jbe, you make some good points and I think you are presenting your views in a constructive manner. However let me point out a couple things just to stir the pot a little.
First of all, the minute the beta site came up there was a whole bunch of negativity. Cheeky was one guy who was negative on the new site but was actually trying to help. Otoh there was a whole cast of characters that just came here to vent about things like performance, which was laid out pretty plainly as an issue on the beta test from day one by the team.
The next issue is that of "style". I believe most UI people would say the old site looks old. Of course it is what users are used to but that isn't any reason to let your site look obsolete. I believe most of the comments from users of the beta revolved around visual issues trying to get the new site to look like the old. Really, this is a waste of time. I truly believe that if people used SI with the "no box" option for about 2 weeks, and then an upgrade with boxes was issued, they would complain about the box. There is no value add in sitting here going back and forth on stuff like that.
Peripherally related to this is the issue that some people can't make up their mind on what they want, and then some things have the user community divided. The "ignore" option is like that, also the vertical bars and left v. right menus... oh tons of stuff. Unless there is a consistent voice about some technical direction, you can't do much of anything. Options for every little thing that people can turn off and on are problems technically, you never want to do that. You wind up with a whole bunch of branches on your tree when it comes to upgrades etc, not maintainable. I don't think its too much to ask for a consistent request from the user community and if they can't come together, what can you do?
I believe a huge improvement for the new site is the folders in the messaging system, this right up there along the lines of the "read 10 at a time". The next item on my list is the improved charts. I think taking out the "search this subject" is a big mistake on their part. |
