Beta Testing New Thread Layout

[John Robinson]

I'm testing a new thread layout. On latest posts, you will see a "beta" link for each article. Click it to read the article in the new thread style.

"Why fix it if it ain't broke?"

Well, it is broken, and it needs to be fixed. The old style Free Republic threads on average consumed 65 kilobytes per view. Multiply that by 600,000 articles served per day and that adds up to a big chunk of bandwidth.

I believe this new format will consume less resources. An eyeball estimate would put that average at about 15-20 kilobytes per view. You may have noticed how bandwidth starved Free Republic has been lately. It's been real slow during the morning. This new software, when fully implemented, should alleviate that problem.

[Clinging Bitterly]

And the format is just too broken up. Only 20 replys before having to link to another page?

I agree here. Though in Eugene, modern and civilized as it claims to be (/s), I'm in a broadband impaired part of Eugene, and with my dialup I will typically download multiple threads (usually 10 or 15)and go offline to read & go back on to post, if desired.

Not looking forward here to a geometric increase in the number of open browser windows - gets tough enough on those busy news days - and yes, FR IS my primary source for real news.

Dave

[supercat]

And the format is just too broken up. Only 20 replys before having to link to another page? One of the best things about FR's format is the fact that we've never had to click from one page to the next in order to read a single thread. I'd really hate to lose that feature. I'd suggest at least 50 replies per thread before we're forced to click to a new page.

I agree wholeheartedly. While I appreciate that there needs to be some means of retrieving just the latest replies without having to reload the entire thread, breaking things up into 20-post chunks destroys one of the great features of FR which was lightning-quick intra-thread navigation.

Perhaps an http/html guru can answer me this: some web sites allow partially-completed downloads to be restored; what are the capabilities and limitations of this ability? If there were nothing on a page past the last post, would it be possible to have the server tell the user's browser that it had a 'partial' copy of the page and then give it the rest (i.e. the new stuff)?

[Star Traveler]

I believe this new format will consume less resources. An eyeball estimate would put that average at about 15-20 kilobytes per view. You may have noticed how bandwidth starved Free Republic has been lately. It's been real slow during the morning. This new software, when fully implemented, should alleviate that problem.

I've been using it for a while, now. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I can see advantages to it. It's nice to not have to load the whole thread in order to read the main article or post. Many times I don't go any further than that.

HOWEVER, even with keeping everything the way you have it, it might be nice (when this is ready-to-go-prime-time) -- to have one choice (a link) where a person could choose to load the whole thread at once. There are times when I would want the whole thread viewable on one page. But, for the majority of my reading, that wouldn't be necessary. And I suppose that would still accomplish reducing bandwidth.

Other than that, I like the various features. The one about seeing the replies to one particular post is nice.

[ST.LOUIE1]

If this is how FR is going to look from now on (stripped down and UGLY with a capital G) then I bet you'll get a whole lotta bandwidth back just from people who no longer visit.

DITTOS!!!!

Worst *improvement* so far.

[Billie]

My sentiments exactly. This is really ugly. I hope it's just a test. :^)

[ST.LOUIE1]

I hope it's just a test.

I think not. : (

[Mama_Bear]

I don't know what a "style sheet" is and don't intend to find out.

I'm with you on this one. I have checked into style sheets, and have decided that this ol' gal is too old to learn new tricks. Every style sheet tutorial that I have come across has been SO confusing. I'm just not doing it. :-(

[Billie]

Then I hope further improvements are made to the "beta" 'cause it is surely an eyesore. I'll continue to use the "old, unimproved" forum until it's no longer an option.

[Mama_Bear]

I'll continue to use the "old, unimproved" forum until it's no longer an option.

Ditto and BUMP!

[Mama_Bear]

Apparently it is no longer an option. :-(

[ST.LOUIE1]

Apparently it is no longer an option. :-(

Wonder what toy the money will buy next time?

Could, at least, have been asked.

[Billie]

That's what I thought, too, when it came back up (at least for me, FR was down temporarily), but look down at the bottom, there is an option for the Old Look, and a settings option for the forum. As LONG as we have the option for the old look, I could care less what the new look looks like. I'm not using it. I don't like it.

[Tree of Liberty]

Would it be possible to make an option in User Preferences to display the old style? It'd save me (and probably a few others) from having to click on the Old Style link on every thread I read.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you!!! I don't think I would have ever noticed that "old style" option at the bottom if you hadn't pointed it out. :-)

[Moridin]

In the "My Preferences" link on the latest page you can set the amount of replys to 50. IMO, the jump between 20 to 50 is too much. Maybe if it was in increments of Ten?.... Also, it would be nice if the "latest replies" and "Articles" could be a separate option. I would like to see the last 50 replies or articles but would be fine seeing 20 posts at a time.

[Billie]

Why won't my settings STAY fixed for the forum? Every time I set it to the old way and I open a thread, it throws me back into this new style again.

[Mama_Bear]

No, I can't get it to stay set either.

[Mama_Bear]

Could, at least, have been asked.

You would have thought so.

[Billie]

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. I have to change it EVERY SINGLE TIME I open a thread. The Latest Posts page keeps reverting to the New Look, and it looks like all the threads are new, not "visited" threads.

[Moridin]

Have you both tried to delete your cookies and start new?