New version of the site comments and concerns
 

The white background with dark text is fatiguing on my eyes. Please tone down the background color so it is not so stark.

Also.........when scrolling through the thread titles, the banner that pops up to give a "preview" of the first post is very annoying. It blocks the next thread on the page so looking though the threads is not very user friendly. I will have to scroll all the way to the right of the page or to the left of the page to avoid seeing the banner. This is not a comfortable feel for me.

Just went on the new version on my iPhone 7. The text size is perfect and so much easier to read than the old version. That is a wonderful improvement to the site. Thank you.

Why the new website? Are the actual users of the site complaining? I don’t have a problem with necessary change to solve a specific problem. What are the problems this is trying to solve? A complete redo of the website is not necessary to solve small mobile device readability issues. I use an iPad Air 2, an iPad Pro, and an iPhone X. The old site works just fine on all three. Readability issues on other smartphones can be addressed without an entire redo, and often by settings on the device itself.

I can't speak for the folks running this site but I can say that the old forum was designed on a system that is outdated. Some of the modules in it would not work on future technology, especially now that we have smartphones and VR. One has to keep up to date if one wants to continue communicating with life outside your own personal reach. Functionality with current technology is pretty important. Even things most people do without thinking - like inserting a picture of something in a post - relies on the picture coming from a source that CAN be inserted into the post. If the picture's source location is an advanced tech location, then you might not be capable of loading it into an obsolete forum post.

And so - admins on fora worldwide have to occasionally update, recreate, retcon, and tweak new or existing systems to keep up with current technological requirements.

Maybe a background shading of every other thread.

So you need to update the software, why not just copy the old design and layout? I foresee the new board will be the end of TOTV as we know it. I can't look at the new pages, it hurts my eyes for more than 5 minutes. The colors were fine before, use the same color numbers. Use the the format style. I love just going to 'quick links' and hitting 'new posts', the new board doesn't have that button and my posts took hours to show up under 'New Posts', it seems only under Quick Links they show up immediately. That was a problem we found until Quick Links solved that problem.

No one is complaining about keeping up with technology, or any updating of functionality with current technology.
The majoriy of complaints are about fussy layout, navigation, and the lack of contrast in the color.

I am not impressed with you IT knowledge "If the picture's source location is an advanced tech location" What would be and example of advanced tech location???? How many people have access to advanced tech location??

Most of the complaints I’m reading are related to appearance. Tech can be updated as needed without total change in appearance if so desired.

Plus, where is that Mark all messages ‘read’ button??

Wasn't there a thread by the TOTV IT department that listed all the items that have been fixed so far? I can not find it. Has the thread been pulled by the IT department?

One of the items that IT claimed they had fixed was the background color. I don't see much of a difference. The page that lists all the threads still looks very white to me however, the page with the comments looks to be changed to a very pale tan. So pale it is barely there. I would like to suggest the background color be the same tan as the old version. It is so much easier on the eyes. I would like to see the quoted area another color. How about keeping the same color scheme as the old version?

I agree.

That is a super rare phenomenon known only to the most elite of tech-savvy geeks as a "brain fart." In layman's terms, I was thinking of the word location, and typed it out instead of typing the words I actually wanted to type. I don't even remember what words I was intending to type.

But one thing comes to mind - flash software. It is no longer supported, so software that relied on it will not be able to update anymore, or get support for it anymore. It has become obsolete. There are still sites that use it. Eventually, there won't be. It's being phased out.

Another is HTML, which is slowly going the way of the dinosaur and being replaced by HTML5.

Another is the http, which is being replaced by the more secure https.

This isn't "IT knowledge." It's the knowledge of someone who has been a regular computer user for a couple of decades and paid attention when there were changes.

As for people questioning my posts about this, it was in answer to someone who wanted to know WHY the change was made at all. It was made because the forum was created using software that is becoming obsolete.

Great Improvement
 

I like the brighter format. It’s easier to read and follow the thread

Most other forums I follow have several optional themes that the user can choose what works best for them.

Yes the "skins." I really hope we are able to select from a variety of them.

turn the brightness down on your computer- it will be softer on your eyes.-- i like the color difference
black on white-- easier to read

I have been trying out the new layout for several days before commenting, since I thought the old one was fine and I was used to it; wanted to give it a fair shot.

My primary comment is that it is very stark with the white background, with not much to delineate between each of the topics. To me, it makes it harder to read.

The "Edit My Classifieds" button does not work. Just hangs and never loads the page.

https was in use over 10 years ago.

That's correct, and it still isn't being used by many websites. That's what I mean by updating. Eventually, new computer technology will cease to recognize old protocol, and sites built with http will no longer be accessible. That is *why* forum design gets updated, upgraded, and even replaced from time to time. Because the code used to create it is either obsolete, or becoming obsolete.

If I do that, 99% of the other sites I visit will be too dark. There are enough complaints about the brightness--IT should address it.


And while they are at it, maybe they could fix the search function so it works better.

You should never have to adjust your PC settings just to accommodate one website.
 

You should never have to adjust your PC settings just to accommodate one website.

I agree with Polar Bear.

I like this new version. Font is larger, good contrast, easier to read. Glad all that ugly green is gone. I know that's just a personal preference but I've always had an aversion to the color green. I will be really sad though having to give up Windows 7. That will be a huge change!

i hate complaining, but i will say the idea of skins would help those of us with the difficult to read layout now in use

About the brightness....You can adjust the brightness on your computer by adjusting it on the keyboard..Look for the symbol on the very top of the keyboard that looks like a sun (mine is on the top left side) and go up or down with it. Also, the text can be made larger by pressing the CTRL button and at the same time scrolling it (up or down) with your mouse.

I too do not want to adjust the brightness of my computer just for the TOTV website. The stark brightness bothers me also. Otherwise I'm finding my way OK.

Problem is, that adjustment simply magnifies the screen...everything on the screen...not just the text. Not a good thing imo.