click to close
help
edit

Forums
FatWallet

New navigation, topic list & topic view pages (feedback and FAQ)

  • Text Only
  • Search this Topic »
  • switch to 'Classic' view
Join thousands of shoppers like you, helping each other to save and earn Cash Back. Sign Up today!
alert mods    

Unless you're new to FatWallet, you've likely noticed a rather significant change in what you see as you navigate the site.

If you haven't already seen it, please take a moment to check out the quick tour of some of the functionality here:

Announcement - Custom Navigation, Topic Tracking, Custom Views, Deal Categories

Please take a moment to review the following FAQ for answers to your questions, if the question isn't answered below, please post a response to this topic so that we can get an answer for you!

Why is FatWallet doing this?
There is a dizzying amount of content posted on FatWallet, and finding it can be a challenge. Every day that goes by, this becomes a more and more complex problem. We set out to make the information easier to find and filter.

Where do I start the petition to keep things the old way?
No need to do that - simply do the following:
1) click on "My Account" below your username in the upper navigation
2) click on "Preferences" under "Settings and Preferences"
3) click on the circle to the left of "Classic" next to "Forums Version"
4) click on "Save Changes"
5) There is no step 5. (You will now see the same old uncategorized forum content that you've grown to love)

OK, I'll give this new stuff a shot... what is new?
Thought you'd never ask - here are a few of the highlights:
1) Categories - Each Hot Deal topic is assigned to its appropriate product category, store & manufacturer. You are only a click away from seeing other similar topics.

2) closable promotion banner - We know that you visit the site a lot - There is no reason to take up the screen real estate for something you have already checked out. click the (x) to the right of the banner to close it. (This closing is set in a cookie on your computer, so if you clear your cookies, the banner will show up again)

3) More compact navigation - Monitors are expensive - we're about saving you some money - Think about the pixels that have been saved!

4) Customized Navigation - You can now put your favorite forum categories just a click away!

5) Topic Tracking - Topics you've read have a gray background, topics you haven't have a white background. On the far right column of topics you've read, there is a quick link to the "unread" messages for that topic. We're keeping track for you!

6) Custom Views - All those really cool categories make for some neat functionality - like to look for DVD deals at local stores? build that view and save it - it'll be just one click away!

What is with the blinding white color background?
About half of the people we checked with like the white background, and half wanted it "toned down" -
If you're in the "tone it down" category, do the following:
1) click on "My Account" below your username in the upper navigation
2) click on "Preferences" under "Settings and Preferences"
3) click on the circle to the left of "Alternating" next to "Topic Row Color"
4) click on "Save Changes"
5) There is no step 5. (You will now see the an alternating gray/white background color when you view topics)


There are a lot of other user interface bits that I'm sure will come quite naturally, but if you have questions, comments, kudos, please let us know here in this topic. The entire FatWallet staff is standing by to help out! (and there might even be a few goodies for helpful comments!)

FAQ to be continued as questions become frequently asked!

The categories display on the left takes up too much real estate. Can that be turned off?
We like the idea of being able to close the left navigation as well. It is certainly on the "to do" list.
We designed the site for 1024 pixels in width, so the few percent with 800x600 displays, can I help you find a deal on a new computer and monitor?

Added 2/15/08 @ 4:43pm
Many of the performance issues have been taken care of, but we continue to make improvements. We've collected the requests, complaints, suggestions and are working on prioritizing. I would expect that we will see a number of changes over the next week.

FatWallet's site designers have royally messed up the website, on purpose. No one is happy with the changes. If you find the eyestrain unbearable, you can change the settings for your own account. No apology has been forthcoming from FW for this abortion of a website.

Here's how to fix things by yourself, as FW won't do it for you:

1) click on "My Account" below your username in the upper navigation
2) click on "Preferences" under "Settings and Preferences"
3) click on the circle to the left of "Classic" next to "Forums Version"
4) click on "Save Changes"

alert mods    

the site lags quite a bit now that you made the change

alert mods    

The site looks very broken in Firefox 2 for me today. Looks fine in IE, thought it IS laggy.

alert mods    

servers are catching up - we will continue to watch page load time.

alert mods    

If it doesn't "look right" please click on refresh so the browser will hopefully grab the new stylesheet for the site.

alert mods    

FatWallet.Com said:If it doesn't "look right" please click on refresh so the browser will hopefully grab the new stylesheet for the site.

That did the trick, thanks.

alert mods    

It's extremely slow to load -- about 10 seconds to get into this forum, and the finance forum times out on me.

alert mods    

Load times are killing me. I hope this gets better.

alert mods    

The Preferences/Customize link needs to be much more accessible, it should be one click from the main topic list as it is in the "classic" view. The toggle for forum view should probably also be at the top of the customize page.

And why isn't the new category feature available with the "classic" forum view?

alert mods    

ThursdaysChild said:It's extremely slow to load -- about 10 seconds to get into this forum, and the finance forum times out on me.

We're aware of the slow page load times and doing all we can to fix it.
Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.

alert mods    

When viewing a forum's topic page, I don't see the ability to jump to "last page" of a specific topic that used to be there (or to a specific numbered page for that matter). Am I missing something or what this taken out? There seems to be plenty of page-space still available for this feature...

alert mods    

tubs said:When viewing a forum's topic page, I don't see the ability to jump to "last page" of a specific topic that used to be there (or to a specific numbered page for that matter). Am I missing something or what this taken out? There seems to be plenty of page-space still available for this feature...

Hmmmm - if I understand your question correctly, you should have 3 options for getting to the last page:

    click "xx Replies" in the forums topic list


    in a topic, at the top click the "last page" link (top right)


    in a topic, at the bottom choose the last numbered page you see (bottom right)

alert mods    

just sitting on this page using the latest firefox - refresh times:

65.532s loaded
350+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
103.696s loaded
211+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
158+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
88.250s


as it is now this site is unusable to me

I have a 5MB/s connection

i used firefox because ie7 just timed out


i do use spywareblaster (has "immunization"), spybot with SD helper immunization and advanced windows care with immunization as I sure alot of us here do. this caused only a small issue with the old site but nothing like this. what do i need to "unimmunize"?

i see it goes thru google analytics or something like that...

alert mods    

khorne55 said:just sitting on this page using the latest firefox - refresh times:

65.532s loaded
350+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
103.696s loaded
211+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
158+s (didn't load - got tired of waiting)
88.250s


as it is now this site is unusable to me

I have a 5MB/s connection

i used firefox because ie7 just timed out


i do use spywareblaster (has "immunization"), spybot with SD helper immunization and advanced windows care with immunization as I sure alot of us here do. this caused only a small issue with the old site but nothing like this. what do i need to "unimmunize"?

i see it goes thru google analytics or something like that...

Working on it.

alert mods    

Tried searching withing this thread. Says I have 13 pages of results, but when I try to go to page 2-13, it takes me to the page 2-13 of the full thread instead of the results.

alert mods    

jely said:tubs said:When viewing a forum's topic page, I don't see the ability to jump to "last page" of a specific topic that used to be there (or to a specific numbered page for that matter). Am I missing something or what this taken out? There seems to be plenty of page-space still available for this feature...

Hmmmm - if I understand your question correctly, you should have 3 options for getting to the last page:

    click "xx Replies" in the forums topic list


    in a topic, at the top click the "last page" link (top right)


    in a topic, at the bottom choose the last numbered page you see (bottom right)

Ah yes, I see it now. Unread topics do show a "last page" link when the number of replies exceeds the number of replies configured to show per page. However, "last page" is not available for topics that have already been browsed. Rather, the "## unread" link is shown. This seems a little too fancy. I prefer more basic...but that's just me.

alert mods    

Well now that I got the stylesheet to load (it took 3 reloads) it looks much better. However, it's dragging for me... I'm sure things will get better, and I always like to reserve judgement on the "look and feel" as well as functionality until I've used it for a few days, but it is really slow for me.

alert mods    

tubs said:Ah yes, I see it now. Unread topics do show a "last page" link when the number of replies exceeds the number of replies configured to show per page. However, "last page" is not available for topics that have already been browsed. Rather, the "## unread" link is shown. This seems a little too fancy. I prefer more basic...but that's just me.

Our thought behind this was to make it simpler to pick up where you left off by providing that link that goes directly to the post that is the 1st new one since you last viewed a topic. As I said, you can still go to the end of any topic by clicking the "## replies" in the right column.

thanks!

alert mods    

I really do pity the FatWallet staff. At least those of you handling the complaints.

The blinding white is so blinding, so tiring, that I'm going to need a nap before trying to fix it, or adjusting my settings back to the older style--per your instructions. Wish you could just do it for me.

It's a strange world because I just can't believe half of the users prefer the retina-burning white.

 Close

Sign Me In
Nickname: 
Password: 
Remember My Login Information:

Forget your login information?

Not Already A Member?
Sign Up Now!



Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.