMB looks logged in, but imagine it suffers more of the same design philosophy.
jb3
Well-known member
Why? I bet if you took a poll you would be surprised how few people use the internet and search forums exclusively on desktop computers. Im a middle aged man and i cant remember the last time i searched this forum not on a smart phone.
Seems perfectly rational to me to design for the most likely use format. I see nothing wrong with the HAMB, just different.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I mostly use my laptop or my iPad to view forums, maybe that’s why I don’t like a hamb forum.
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PCMusicGuy
Well-known member
Unfortunately, too many things are being designed for phones and tablets first, which is a trend that needs to die. This is why everything is being increased in size, to accommodate the touchscreens. It's also why so many sites are switching to endless scrolling which is garbage compared to individual pages. The real said part is that it is not too difficult to make separate mobile and desktop interfaces, but hardly anyone takes to time to really optimize each.
sps4runner
Active member
pcmusicguy, I agree. Computer only here.
jb3
Well-known member
You are essentially complaining that water is wet. Phones and tablets are by far, the primary use tool these days.
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