A New / Updated look...

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-26-09, 10:48 PM

Based on your feedback, we're playing with a more simplified look for the forum listing. Take a look at the test model site at http://www.VCMustangs.com/index.php and tell us what you think here. Please remember that this link is only a test site. Do not log-in or leave a message as the test site will be erased in the next couple of days.

**cobrakidz** · 05-26-09, 11:10 PM

it looks a little easier to navigate through, but you still need a little pizzaz, maybe a picture or at least add some color besides the blue. You want to make it inviting to people so they WANT to come back, not have to come back. JMO.

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-26-09, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the feedback!

I agree with the color being bland! There are other styles to choose from that have different colors and fonts but, nothing really popped for me yet. We're also working on a WC Gear Head banner pic/logo across the top. We're open to ideas.

The challenge is figuring-out what is inviting to most visitors. Some like black backgrounds, bright fonts, and pictures while others like the softer color approach with more content. I've reviewed some of the most popular forums on the Internet and am quite surprised that many of them were hard for the eye to look at and the forum listing was pretty complex but, had millions of posts and hundreds of thousands of users. Most of them had a small message forum section while the rest of the screen was filled with multiple ads. But, they have a huge following anyway.

We appreciate you hanging in there with us. We will continue to change the forum look over time and ask for everyone's feedback. Eventually the site will evolve into something very cool

**blind** · 05-27-09, 04:51 PM

I like snappy loading pages, and both sites are pretty laggy for me, both at home and from work

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-27-09, 10:58 PM

One of the add-ons I am using slows this software down. I've considered removing it but, we'd lose a lot of features. However, performance is important... it's on the list to figure-out.

Aside from the lag, do you prefer one over the other regarding the difference in listing of the forums?

**Powershift03** · 05-28-09, 04:04 AM

The site looks kind of "bland". It does need some automotive style art work of some kind to wake it up a bit. Seeing the "phbb" at the left top makes it seem boring.

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-28-09, 01:02 PM

I'm workin' on the "bland" part and the performance plus some stuff that requires coding. But, still need feedback on the simpler format listing on the test site. That's what I'm working on at the moment.

When we have some artwork designs, we'll share them and see what everyone thinks.

**blind** · 05-28-09, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Glenn_03Cobra

One of the add-ons I am using slows this software down. I've considered removing it but, we'd lose a lot of features. However, performance is important... it's on the list to figure-out.

Aside from the lag, do you prefer one over the other regarding the difference in listing of the forums?

I like the layout at the vcmustangs page better than this one, it's more logical.

**M'Jax** · 05-29-09, 08:07 PM

I like the layout as well of the test site. I am biased because it fits a format I am used to on other car forums that I visit.

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-29-09, 08:35 PM

What I'm searching for is finding or creating a unique layout that most members will like and get used to. Since the intent for this site is first an online magazine, we need to come up with a them that fits the gear head image and supports what members want to see.

What is funny... I remember when voice prompts on phones and voicemail were becoming popular many years ago. The ability to get to any person or dept in the company was at our finger tips but, nobody wanted to drill through the menus. I think that is the case with forums. Rather than a consolidated or categorized format, it seems that anything more than one level deep is not popular.

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-29-09, 08:37 PM

At the risk of getting a way from the format list topic, I bit the bullet and installed a new style on the test site.
Try it now http://www.vcmustangs.com

**02saleen** · 05-30-09, 08:14 PM

like it more than this one as far as looks but add some pics of cars (make it more memorable so ppl come back to it)

use wise they seem the same slow to load at times and easy to navigate

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-31-09, 12:04 AM

Ya... I'm trying to figure-out the performance issue. Although I think it relates to a config or environment issue, the software authors have announced a release that boosts performance. I'm looking at both angles.

**blind** · 05-31-09, 12:31 AM

pretty similar color scheme as the forum at my site - http://www.blindbatts.com/forum/

(I closed mine because of phpbb flaw of spambots, haven't had time to fix anything on it)

mine always loaded very fast though, maybe it's the webhost?

**M'Jax** · 05-31-09, 08:23 AM

I like the second design just as well. Like I stated, going with a format that I am used to works for me. It took me a minute to adjust to the current design but I am fine now. I have to concur with above....put some cool images or background artwork. In my opinion, it can be just as eccletic as the content this site. A tire bowl certainly grabbed my attention in a car forum. :-)

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-31-09, 12:11 PM

The webhost I'm currently using may be the issue. It's been getting worse. phpbb 3.04 has blocked all the hack attempts thus far. The log is full of attempts. Let's hope they don't find a way in!

I'm setting-up on my nephew's webhost (bluehost) as we speak to see if it's any faster.

M'Jax - I agree with you on the pics. Unfortunately, whenever I have added pics to the forum theme, the site slows down. The current options are:
1) Test on another webhost (in-progress)
2) Remove the modifications and lose a lot of features (I really don't want to have to do this)
3) Test on vbulletin

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-31-09, 12:19 PM

Kevin... were/are you still using v2.x? There were many flaws fixed since the release of v3.x last year. I know spambot issues were one of them. The install and updates are much easier as well as database import export. The next release claims to have better performance, several fixes, and more db flexibility. What I didn't know, until I had it installed was how much the portal modification (external to phpbb core) would slow the screens down.

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-31-09, 06:28 PM

Holy Crap! I just tested http://www.vcmustangs.com on a different webhost and found it to be significantly faster than my webhost. Give it a try and tell me if it is faster for you as well.

**blind** · 05-31-09, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Glenn_03Cobra

Kevin... were/are you still using v2.x? There were many flaws fixed since the release of v3.x last year. I know spambot issues were one of them. The install and updates are much easier as well as database import export. The next release claims to have better performance, several fixes, and more db flexibility. What I didn't know, until I had it installed was how much the portal modification (external to phpbb core) would slow the screens down.

it was more than a year ago that I took it down, so I imagine it was quite before that release

the new host on vc is much faster, once it loads the page redirect, but that redirect is a doozy (I imagine running off the other webhost)

**Glenn_03Cobra** · 05-31-09, 09:49 PM

Ya... it was supposed to re-directed in a hidden frame but, it didn't work. Yes, all the test data is on my nephew's host. I'm going to try removing all files from my host and database to see if something is bogging it down.

It's possible that my host has some heavy useage on my shared server. But, since my ISP is also slow, it is challenging for me to accomplish much.