Poll: Are you still using CC as often since the upgrade?

[Shaun]

Hello everyone,

A few people have told me they're visiting CC less often since the upgrade and I wanted to try and find out why so I can resolve it.

I've had some good feedback that points towards the site design / layout (finding it difficult to use; the layout is big and clunky compared with the previous simple look) - and also the speed of the site (not loading as quickly, so harder to dip in and out at will).

Functionality is also an issue for some people; they cannot use the site in the way they did before (or at least cannot easily work out how to do stuff!!!).

Most of this can hopefully be fixed; a "classic" simple skin that looks like the old site, server/code tweaks to speed it up, and a series of "How to's" to show you where things are, but I'd like some specific feedback so I know exactly what people are having the most trouble with.

Please take a minute to add your vote, and if you are finding the new CC less accessible please post some constructive feedback detailing what problems you are having so that I know where to concentrate my efforts.

Many thanks,
Shaun

 

[Davidc]

I'm using the site less than I was because of both the time of year (I go out more) and too many other things (like making money) getting in the way, but not the new software.

That said I preferred the feel and look of the old software, though the CC light skin is good.

 

[swee'pea99]

Have to say it's made bugger all difference to me. If anything I prefer it now, but I doubt I use it any more or less than I did before.

 

[dmoan]

I have grown to like the new look and feel, even though I use none of the new features(!) but I have been thinking that part of the problem might be related to monitor size and screen resolution.

I am happy to read the new site on my 1280*1024 monitor at home and at work, but I find that I now read the site 'fullscreen' rather than in a window.

However, I find the site less easy to read on my netbook (1024*600) as the vertical size of each post seems to take up more space - look at swee'pea99's post above - the space for the sig line is almost the same as the content due to the amount of information to the left of the post. I seem to be scrollong a lot more than reading. If users are still reading on 800*600 monitors, the larger buttons, bells and whistles might be getting in the way of the content?

Just my thoughts - still a crackin' site and well worth a vist.

 

[MacB]

I wasn't keen on the change but figured I'd soon get used to it and I have. I use the cleancut skin and only access via desktop so all seems fine to me. Only bit that miffed me was losing my albums but that's hardly the end of the world. I struggle to remember previous version now.

 

[MajorMantra]

I have to admit I've used CC far less since the change. Maybe that would have happened anyway - my interest in forums has always worked in phases, but I'm still reading Bikeforums and Bikeradar regularly, so it might not just be that.

A simpler skin would probably help. Otherwise, I'm not sure...

 

[Shaun]

However, I find the site less easy to read on my netbook (1024*600) as the vertical size of each post seems to take up more space - look at swee'pea99's post above - the space for the sig line is almost the same as the content due to the amount of information to the left of the post. I seem to be scrollong a lot more than reading.

Interesting observation ... thank you ... something that is pretty obvious once it's pointed out but wasn't something I'd twigged previously.

Also something I can possibly resolve quite quickly ... there you go ... a few bits and some padding removed.

Hey, it's a start ...

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Over The Hill]

Quite happy with the change but there certainly seems less activity and fewer new threads to respond to. That is why I am here a bit less, no issue with new layout.

How can you vote "no" if you are not here?

 

[Shaun]

How can you vote "no" if you are not here?

Yes, I appreciate the potential for irony there ... but hopefully even those who may be struggling would at least be able to respond to give some feedback.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Andy in Sig]

Shaun,

I'd love to vote but the voting form comes up blank. Is this in fact some sort of post-modernist, über ironic joke for the IT age?

 

[wafflycat]

I'm still here: using the splat skin. There is one change I'd appreciate: a 'sign in' facility on the front/index page instead of having to click to a different page. That would be nice

Sometimes the forum seems to run slow, but don't know if that's forum or my machine. I am, however, on my NEW! faster computer. Supposedly!

 

[hulver]

I'm not using it as much. I'm not really sure why, a combination of things I think.

The layout is very cluttered. Too much stuff everywhere. The theme I used (Cleancut) doesn't even say "Cyclechat" anywhere.

There's links at the top of the page (Home, What's New, etc) then a load of links that I never use, ever (Members, Blogs, Chat)
Then the breadcrumbs.
Then another line with more stuff on.

Finally some content.

Stuff just seems spread out more. You've not just got the multitude of forums areas, now there's blogs as well, some sort of facebook / twitter alike stuff.

Also the "Today's Posts" duplicates posts, which is annoying.

Overall I think it's too cluttered, with stuff too spread out. All I tend to do now is check my posts to see if anybody has commented on posts I've been posting in, and maybe check new posts to see if anything jumps out at me.

I'll try changing skins to see if that makes a difference. The default skin really put me off though. First impressions should be good, nice and simple, with extras for people who want to look for it. At the moment it's too overwelming.

 

[summerdays]

I clicked Yes

Quite happy with the change but there certainly seems less activity and fewer new threads to respond to. That is why I am here a bit less, no issue with new layout.

How can you vote "no" if you are not here?

For me the thing I find an issue with is in the View New Content. The fact that it duplicates the the thread multiple times because more than one person has replied means that I try to skim down the list and then I find that I have missed threads whilst trying to ignore those threads. The other thing about VNC in comparision to the way it used to work was that at the end of the new content there would be the content that had been there the last time you looked but that you hadn't read. This meant that you then noticed something that you had missed the previous time and perhaps continued on a topic in the way I probably wouldn't. I don't seem to go looking beyond the VNC - I know I could go into the individual sub-forums. Its only a very minor gripe.

However on the whole I like the features - especially some of the new ones like the blog.

 

[yello]

I use it just as much as before and don't find the new site a problem at all. It was just a matter of adapting.

I didn't use any of the 'features' on the old site, nor on this new one (couldn't even tell you what they are!) so I can't be objective on that one. I just browse. Yes, the duplicates in 'new content' is a bit confusing but now I understand the 'why' of it (and it makes sense), I don't have an issue with it.

I use a netbook too but have signatures turned off (but I do that on every site I'm on if I'm able to). I use the 'clearcut' thing... what do you call it? skin??

Haven't noticed any difference in speed.

 

[BentMikey]

I'm not so impressed that this software can't cater for safari on my ipad. Using the default skin, I can go online on the chat, but I can't post or it crashes the browser. Using the ip.board mobile skin, I can post on here fine, but then I can't go in the chat. More annoyingly still, the board remembers my setting based on user, so when I come back to my desktop I have to change the skin back again.

Otherwise, I'm reasonably happy with the upgrade, although I don't think it added much over the previous software for me.