Ok, going to go off on a tirade here... Been busy at work and haven't checked in (much) for a few days.
I come back and login, and find everything changed.
It sucks.
All my long stored favorites are gone.
The colors (or lack thereof) and the backgrounds are blinding. All the LIGHT colors are NOT green-IT friendly by the way.
SEARCH sucks worse than ever (every search keeps taking me back to the hot topics page).
Buttons are TINY, whitespace for responses is HUGE, no forced wrap for responses (which allows a window to expand IMMENSLY to the right (example to follow, in subsequent post)...
oh, did I say it sucks?
This is like the 5th or 6th time that FW has "fixed" something that wasn't broken... and MOST of these "fixes" have been without user input (go look in FWF for the STICKY DEBACLE, if the search features works).
Twice they have reverted (somewhat). Like offering classic as an alternative. But I can't find that NOW!!!
I am getting tired of CONSTANTLY having to modify MY way of viewing FW, for the apparent convienence of NEW users that FW is trying to attract.
Will now sit back and wait for the lock, the delete, or the red...
Damn, was hoping to make it to 4000 posts and 10 years here before getting shoved out by changes (made it 9.5yrs and 25 short of 4000).
From what I recall, any time we've had unbroken character strings it's done the same as you're seeing here. It isn't the result of any change we've done.
However, the huge avatar area in classic is definitely a bug. I just talked to the devs, and they told me they would look into it.
Search is something we're working on to improve and we've implemented several different things to try to improve it. It's a priority to improve it so it works better, not worse=/
Not sure why your favorite would be gone, I'll look into it.
RE: the formatting issue you're seeing was fixed when I broke your character strings.
Additionally, to switch back and forth from classic to modern is a one click process, with the corresponding button on any forum page, next to the FAQ button.
Technologist said: All my long stored favorites are gone. Gone like deleted? Or gone as in "where did you put them??" Do you see them on this page? http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/favorites
The colors (or lack thereof) and the backgrounds are blinding. All the LIGHT colors are NOT green-IT friendly by the way.You can change the site color scheme here: http://www.fatwallet.com/select_theme.php Does that help?
SEARCH sucks worse than ever (every search keeps taking me back to the hot topics page).That sounds like a bug. What *exactly* is happening? 1) You enter search term in...which search? Main site search in the top-right corner, forum title search, or advanced forum search? 2) You see what? List of results? Or is this when you get booted to the 'hot topics' page? What's the url of the 'hot topics' page?
Buttons are TINY, whitespace for responses is HUGE...Just to make sure we're seeing the same thing here, could you provide a screencap?
MVP9596 said: RE: the formatting issue you're seeing was fixed when I broke your character strings.
Additionally, to switch back and forth from classic to modern is a one click process, with the corresponding button on any forum page, next to the FAQ button.
Must've been a hiccup (or PEBCAK), because yesterday the button was missing on whatever page I was on... I had to go to a different forum to see it.
Edited to add:
Same with favorites (Must've been a hiccup (or PEBCAK))... I went to fav's just as you pointed out, and I saw only the fav's that had recent responses (similar to what is seen when you go to "today".
As far as color scheme: all that does now is change the background color, which is just a thin line around the outside edge of the thread I am looking at and some of the buttons. when looking at a forum, sometimes more of the background shows through. The actual pages NOW are much brighter, and don't change with the color scheme changes (except the colors of the buttons).
I have never used topic title search, because results are usually too small a subset. I usually Search within a forum, but using the top right search box (which acts as a full text search). Previously, this would give results WITHIN the forums, but now it takes me to (I guess a re-designed) results page. Probably not a bug, but I don't like the results page.
Regarding tiny buttons and huge whitespace: I can't recall what I was doing, and can't recreate it... although it was along the same complaint of the pages / screen being much brighter than usual. As I said, I am probably in the minority here, but I prefer reading darker screens (it is easier on the eyes, not to mention "energy saving"). The white/extreme light pages eat through a laptop's batteries WAY too fast!
SchlingBlade said: Technologist said: The white/extreme light pages eat through a laptop's batteries WAY too fast!
Actually, displaying lighter colors on an LCD display saves power. Displaying darker colors saves powers on CRTs.
Whatever... and thanks for your contribution to the issues I raised.
and from staff too! And yes, I am normally a defender of staff, and don't point out mistakes... but all the changes (without REAL user input) is making me cranky!!!
If you really want to take it off topic, I can. I misspoke (or wrote something faster than my brain was processing).
But you just plain lied or are mistaken, or were trying to show off "supposed" knowledge, all while taking a thread off topic!
Light or dark doesn't matter on an LCD. It uses approximately the same amount of energy the ENTIRE time it is on. The backlight is the main energy draw... and the next biggest is the current draw to "flip" a pixel...
So just the fact that someone scrolls a page wastes energy, because the screen is redrawing almost constantly.... thus most FORUMS are the bigger energy waste, from all the screen redraws.
Back on topic... the light colored background HURTS my eyes! I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly...
I didn't mean to offend, and it was an issue you raised with the redesign in a previous post in this very thread, so this is hardly off-topic.
At any rate, the issue of our site redesign causing less battery life in a laptop struck me as an odd complaint, and I decided to investigate the claim. From what I was able to gather, I can say that we might actually improve battery life on mobile devices with a color scheme with more white in the background areas.
(Edited for clarity and added the YouTube link)
Dude111
Senior Member
posted: Oct. 22, 2009 @ 12:01a
Why do you keep changing things??
Its TOO WIDE now,i have to scroll over most of the time!!
WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS SCREW STUFF UP THAT WORKS WELL,CHANGE TO A CRAPPIER DESIGN,ETC????
Its mostly all white,its worse than it was!!!!!!
Come on,GIVE THE SITE THE DIGNITY IT ONCE HAD!! (When i first came ashore here it was wonderful)
broke25engineer
Broke Member
posted: Oct. 22, 2009 @ 5:33p
If it isn't broken, don't fix it.
Virgil27 said: In this case, however, we expect user feedback. We expect you to tell us what works and what doesn't work. Bluntly - and if need be, angrily.
Here it is. The site functions fine the way it was, then FW decide to practice web designing on it and create a lot of heartache for long time, regular user. Now, a number of regular, contributing users don't feel belong any more, and will act like newbie users, just come in to read and find hot deal, but no longer contribute or post hot deal. If FW staffs have too much time in their hand, why don't you just reduce the work force.
Edit by Moderator- I am leaving your feedback, but removing your personal attack on a staff member. Please keep your comments focused on your issue, and not insults on staff.
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Oct. 22, 2009 @ 6:17p
Technologist said: I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly... Have you tried turning the brightness down on your monitor?
jayK said: Technologist said: I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly... Have you tried turning the brightness down on your monitor?
Not to be an ass (but I'm sure it will come off that way).... WHY should I change MY personal settings JUST to visit FW? My settings work fine for other sites (and used to work for FW, until they decided to keep fixing NON-BROKEN things).
now for the nice way...
When I go to sites, I customize the SITE to accomodate my proclivities... If I can't adjust the site, then I don't frequent the site often. FW used to allow for such customization. NOW, they change things and don't allow for it. The worst thing is that even though LONG-TIME members of the community keep YELLING "STOP with the changes", they continue.
The really sad part is that even begging for some of the old customization to be returned is ignored (or worse, met with disdain)... such as:
I will apologize to SchlingBlade for pointing out his "off-topicness"... even though it didn't address my COMPLAINT, he corrected something I shouldn't have said. Although he continues to believe that the re-design is better for laptops / "mobile devices". As I said before, "Light or dark doesn't matter on an LCD. It uses approximately the same amount of energy the ENTIRE time it is on. The backlight is the main energy draw... and the next biggest is the current draw to "flip" a pixel... ". To add to that, color is next in power consumption.... HOWEVER, OVERALL power consumption for an LCD / laptop is APPROXIMATELY equal, regardless of color. In most cases, lighter is ~1% less power draw. The same is not true for Plasmas, or CRTs.
But again, sidetracking the complaint.
PS. as long as you all are changing stuff, just go ahead and remove the classic option... because it has been so crippled that it isn't "classic" anymore. Its the new coke of internet forums. And then once it is removed, I guess I'll be forced to the Modern version, which FW has been trying to ram down everyone's throat for so long.
Where did everyone go last time FW ignored user input/complaints, and drove away members of the COMMUNITY? oh yeah, I remember now... begins with an "A"...
EDITED ONLY to fix typos... and edited again to fix another (which was pointed out in a PM)...
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Oct. 23, 2009 @ 9:28a
Technologist said: jayK said: Technologist said: I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly... Have you tried turning the brightness down on your monitor?
Not to be an ass (but I'm sure it will come off that way).... WHY should I change MY personal settings JUST to visit FW?If the issue is the green background, you can change that here. I personally use the gray theme, it looks much better than the green and IMHO should have been the default. http://www.fatwallet.com/select_theme.php
If the issue is that the white background in the header hurts your eyes, then changing the brightness would help, since the header uses the same white color other sites use.
PS. as long as you all are changing stuff, just go ahead and remove the classic option... because it has been so crippled that it isn't "classic" anymore. Its the new coke of internet forums. And then once it is removed, I guess I'll be forced to the Modern version, which FW has been trying to ram down everyone's throat for so long.Agreed...keeping classic as an option has only led to more complaints since people never get used to the new interface. I design web interfaces for a living, and I don't think I've ever seen so much whining about relatively minor tweaks as I've seen at FW.
1. Background: Its not the background... I can barely see that. Its the FREAKING page itself. I guess saying that 2 or 3 or 4 times already hasn't registered with some people yet.
2. Header: See 1, replacing background with header (ie its not the header....)
3. Classic: Thanks for agreeing with something I obviously meant to be SARCASM...
4. design web interfaces: Good for you... here's a cookie. Your "suggestions" are the same as the designers here at FW. In other words, if you don't like the changes, tough... we made them and the USERS need to either modify their settings, or just deal with them.
5. whining about "minor tweaks": While my opinions may be voiced more strongly than some others, it isn't "whining". I'm pretty sure this forum is the place to voice concerns, and have a dialogue with staff about ISSUES that users are having...
Thanks for playing! Tell him what he's won, Johnny...
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Oct. 23, 2009 @ 9:58a
Technologist said: 1. Background: Its not the background... I can barely see that. Its the FREAKING page itself. I guess saying that 2 or 3 or 4 times already hasn't registered with some people yet.What specifically about the page? Other than the header, the background, and the home page/main forums page, everything looks the same as it did before. You may want to try setting your bookmark directly to a specific forum, that's what I do.
4. design web interfaces: Good for you... here's a cookie. Your "suggestions" are the same as the designers here at FW. In other words, if you don't like the changes, tough... we made them and the USERS need to either modify their settings, or just deal with them.Essentially, yes...there's usually a transition period where a vocal minority complains about their cheese being moved, but eventually people get used to it. Major functionality changes (i.e. implementing multithreaded topics) need a good change management strategy, but there's no major functionality change here.
I'm pretty sure this forum is the place to voice concerns, and have a dialogue with staff about ISSUES that users are having...This forum is open to all users to comment on concerns about the site.
MVP9596 said: We appreciate all constructive feedback, but let's keep the tone a little more civil folks.
Thanks!
While we're at it, where's my cookie?
Here's a cookie for you! PM your address and I'll send you some of my EXCELLENT super thin, extra sweet, outrageously crunchy sugar cookies I make during the holidays!!! If you drink coffee, these are a MUST HAVE, and you will be the envy of everyone @ FW!
And I guess this thread is done now, since all I am doing is "whining", and being a vocal minority complaining about my cheese. Nothing constructive to add... I guess I will just turn into a sheeple like the rest of the members that "dislike/hate/abhor" the changes, but are being brow-beaten into accepting them.
***Did you ever notice that lots of people that respond to threads don't actually answer questions, but point out inconsistencies / grammar and spelling / or make other off-topic comments (which attack the person asking the question), rather than admit a mistake was made, or that they can't help? I know I have (both noticed it and done it to others)... end of thoughtful musing to myself (ALOUD)!***
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Oct. 24, 2009 @ 8:18a
Technologist said: Nothing constructive to addNot true, you can answer my question about what specifically about the new interface you don't like. Something a little more specific than "the FREAKING page itself".
jayK said: Technologist said: I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly... Have you tried turning the brightness down on your monitor?Have you been checked out for rabies and other causes of Photophobia? Are you a vampire?
qcumber98 said: jayK said: Technologist said: I work in low light conditions / near darkness, because my eyes are light sensitive. A BRIGHT, GLOWING background does not make perusing FW enjoyable.... I have to constantly squint to lower the light levels, and I get a headache quickly... Have you tried turning the brightness down on your monitor?Have you been checked out for rabies and other causes of Photophobia? Are you a vampire?
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