New Homepage Layout

[DanQ]

Again, I understand and hear your viewpoint, UR. On a couple of quick notes on what you have said most recently:

One can never be certain what other websites its visitors have frequented or what they think of the other designs that they have seen. Most certainly, the perceptions they have about a site's design will be influenced by both what else they have seen done, how it was implemented and who they associate with. This will change over time with greater exposure, experience and comfort levels in browsing websites -- just as conventions in website designs do.

In trying something unconventional, which in itself is unquestionably a subjective consideration, the goal is to obtain balance between freshness and functionality; based on feedback on the new layout to date, if we are to apply the "unconventional" label to it I would say that this endeavour has been a success all things considered. This is not to say that such a revamp is ever finished or totally polished, as tweaks will undoubtedly arise over time (and indeed we have seen this already with the case in question), but I believe the 'standard' (new) has established itself to the same if not above the acceptable bar of scrutiny that the 'alternate' (old) layout reached during its time.

Cheers!

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Dan; Apolyton CS

[The Mad Monk]

I'm not really sure which one I like better, but I do appreciate the ability to choose which one I want.

[Sirotnikov]

Again, a subjective viewpoint that leans heavily on personal preference. For some it is too streamlined, like yourself, others not enough and others still it is just right.

Basically, it's the right idea.
But could be improved alot.

I'm not so certain about that. They are on either side of the Apolyton logo, and "Top Headlines" and "Top Downloads" text are in bold. Are you saying that the "Don't Miss" section is also hardly noticable on the 'alternate' layout? If so, then that would be consistent with your personal opinion which I respect.

I just checked to be certain.
I NEVER NOTICED THEM ON THE ALTERNATE LAYOUT.

You should put them somewhere in the news center.
And it's spelled "center"

You can always increase/decrease the sizes of the font if you wish through your browser preferences, but they will remain proportionally the same. The difference in the font sizes are consistent throughout both the 'standard' and 'alternate' layout, so in my opinion nothing has really changed in that regard.

It did change because they changed position.

Previously they had to balance the weight of 3 news pieces to their right.

Now they just seem bloated all alone.

Again, a subjective opinion which I too disagree with. With the notable exception of the forums, in most instances on the site the ad banner is not located at the very top of the page.

Well, it just looks wierd.

Ok, you can solve it like this:

The BG creates the illusion of a HR line just above the banner (there is this brown thin line). If you add another one beneath the ad, it would be better.

What is your screen size/resolution? I would anticipate they are both on the 'high' end of the scale. The primary reason for what may understandably appear as excess space for some is for physical screen size and resolution set accomodation purposes for others.

Well, if you will make the left side 27% or something...

Or make the smaller table 85%...

<I>And the blue color choise for the table is wierd.</I>
"Weird"? It is unorthodox I will admit but I believe that its shade does compliment the rest the darker blues to be found elswhere on the page.

Well, it looks well together with the UN ad in the same color... but that's it.

Make it lighter blue. Like the color of the links (whether new or visited).

I think adding 32 to the blue value, and playing with adding 32 to the red value, can be better.

The forums are linked to prominently underneath the 'Miscellaneous' item. If people want to see more about what the forums are and register from there, then by all means. Clicking on the forums link as it is is a but one pre-step to the start of the registration process.

Ok ok.

At least undo the bold.

It makes them look wierd.. like a third font.

And ESPECIALLY in the "hosted sites" area.

small + serif + bold == ugly.

But a combination of either two of the properties would be swell.

Since the purpose of this as with any homepage is to give the visitor a feel for what the site is comprised of, it makes sense to offer nothing as in-depth for a particular section such as a "register here" box for the forums.

Oh ok.
Then how about, perhaps, a "hot topics in the forums" box?

I know.
I'm a whore.

[DanQ]

Well Sirotnikov, I guess we're just going to agree to disagree on this front.



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Dan; Apolyton CS

[Sirotnikov]

Oh come on, that's all I get?


I think that playing with some of my advices can do it good, but your choise - your site.

[Trevman]

It's quick, simple, and much quicker to load, especially for us with single digit throughput.
On the other hand, although its functionality is improved, aesthetically it is not as good as the original.

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Trevman
It's quick, simple, and much quicker to load, especially for us with single digit throughput.
On the other hand, although its functionality is improved, aesthetically it is not as good as the original.

Hi Trevman -- thank you for the kind comments. I am glad you find that it is fast loading, and has increased functionality. Those were the two primary goals I was trying to obtain.

At the same time -- as you most likely have already summized -- I disagree with your assertion that the new look is not as "aesthetically" pleasing as the most previous design (the 'original' homepage layout was discarded some years ago). Personally speaking, in comparison to what is now the 'alternate' layout, I would say that it is organized in such a fashion that makes it easier to quickly summize what the structure of the site is without a lot of potential text overload across most of the screen. However, you obviously see things differently and I respect that.

Combining functionality and aesthetics that contains as much information to convey as both of the existing layouts offer is not a simple task and again I believe that with both as an option you can exercise the best of both worlds, or the best of one's "preferred" world.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

[spartak]

Undecided because I can't see myself using the "front" page unless my link to the forums breaks.