30 replies to this topic

[Danny Steyn]

You can change the color scheme, too. At the very bottom of the page, there is a drop down called "theme". Change that to ip.board. everyone I've talked to likes that better.

It's the drop down menu in the very bottom left - the default is Mazda Racers and there is no mention of "Theme" unless you are on the mobile version - perhaps this can be better labeled. Choosing IPboard gives you the same blue/white/gray theme that is used on IPboard that some prefer.

Personally I think that the new site and software is way more advanced and more powerful than the old site, but I understand most racers are not tech-savvy and dont want to take the time to work their way through the options and funcionality of the new software.

The old site was familiar, as everyone had grown up with it and learned its capabilities as it grew and envolved. I beleive that the old software, like all software will become outdated, irrelevant and unsupported, and at some point it will be time to make the difficult step to upgrade...... hmmmm seems liek the 1.6 / 99 debate all over again

[Tom Hampton]

It's the drop down menu in the very bottom left - the default is Mazda Racers and there is no mention of "Theme" unless you are on the mobile version - perhaps this can be better labeled. Choosing IPboard gives you the same blue/white/gray theme that is used on IPboard that some prefer.

Oops, Sorry! Yes, I'm almost always on mobile version. Thanks, Danny. Good catch.

[Cnj]

The 'view new content' function on the new site remembers what YOU have read (and not read) across all browsers on all computers. It lists every thread in every forum that you haven't read, along with the author, date, and time of the most recent post. I think this is mist, if not all, of what you are asking for. You can go away for six months, and this link will list everything that you have missed during that time.

At the bottom of the home page there is a 'mark entire board read' link. You can use this to clear out 'new content' that you don't want to read, and don't want to see the next time you log in.

You can change the color scheme, too. At the very bottom of the page, there is a drop down called "theme". Change that to ip.board. everyone I've talked to likes that better.

I use "view new content" every time I open the page. I find this a poor substitute for the old version which simply kept the most current content alive until it was pushed off the page. The problem with "view new content" from my perspective is that the page refreshes every time I open it and I can't keep track of threads I was following. Thus I might look at the site at 6pm and then again at 7pm and have the whole list from 6pm vanish as it presumes I am done. Poor programming.

I don't see us going back to the old site if for no other reason than the technology is dated and we need to move forward. This version provides far more capability which will be used over time. With that said I encourage Jim to note the concerns with the new site and develop an approach to solve the issues - almost all of which seem to relate to the excessive number of forums and their viewability. Basic software design dictates keeping it simple for people to use and unfortunately this version still requires explanation where no explanation should be needed.

Cnj

[Johnny D]

I use "view new content" every time I open the page. I find this a poor substitute for the old version which simply kept the most current content alive until it was pushed off the page. The problem with "view new content" from my perspective is that the page refreshes every time I open it and I can't keep track of threads I was following. Thus I might look at the site at 6pm and then again at 7pm and have the whole list from 6pm vanish as it presumes I am done. Poor programming.

I don't see us going back to the old site if for no other reason than the technology is dated and we need to move forward. This version provides far more capability which will be used over time. With that said I encourage Jim to note the concerns with the new site and develop an approach to solve the issues - almost all of which seem to relate to the excessive number of forums and their viewability. Basic software design dictates keeping it simple for people to use and unfortunately this version still requires explanation where no explanation should be needed.

Cnj

On the main page if you scroll all the way down, if you hit "Todays active content" and you get the last 24hrs.
J~

[Cnj]

On the main page if you scroll all the way down, if you hit "Todays active content" and you get the last 24hrs.
J~

Thanks thats helpful. It'll be my go to location.

Of course it's in small print at the very bottom of the page with tons of other info. My point, also made by others, is that this lack of intuitive forum design and layout makes this version difficult. I am a reasonably capable technical user; I lead a good sized team of engineers including software programmers and I find this interface clunky, so I imagine that many find it impregnable. It's simply a user interface issue. It can be fixed and then the world will be rosy and peace will break out.

Cnj

[Tom Hampton]

Thanks thats helpful. It'll be my go to location.

Of course it's in small print at the very bottom of the page with tons of other info. My point, also made by others, is that this lack of intuitive forum design and layout makes this version difficult. I am a reasonably capable technical user; I lead a good sized team of engineers including software programmers and I find this interface clunky, so I imagine that many find it impregnable. It's simply a user interface issue. It can be fixed and then the world will be rosy and peace will break out.

Cnj

Yeah, so do I (used to be one of those programmer types...I think I even still have a few chops left).

I agree, I've been lobbying since day-one for some form of a Site Summary page. There's so many more opportunities for content other than just forum threads. But, finding it all (especially the new stuff..and not just threads and posts) isn't as simple as it sh/c-ould be.

[pat slattery]

I would like the old site back please.

JD, Thanks for all that you have done for Spec Miata, Spec Miata.com, and all the information that you have poured out to me and Shawn personally. You, are a big part of the reason SM has grown to where it is today.

Jim Drago, you were a logical choice to take over, hope the best for you and the site, and will support whatever you do. Just don't ask me to support a 99 needs some help campaign.

Pat Slattery

[dstevens]

Looks like there are enough 31337 haXor d00dz here that you could get someone to come up with a skin that mimics the old site. The backend on this forum is more robust than on the old, like Craig says get the UI and content discovery slapped around a bit and you'd be golden. Bring the SM stuff above the fold, collapse some of the other forum groups and highlight more the original SM forums.

[Tom Sager]

I would like the old site back please.

JD, Thanks for all that you have done for Spec Miata, Spec Miata.com, and all the information that you have poured out to me and Shawn personally. You, are a big part of the reason SM has grown to where it is today.

Jim Drago, you were a logical choice to take over, hope the best for you and the site, and will support whatever you do. Just don't ask me to support a 99 needs some help campaign.

Pat Slattery

He was a logical choice given his large stature within the community. In addition to that he's a technology genius!!!

[AJ Goldsmith]

Not a frequent poster (actually my first with this ID) but I do read here a lot as I'm fairly new to SM. Technology of the new site is better, but agree too many sub-forums. Appreciate you guys operating the site, it's a great community and resource and I'll come back no matter.

[racinglawyer]

Thanks for the hard work...sometimes bigger is not always better..the new site is bigger but not better....Numbers never lie...Some of the old timers never post any longer, and I know they are not dead or out of racing...I love mazda's and a whole lot of other cars, but Spec Miata.com was a user friendly site and it became work...Drago will get us all together again...I love his rules....My general philosophy will be hands off. The only thing I wont tolerate is constant flaming and obscene language......Go get them...That statement tells me why I love you....