a Few format questions...Tell me what you think...

[simple_john]

we have been discussing a few changes to the front page format..

1st off.. some folks have indicatd its too hard to locate specific tractors as they are not on the front page.. they are on a sub forum.

also some have indicated there are not enough graphics on the page to even indicate that we are about tractors


so here is what we are kicking around...


1. We are thinking of putting the L&G tractor Forums back on the front page so it will be easier to hit the specific brands and not need to drill down.
does that sound ok?
bearing in mind it would make the front page a lot longer to scroll through


2. At TF we had graphics for each tractor brand... although that looked good... and we can do that here if wanted.. we opted to not do that as it seemed to slow the site down with all the graphics.
Would you prefer more front page graphics or not??

3. We are considering adding a user gallery.. where members can upload some tractor and equipment photos
Do you want a user picture gallery?

[jim235]

I think all is well, as it is now. More graphics, just tend to slow things way down... especially, for those of us not able to get a high speed connection! From your side, I would think it would also add extra bandwidth requirements, etc.? I find this, loads much faster than the old TF...and just as easy to navigate...perhaps better. A user gallery, might be good though. Bottom line...when there's so many topics...almost impossible to make it "easy" for everyone to navigate?
Regards...Jim

[USN_ED]

1. I think it's fine the way it is except that you might Alphabatize each sections categories (i.e., under Tractor Talk, put the categories in alphbetical order, same for Non-Tractor Related Items). That way it would be easier to find categories under each section. It seems the way they are listed now is the way they were added as they were thought of as the Forum was organized.

2. No opinion especially but do not want anything that would slow down the site.

3. Won't a user gallery use more bandwidth (space).

I am almost completely computer illiterate. I hope you don't keep adding things that make navigation through the site more and more difficult.

Just my thoughts. Thanks for forming the Forum and the work you've done so far.

ED

[drbailey]

I`m not qualified to comment on the format , because I don`t know what will slow things down or what won`t . BUT !! I would like to see a photo gallery.

[Kid Muddy]

I like it the way it is too. I visited the old TF site a few times but it seemed too slow.

And Ed has a great suggestion about alphabetizing the categories, I think that would help new visitors (and old ones) to find subjects that might interest them.

All in all, this is a great site and thanks for all the effort you guys have put in. :congrats:

[Carl]

Pictures being displayed uses a lot of bandwidth. But that is managed by the server too. So it won't be noticible unless the site is really busy. I don't know what happened with the old forum except everyone noticed that it really slowed down at the end. I think there were other issues. I had heard that there were some spam problems with the site that was using up a lot of band width.

John, do you know how much band width is in the main line to the server? If it is DSL you can get up to 6 megs if you are close enough to the switch gear.

If the pictures are on a separate area then they would only be opened when viewing the photo galery. If the balk of the site is text then it wouldn't slow things down too much. I suppose it would also be possible to limit the photo viewing to maximize all member's viewing speed.

On another site this guy showed pictures of his taking a tc24da apart to replace the seal at the input shaft to the hydraulic drive. The pictures really told the story. I would like to see some of that on the site. But it all depends upon the bandwidth that we can get.

Also if the photos are in a separate location then the members that have dial up service can be active on the site without waiting forever for a download of photographs. Because they can choose to not go to the photo section of the site.

I suppose that you could have the front page icon driven. Then click on big tractors, or garden tractors. Click on flowers, hobbys, fire side chats, whatever.

[SAMSRAM]

Howdy ALL on and off of the FORUM. And all the mother's out there have a GREAT MOTHER'S DAY this week end.:fing32:
John ( SJ ) this is just my thought and talking to or with Jeannie ( my wife who really enjoy's the FORUM) we both think you and the others have done a GREAT job on the FORUM now. You JOHN --GREG --and JODY and a few other's know how I get this thing GOOGED :bonk: up often I for sure would not want anything where I would get another MELT DOWN.(LOL.) There is alway's way's to better things but we both are happy as it is now, and ED I think that would be a great IDEA. Maybe one more thought

HOW DO YOU GUY'S FEEL ABOUT A PAGE/SITE SO THE WIFE__ GIRLFRIEND'S_
OR JUST THE WOMEN CAN SAY SOMETHING? ( just a thought)
SAM / JEANNIE

[USN_ED]

Now wait a minute Sam! No insults intended but I've always considered Jeannie one of the guys so what the heck would she have to say on a wives or girlfriends page?

Just kidding. What are you getting Jeannie for Mother's Day? I'd bet it's chrome but I wouldn't want to guess what it is or where it goes.

ED

[911radioman]

I personally wouldn't mind seeing the brands split up as you are proposing, and I'm probably neutral on the graphics and photo page. I know what you speak of as far as slowing the site down, maybe a compromise of just a few more graphics rather than something for each brand?

[SAMSRAM]

Boy oh Boy , Ed you really made our day. I was setting in the other room watching TV and Jeannie said"" NOW JUST WHAT DID YOU TELL ED"? I was about half asleep and I said back "" OH YOU MEAN ABOUT ALL OUR GIRLFRIEND'S?""Then she said well I "GOTTA TELL ED "THANKS". We both got a real good laugh out or your remark . Then I asked her what more you said ?and she said "NO MORE CHROME."... LOL. Good one. Then she said " THERE SURE ARE SOME GREAT FUNNY GUY'S ON THIS FORUM."

[mbkerk]

I voted in the Poll John, and I was happy to see I voted with the majority.

IMHO, we don't need the fancy graphics, and I hate all the scrolling. That is what is nice about being able to close complete groups of the subjects one is not interested in. I would leave the L&G brands listed as they are.

A photo gallery would be a nice addition, perhaps tied to your the user info page somehow. You could also limit number of pictures to level of membership, similar to the mailboxes!

Keep up the good work... All!:congrats:

[Michael]

If the pictures are on a separate area then they would only be opened when viewing the photo galery. If the balk of the site is text then it wouldn't slow things down too much. I suppose it would also be possible to limit the photo viewing to maximize all member's viewing speed.

On another site this guy showed pictures of his taking a tc24da apart to replace the seal at the input shaft to the hydraulic drive. The pictures really told the story. I would like to see some of that on the site. But it all depends upon the bandwidth that we can get.

Also if the photos are in a separate location then the members that have dial up service can be active on the site without waiting forever for a download of photographs. Because they can choose to not go to the photo section of the site.

I suppose that you could have the front page icon driven. Then click on big tractors, or garden tractors. Click on flowers, hobbys, fire side chats, whatever.

There is a site that I frequent that has a separated photo and forum that uses VBulletin program. I have already suggested to take a look at this forum but the big thing I do not really like about the site is the front page that you have to go thru to get at the forums. I have a link to let you guys sample his site to do some comparing the setup there.

www.dodgeintreped.net

He uses the site pretty good and also has a monthly fun contest for the Intrepid of the month (IOM) Take a look at the site I find it pretty interesting in the way he uses his site.

[simple_john]

you might Alphabetize each sections categories (i.e., under Tractor Talk, put the categories in alphabetical order, same for Non-Tractor Related Items). That way it would be easier to find categories under each section.
ED


Thanks all for the input...


ED: great point about alphabetizing the threads... and to be honest.. i can not recall why i did not do that? :fing20:

I did it with the tractor names.. and im not sure why i did not do it with the other forum names...

Ill change that unless i am given a good reason not to..


so from the looks of the poll.. we should not bother to change anything on the front page... we will leave the brand breakdowns on the sub forum...

It seems most wanted a gallery.. yes it would take up some bandwidth & disk space.. but we should have plenty of that..


Thanks for the input.. and i am getting a user gallery... look for it in the next few weeks..


and for the dialupers.. it should not slow things down much as you do not have to go into it unless you wanted...


we have kicked around the idea of putting a few random gallery pics on the front page (maybe on the ends of the MTF banner) we would keep them small so as to not slow things down.. but it might be nice to see an occasional tractor photo on the front page.... If it slowed things down.. we can always pull them...


so thanks all..
sj

[Greg]

Looks good, SJ. Thanks, as always, for all the hard work you put into the forum.

I voted, and as it turns out, along the same lines as the majority.

I navigate the forum pages, and have my main page set up, probably so different than most others, I didn't have much of any other comments. For example, I have ALL forum and bottom stat windows collapsed, so having things alphabetized or not makes no difference to me. I use the Active Topics, never the New Posts, button only... I have no strong interest in graphics, but did vote for a gallery. I prefer pics in the content rather than the format. It all works for me, but I doubt would for most others.

Again, thanks, and I look forward to seeing the changes/additions.


Greg

[USN_ED]

John -

Sounds good to me. I'm willing to give anything a try. The reason for my concern on something slowing down is that I do have dial-up.

I'll get that check in the mail Monday.

ED

[thesmartfarmer]

Just voted and I hope it helps

[USN_ED]

John,

Noticed the lists are now alphabetized. Thanks!!!!! Makes navigation much easier.

ED

[Jim_WV]

I voted, but I feel it does'nt concern me one or the other as my routine when I come to the forum front page is to select active posts, last day and go from there. Occasionley I do go into some of the different forums to see some of the older posts I may have missed.

But anyway, I'm happy with the place :)