AWFUL new set up!

Me | jraven

[jraven]

I tried all the instructions you folks posted about how to get breaking news...but I can't. Aren't new website designs suppposed to ENHANCE a site? I used to turn to this site for all my breaking news. Now I wasted about 25 minutes and can't get it...so it's off to other sites. And I guess I will visit them first...which means less time on FR.

[Free the USA]

Without the number for a post displayed and without seconds displayed how do you know where you left off before refreshing the screen? When the pace picks up and only 50 posts displayed this will be very impractical.

[Clara Lou]

My thoughts, exactly, except that you are much more diplomatic.

[Kerberos]

""And I like the personalized sidebars. "

I too like the personalized sidebars. It allows me to setup only the things I want.

There are always going to be people that have a problem with change. Keep up the good work.

[SkyPilot]

I read that you do not have to use HTML to post articles now, just CUT and PASTE.

Great.....What About Pictures?

Is it still that unholy mess about placing pics on some website (that won't accept them), and then some God awful html language to do it?

[StriperSniper]

Hint: The order you choose them in is the order they load in. Be sure to choose them in the order you want them to show. For example choose breaking news topic first.

The sidebar topics bump to the top with each new article posted. I don't think there is a way to fix their positions yet. From the amount of people I have seen commenting on this, on other threads, that may soon be an option or standard (or maybe not).

[Doctor Stochastic]

The new version seems to take much, much longer to load a page. Probably too much graphics.

[Joaquin]

Are you living with a big local forum message atop every screen? Or did you find a way to kill yours without delisting from your state?

I had the same problem, but after subscribing to several topics, it's gone.

Does anyone know how this gets turned on and off?

[Fishrrman]

Nope, I don't like the "new look", either. Frankly, my eyes are getting weaker, and the new listing of topics & replies uses text that is much smaller than it was in the previous layout -- much harder for me to read.

I realize the ever-present pressure to "improve"; but the old setup was simple and it worked well for just browsing. Not so with the "new way".

Why must we have change for change' sake?

- John

[StriperSniper]

The new version seems to take much, much longer to load a page.

The last time JohnRob did major work on the software it was very slow for a couple days. I don't know enough to even guess the process, but I would guess it will be streamlined shortly. I'm confident that John would like to have the performance up to his old high standards.

[VRWC_minion]

I missed that.

Correct Hint: The order you choose them in is what determines what goes where. The last itme you choose will be at the top of the list while the first item you chose will be at the bottom of the list. You may need to delete them all and select them a few times before getting the exact order you want.

For example choose breaking news topic LAST if you want it first.

What is neat is if you click on the heading you get a list with some of the post in the main body so they amount of info on hot topics is easier to read and scan.

[VadeRetro]

I had the same problem, but after subscribing to several topics, it's gone.

Hmmm. Now that I've subscribed to "Breaking News," maybe it's worth a try re-declaring my state.

Figuring out an interface by thrashing around is no fun.

[avg_freeper]

Breaking news still might not apear if you don't shut down your browser or refresh you cash though.

[NormsRevenge]

Change IS Good ... adapting to change is a bitch sometimes ...

I like the site look and feel, for the most part , I reckun it will morph again soon anyway and thats OK...

Have fun and there are lots of good suggestions below...

??? When the heck do U FreePers guys sleep? My Hat is off to all of you who put and keep FR online everyday

SEMPER FI
---Norm---

[NormsRevenge]

urrrr... I meant to say There are lots of good suggestions above

[Joaquin]

I also cleared my cache, so you might try that, too.

[Random Access]

I am sure you will get more comfortable with the new format over time. I spent many years as a software developer and every time we introduced new versions, we got much the same reaction from users. I called it the "old shoe/new shoe" conflict. Hang in there.

[dalereed]

The new colored right hand sidebar is not only distracting and makes for difficult reading but makes for longer loading and is a total waste of space.

This is so horrible that i'm taking the FreeRepublic.com bumper stickers off of our vehicles and will discontinue making my $100/quarter donation to FR.

There is no way that I would contribute to crap like this or even acknowledge that i'm associated with it.

[VadeRetro]

It looks like the appearance of the forum messages coincides with activity in the forum. If nobody's posting, you get no messages. But if it's active, you'll see every new post until there are no more new ones.

Anyway, that's the current Vade theory. I'm going back to de-listing.

[green peanut]

You're right....this is like trying to fill out your income tax form.......... I hate it! Visually......it's very tiring. Maybe that's the purpose....get folks to get on.......and get off fast..... It does'nt make any sense.

[StriperSniper]

No, what I mean is that the topics bump like articles. I have four subscibed to. When a new article is posted in any of those four, that becomes the top topic on my sidebar, and the rest drop down one.

Have you found a way to stop that?