GarageJournal.com - An Update!!!!
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
flashredmkiv
Active member
Great job at the quick transition. New site seems great, although a little narrow.
REFLEXX
Well-known member
I agree with the "narrow" comments. Would be nice to have it auto adjust to fit width of 17"-19" monitors.
OP
Correct. I did a lot of research on the average garagejunkie.net user and over 70% had monitors too small to take advantage of the old wide style...
shopking68
Well-known member
thx for fixing the sigs!
I like the wide style also. But either way is ok.
I like the wide style also. But either way is ok.
automotive stud
Well-known member
Ryan has done a fine job with the hokey *** message board, I'm sure things will be great here too. I look forward to learning from you guys.
GearHead_1
Well-known member
Monitors have gotten bigger not smaller. This format isn't a plus. I don't think this research is consistent with what other board providers are finding as I don't see it being used on the boards I often visit. If we're truly moving forward shouldn't we be able to utilize a full size monitor?Ryan said:
Where's the "New Posts" button?
Last edited:
OP
Gearhead, appreciate your feedback.
The average global percentage at 800x600 is just ovper 30% as of today, but I don't pay much attention to that number. I only pay attention to our user base. In the last week, the percentage of users at 800x600 or under was 63%.
If those numbers change or if we get enough feedback, we will go wider ASAP.
The average global percentage at 800x600 is just ovper 30% as of today, but I don't pay much attention to that number. I only pay attention to our user base. In the last week, the percentage of users at 800x600 or under was 63%.
If those numbers change or if we get enough feedback, we will go wider ASAP.
GearHead_1
Well-known member
Ryan said:
I would be interested in seeing a poll on this from this forum.
OP
Again, understand your concern and I feel ya... I gotta think Google Analytics is pretty accurate. My other forums love the layout once they are used to it... Give it time and if ya still don't like it, let me know...
And again, we will continue to monitor this stuff... We aren't out to ruin your experience... just opposite actually...
And again, we will continue to monitor this stuff... We aren't out to ruin your experience... just opposite actually...
OP
That's actually a really good idea... I will get to work on that!
kartracer55
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2005
- Messages
- 5,317
Main comp is a 19 but the two laptops are 17?s. Im with the others on going for a wider format,but other than that, I like the new "change of scenery"
Jim
Jim
Der Bugmeister
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2005
- Messages
- 445
It's fairly common practice to keep content to the narrower width in order to make the site accessible for the majority of people. I'd prefer the wider format as well, but Ryan's choice is based on some well accepted principles of design.
What I'd like to see returned is the shortcut to thread pages restored at the top of the page, not just at the bottom.
What I'd like to see returned is the shortcut to thread pages restored at the top of the page, not just at the bottom.
I'm surprised you found the resolutions you did. All of my machines are at least 1024x768, even my subnotebook.
Other than consistency amongst your sites, what is the driver for a narrow format?
The less I have to scroll means less hand fatigue, which equates to more time on GJ.com.
Other than consistency amongst your sites, what is the driver for a narrow format?
The less I have to scroll means less hand fatigue, which equates to more time on GJ.com.
Runs With Scissors
Active member
I use a 20 inch widescreen aspect monitor. This narrow format allows me to have two windows open and visible at the same time, side by side. Comes in handy in my life on the HAMB...
NowI can have one HAMB and one GJ at the same time!
I will never get anything done evr again....
NowI can have one HAMB and one GJ at the same time!
I will never get anything done evr again....
LOL at the narrow discussion. What a great problem to have, ehh Ryan? Of all the things that could have gone wrong it's forum compliance that's the biggest issue. Congrats on that!!! However, I will say I too have an insane amount of white space on each side of the column. That aside, great conversion. I wish my conversions, non-forum in nature, went as smoothly!! Kudo's to you and your team.
I really like the cohisiveness of all 3 journals. Its really easy to navigate when you know where everything is. After checking the Hamb and the JJ everyday this format has become second nature. I feel spoiled because i expect every forum I venture into to feel the way the Journals do.
Good work Ryan.
-b
Good work Ryan.
-b
Truck Guy
Well-known member
Some forum software lets you do just that.iiibdsiil said:I'm surprised the software makers wouldn't put in a user-selectable option. Oh well. I'll deal with it
I have a 24" wide screen monitor and this new format only fills the center 1/3 of the screen
OP
I'm on a 30" widescreen myself... I still dig the fixed width as it lets me deal with multiple windows really easily...
If you are stuck on wanting 100% width, PM me and I will take care of ya.
If you are stuck on wanting 100% width, PM me and I will take care of ya.
Spencer Was Here
Well-known member
Well put me on the "not to happy with the new format" list. I am not a big contributor to GJ, but I have enjoyed it on practically a daily basis since I found it.
The best feature by far for me was that I didn't have to open up attachments in another window, they just automatically appeared full size right in the thread. I certainly hope there is some way that I can customize my profile to make that happen again instead of just seeing thumbnails of the photos.
I am also not happy with the new smaller 800x600 format. I'm sure both of these changes were to cater to the poor souls out there running 486dx2's on a dial-up accounts and if I were one of those souls I would appreciate it.
Honestly though, I am just tired of having to sacrifice for those less fortunate. Maybe we should figure out what the average income of the average GJ viewer is and only let people who make that average income post pictures of their garages and cars, etc. Afterall we wouldn't want to offend those less fortunate GJ viewers who may never be able to afford those nicer cars, garages, or monitors that can view up to 1024x768.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not leaving (unless I get kicked out), but I won't view as many threads and I won't see as many pictures and I just won't enjoy myself as much as I did before.
The best feature by far for me was that I didn't have to open up attachments in another window, they just automatically appeared full size right in the thread. I certainly hope there is some way that I can customize my profile to make that happen again instead of just seeing thumbnails of the photos.
I am also not happy with the new smaller 800x600 format. I'm sure both of these changes were to cater to the poor souls out there running 486dx2's on a dial-up accounts and if I were one of those souls I would appreciate it.
Honestly though, I am just tired of having to sacrifice for those less fortunate. Maybe we should figure out what the average income of the average GJ viewer is and only let people who make that average income post pictures of their garages and cars, etc. Afterall we wouldn't want to offend those less fortunate GJ viewers who may never be able to afford those nicer cars, garages, or monitors that can view up to 1024x768.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not leaving (unless I get kicked out), but I won't view as many threads and I won't see as many pictures and I just won't enjoy myself as much as I did before.
Rrumbler
Well-known member
Well, I finally got back on - been shut out for a couple of days: " -unavailable". No matter, glad to be able to drop in again. Site looks good, Ryan; I am easy to please, though - I can work with whatever the management tosses my way.
Best of luck to Lucky Devil. I know he said he'd be around, still ----
Best of luck to Lucky Devil. I know he said he'd be around, still ----
the intimidator
Well-known member
Spencer Was Here said:
simmer down with all the **** i see ryan is trying to figure out a solution to the smaller screen size and im sure he will figure something out soon but all the talk abought avrg income and stuff is not cool so you sayin i shouldnt be able to post pics and join in discussions because i dont make a certain amount of mony of course i dont im 17 i have a part time job i enjoy looking at other peoples nice cars and big garage's it give's me something to look foreward to later in life (when i make your'e imaginary wage) just cause you are pissed abought stuff on here dont start insuting other's without good reason
Wow on all the avg income stuff. First let me say I do like the new screens.
I just want to remind everyone "Roman was not built in a day". I'm sure Ryan is working on this. From what I can see he is trying to make the site more user friendly. It was great before, but sometimes change is good. Luke did an excellent job, and no one gave him guff about it. Lets give Ryan the same chance. I know some people just hate change, but sometimes it is for the best.
I just want to remind everyone "Roman was not built in a day". I'm sure Ryan is working on this. From what I can see he is trying to make the site more user friendly. It was great before, but sometimes change is good. Luke did an excellent job, and no one gave him guff about it. Lets give Ryan the same chance. I know some people just hate change, but sometimes it is for the best.
the intimidator
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
Lol, I'll try and get better.
Spencer Was Here
Well-known member
the intimidator said:
Intimidator, you both missed my point and made my point at the same time. I guess it is my fault if I wrote the part about average income in a way that some of you guys couldn't tell I was being sarcastic, but I thought the sarcasm was pretty clear.
The justification for changing the screen size was that 63% of GJ users were using a screen display of 800x600 so Ryan was trying to cater to the average GJ user. In doing so he is kind of penalizing us users who run their displays at higher resolutions. I understand that he is not purposely trying to penalize us, but regardless of the intent I felt penalized because I was “above average”, in screen size not income.
To quote you:
PHP:
im 17 i have a part time job i enjoy looking at other peoples nice cars and big garage's it give's me something to look foreward to later in life (when i make your'e imaginary wage)If the GJ site had stayed at the same higher resolution that it was before I believe that those running screen resolutions of 800x600 might aspire to higher resolutions.
And for the record I doubt I would make it above the average income of everyone here on GJ. If you check out the link in my signature to my pole barn project you will see that it has taken me 4 years just to get it this far (almost completed). That is because I have been doing 95% of the work myself and paying for the materials as I go instead of being able to just hire someone to build it for me like a lot of people here can afford to do.
It is also possible that a lot of people that make up the 63% of 800x600 users may have their resolutions turned down because they have bad eyesight and not because that is the highest that their computer systems can display.
OP
Fellas... come on...
This is design will remain because it is the template that I am most comfortable with when making upgrades and feature sets. Plus, like most large scale portal designers - I prefer fixed width design.
That said, if you REALLY want a 100% template, PM me... I'll take care of ya... No need to debate till days end when we should be talking about garages and tools...
This is design will remain because it is the template that I am most comfortable with when making upgrades and feature sets. Plus, like most large scale portal designers - I prefer fixed width design.
That said, if you REALLY want a 100% template, PM me... I'll take care of ya... No need to debate till days end when we should be talking about garages and tools...
OP
BMW, google analytics takes into account every visitor to the site...
Uncle Buck
Banned
I see no problems with any of the changes so far Ryan! I got yer back man!
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This site design is just fine with me. It's a similar style to ones used on 3 or 4 other sites I'm on. It took me a little bit to get used to Luke's design when I first got here, but I adjusted.
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but as a member of this forum; http://www.network54.com/Index/10214 ...absolutely ANYTHING is a step up from trying to navigate your way around there! The single most annoying thing about that site is that the threads don't "bump" when someone posts a new reply, so each thread is completely buried within a day or two.
The thumbnail pic thing, to me is a good/bad thing. It's good because some members don't know how to resize their 3210 x 2800 pics before posting them in a thread!!
So for that reason, thumbnails are automatically a good thing in my book!
The only thing I don't like about thumbnails is that I have to click on each one to see the pic...but for the reason above, I'm just fine with them.
That being said, my one & only slight peeve about this site is that you're limited to a grand total of 4 smileys, including a combo of smileys & entries in a post. Is that because of bandwidth issues?
Anyhoo, I'm glad the site is still here for us all to enjoy! <imagine a (cheers) smiley here, I ran out of smiley space> hehe
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but as a member of this forum; http://www.network54.com/Index/10214 ...absolutely ANYTHING is a step up from trying to navigate your way around there! The single most annoying thing about that site is that the threads don't "bump" when someone posts a new reply, so each thread is completely buried within a day or two.
The thumbnail pic thing, to me is a good/bad thing. It's good because some members don't know how to resize their 3210 x 2800 pics before posting them in a thread!!
So for that reason, thumbnails are automatically a good thing in my book! The only thing I don't like about thumbnails is that I have to click on each one to see the pic...but for the reason above, I'm just fine with them.
That being said, my one & only slight peeve about this site is that you're limited to a grand total of 4 smileys, including a combo of smileys & entries in a post. Is that because of bandwidth issues?
Anyhoo, I'm glad the site is still here for us all to enjoy! <imagine a (cheers) smiley here, I ran out of smiley space> hehe
OP
Bradley Miller
Well-known member
Heheh . . .
for($i=0;$i<sizeof($number_smileys);$i++)
{
// $number_smileys[$i] . . .
}
for($i=0;$i<sizeof($number_smileys);$i++)
{
// $number_smileys[$i] . . .
}
OP
Ok... It's fixed now...
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Cool! Thanks, Ryan.