LJWorld.com

Godot (Anonymous) says…

Very easy on the eyes. Thanks.

drewdun (Anonymous) says…

I like the redesign. The only suggestion I have is to emulate the KC Buzz Blog and allow users to have MS Word-like options, such as bold, italics, or underlined text. Otherwise, great job!

MyName (Anonymous) says…

one big thing: you seem to be getting double numbering in the comments section. The CSS is generating numbers for the comment, and there seems to be some other code that is generating numbers automatically as well.

Also, it seems annoying to me that the “suggest removal” link is on a line all by itself. Perhaps you could move the “suggest removal” link up to the previous line and leave a blank line there. And I would like it better if the block containing the reply (the user generated content) were outdented or something to further to differentiate it better from the auto generated content.

I like the way the article part of it looks, but I think it might be nice if there was more differentiation of the article from the comments part. Maybe by making the background color different for the comments from the white background of the news article? Or a different font for the comments or something.

MyName (Anonymous) says…

Wow, I think it's changing right before my eyes! So ignore the CSS double numbering thing, and the suggest removal thing, but i'd still like something to differentiate the comments from the rest of the article, like a different background or something. Of course as soon as I say that, you'll probably have it change again!

Anyways, it looks pretty good so far.

porkchop (Anonymous) says…

Wow. You just blew my mind.

kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…

nothing fits on my page, I don't like it…too big for someone who wants to read multiple pages….get rid of the new design

mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

it is a bit big, but we will adjust.

News_to_me (Anonymous) says…

So, what's the deal? You click on a most discussed story and it used to take you to the story and the comments. But , not anymore. Not yet anyway. Page is also awfully big and white.

mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

Why so big? I have to enlarge beyong enlarge to see the page. I know you get it.
Kinda stark or plain I guess but you are the experts and I just type so go for it.

classclown (Anonymous) says…

Actually Jeff, it hasn't been fixed yet. If I click on a “Most discussed” story link, everything just disappears. If I click on “Most discussed” itself, then the links come back, but I still can't get to any story from there.

classclown (Anonymous) says…

Nevermind. It's working for me now.

classclown (Anonymous) says…

One other thing though. The old pages had a link at the top where we could access our own profiles or log in. Is that a thing of the past? Or can we expect those links back?

News_to_me (Anonymous) says…

Thanks jcroft. All better now.

classclown (Anonymous) says…

Jeff I see it however it says welcome not my name. No big deal. At least no I know it's there.

Tychoman (Anonymous) says…

In the page that contains the entire post history of a user such as myself, there's no link to go to the article. Only suggest removal. So if I go to my history page to see what I've written, there's no way for me to see what article that is from, nor is there a way to get there. I also can't access my own post history without knowing the www2. address by heart, I don't see any links for that anywhere.

There's also too much white space and the screen is off-balance, all the writing's on the left with ads on the right.

SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…

Why does every poster have “Anonymous” in front of it? Even if that's somehow required, can you move it to a less conspicuous place?

princess (Anonymous) says…

Getting use to it, but so far so good.

And yeah I dislike the “Anonymous” being where it is as well.

mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

went away for a couple hours and bam even more has changed.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Resize on my firefox browser was not working properly and the headers ran off the page. It will probably get better. Doesn't look too bad, same problem with Windows Mobile which 8 am using now. The old format worked well for both of those, but didn't work well with the Smart Phone browser found in the Motorola Q.

I think eventually I am going to like it, once it gets fine tuned.

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

The larger print might be easier for some, but it's rather disorienting right now. Too much white space. Perhaps a different shade of white (less glaring) would work better?

Also, at the bottom of the list of most recently commented on articles, there used to be a link to take you to the next page, so if you wanted to you could comment on stories that were older. I no longer see that link. The only articles that I found available to comment on were the last 20 to be commented on. I couldn't find a way to get to any of the other articles.

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

And right now, I'm seeing, on the very lefthand side, under the “suggest removal” and at the bottom, the last letter in everyone's comments is repeated there.

hujiko (Anonymous) says…

its magnified, all the text runs of the edge without a bottom scroll bar, all the sides are too cramped, and the menus are jumbled up

please email me if you need my os and version

Baille (Anonymous) says…

Yuck

Tychoman (Anonymous) says…

I don't like it either.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Yeah, I'm really liking it now, of course I am open minded kind of guy. I would really prefer the reader comments were 'slightly” larger face type and ran a tad wider (little smaller ad).

I like the front page over all, but I too would like a little bit more differentiation on the sections and a slightly larger typeface, Darn maybe it only me, should I go to the optometrist?

A really offbeat comments I really like the front page pictures landscape format better than the portrait rectangle. Will this new layout allow the main photograph on the front page to run both horizontal and vertical?

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

i really like the section layouts, they are perfect don”t touch them!!! Front page needs some work, I miss the weekly weather header landscape.

compmd (Anonymous) says…

This redesign is the perfect excuse for me to never turn on my computer room lamp! I just have to load up ljworld.com on the machine with the ancient 21” CRT monitor, and there's light! I like how much cleaner the pages are, awesome work. But I feel like I'm staring at a light bulb with all this white. Also, I usually post from my PDA, and the old site used to render REALLY well on it…I'll post back when I see how it looks on Windows Mobile.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…

Jeff,
In the user comments section, are you going to include a link back to the original article/page?

spacystaci8 (Anonymous) says…

Not really liking it. It is harder to get around. I liked being able to find everything on the left side. Maybe I will like it better after I get used to it.

snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…

Is there a link to OTS on the front page? I didn't see one a moment ago.

werekoala (Anonymous) says…

First FARK, now this?

It's a conspiracy, I tell's ya…

werekoala (Anonymous) says…

test
[b]test[/b]

Okay, as long as you're at it, why not some basic HTML formatting in the comments sections, at the very least the ability to italicize, bold, and underline?

inatux (Anonymous) says…

It's a little too wide for my taste.

And the white is overpowering.

And, the white isn't very “green.”

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/218589…

Tsk.

nugget (Anonymous) says…

Bravo. Readers here are spoiled and don't know it. This is easily the best newspaper site in the region. Check out the messes that serve Topeka, Wichita and K.C. if you don't believe it. The web guys are top-notch (no, I don't work for them). Great CSS effort. Improved usability from what I'm seeing.

Katara (Anonymous) says…

Werekoala - I was thinking the same thing! Think it is any co-inky dink that there is/was a Jeff in charge there & a Jeff in charge here? It gives the more conspiracy-minded something further to obsess about.

Sorry, LJW, I need something with a much less brighter background. My retinas are slowly being burned away.

And if we get pictures, then we most definitely need some HTML for the comments.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

No bold, no highlighting, no italics please. I prefer the emphasis be from the writing and not from formatting.

Good2go (Anonymous) says…

Ya baby something new I likey. Do I have to use quicktime. I just wouldn't be me if I didn't complane about something. I need a spell check on this mother too.

getalife2 (Anonymous) says…

Too wide, too bright, don't like. I will change my home page to something other than LJ world and get my news elsewhere.

imagold (Anonymous) says…

I'll get back with you later…my head's still reeling. Had no idea this was coming. Did I miss an announcement?

warthog (Anonymous) says…

It's different, but nothing that I can't get used to. At least you don't have to sign in to read the news like the Capital Journal does.

mhenders (Anonymous) says…

Awesome work guys. Best on the web.

The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

I like the layout and format and so forth.

But… the color… it's not easy on the eyes. It also happens to be UNC blue.

bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

spacystaci8: One of our main goals is more intuitive and powerful navigation, so we'd be quite interested to know what you're experience is. Is there something
you couldn't get to as easily / quickly as you'd've liked?

David Ryan
Online editorial projects manager

–
no link on the start page to *letters to the editor* only to submit one! little suddenly disorienting zowie.

***
hate to sound like an ol' fahrt…but the previous design was fine, why'd ya' have to go 'n change it…darnit! suppose I'll figger this out. once you get done diddling, just leave it alone don't succumb to the temptation keep messing with it.

frwent (Anonymous) says…

I don't like it. If it works, why fix it??

I willnot be cancelling my subscription to a printed copy that I can read and locate the stories.

Everyone these days wants to seem to find something “new and better” and ends up screwing up things. Yuck!

bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

also, no link on the start page to “forums” “reader forums” etc. seem to have to go through “opinion. is this some of the “clutter” you got off of the start page. well put it back, i like my clutter!

Godot (Anonymous) says…

Not counting Marion, everyone is “anonymous.”

Put the forum name first, followed by “anonymous” or real name.

Thanks, Marion, for having the guts to be who you are.

Newell_Post (Anonymous) says…

Seems like lots more scrolling down with the new layout. Old layout was more compact and got more comments on one screen.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Any thoughts of allowing users to pick the old “standard edition” or the “new edition”? Also, nobody has spoken to my preference for landscape picture for the main story on the front page. Any chance pictures will be allowed to be more than 1 column wide and not dead center? “The brightness” of the nytimes (my favorite look) and washingtonpost sites is the typeface. Its slightly larger, thicker, and more ornate (more typewriter'ish) and lowers the overall brightness.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

You do know that you look like everyone else, you've lost your uniqueness.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Ben would be proud, I think ….

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

So far, I liked the previous look much better. Hate all this white, and the fact that ther are no sidebars for “the usual stuff” people might want to link to—like the hot jobs, candles, etc.

Thanks for asking for reader feedback, LHS..

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Agreed, lots of hard work and thanks for asking for feedback. BTW, design standards are meant to be broken. :p

compmd (Anonymous) says…

Question: On my public profile page, it says I'm a verified user. However, the linked description of a verified user implies that it is someone whose identity you have confirmed. This is not true for me, as I'm an “anonymous” user. Is this a bug?

xyz (Anonymous) says…

—When I click on an article link under the “most discussed article” tab, it does not go to the top of the page.
—12:39 am post—surely you will not be using the term non-anonymous! ID verified is what you mean, right? What is the big deal with putting Anonymous/ID verified/Name on this screen, since the vast number of posters are anon. If a reader wants to know the poster's status, they can click on the poster's link.
—The 2 lighter shades of blue that you are using really fade out and are very hard to read against the WHITE background.
—Why are all stories smack up against the lefthand margin?

kcwarpony (Anonymous) says…

Would like a direct link to the forums on the start page.
Can’t find a link to the Most Recently Commented Articles, only the Most Discussed. Earlier when I could find it, I couldn’t find anything older than 3 hours and no next page button. If I post something and I can’t get back for a day or so, how am I going to find out if someone cussed me out?

What’s wrong with being unique? Why does LJW web site have to look like The New York Times and The Washington Post?

“Familiarity breeds usability.” That sounds like the changes were meant for those who read the other newspaper sites. I understand trying to generate more hits but does it have to be at the expense of the current users? I liked the old format, loved it actually. This new format is going to make me blind. How many complaints were there about the old format?

If it ain’t broke, let it alone…

perkins (Anonymous) says…

Right. Like the library, people. If it ain't broke, leave it alone. But at least we taxpayers did not finance this new design! Thanks, LJW and web designer Jeff Croft for continuing to provide a wicked good blog site.

This site rocks and we will get get accustomed to the new design soon, massive white space and North Carolina blue and all. I am thankful for such a forum in which the bright Lawrence minds can blog.

Finally, I, too, think Marion deserves a pat on the back for not being anonymous.

scott3460 (Anonymous) says…

Much too bland and way too much of this blue-grey color, in my opinion anyway. I tend to agree with the if it ain't broke, why try to “fix” it mindset.

Also the information seems to be too north/south oriented with way too much open space on the right of the screen. The old design with plenty of links and information on the right side of the screen was preferable.

On a plus side, I think the avatar idea is a good one.

punkrockmom (Anonymous) says…

Yeah, not a fan of the whiteness. It looks kinda like when you make your first homepage when you first get on the internet and it's all white and text.

I like the weather; it's easy to find and access. Last night, I couldn't find anything; now I can, so that's good.

Also, I hate the anonymous thing. I think the screen name should be first. Maybe make the non-anonymous people a different color. We don't need their real names on the same place, if you really want to know, you can click their profile.

overthemoon (Anonymous) says…

nice and clean…but I agree wtith the 'too white' comments. A little tone and focus on the front page would be good. Perhaps hierarchy of info is a better term. I liked the old format with top stories headlines for quick browsing.

Overall, a good effort!!

gkwhdw (Anonymous) says…

I'm having trouble finding the weather forecast. Shouldn't have to do anything but push weather to get. What's the secret? Please don't make things difficult, otherwise the layout is very nice.

tanzer (Anonymous) says…

the text starts right at the edge of the browser screen unless i enlarge my brwoser window and then i can't see any other sites i might be looking at in the same moment… … i miss a big margin!

justsomewench (Anonymous) says…

well done, imho. less cluttered and loads well.

good job, folks.

craigers (Anonymous) says…

It's nice and big. I actually like it. Not too much going on in the background doesn't have to be a bad thing. Makes things easier to read.

cowboy (Anonymous) says…

need a direct link to forum threads like the old version , i find the pages not distinct enough , used to be able to scan headlines very easy and go to what you want to read , guess im not impressed with the change so far.

The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

Day 2 - I still dig it. Anytime a site changes it's design people bitch and moan and I'm pleasantly surprised there hasn't been too much of that.

On the brightness… I think it is more of an issue as you scroll down the comments. Just a lot of white (no banner ads or links on the side when you get this low).

mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…

day two and finding it a little hard to get around but it is new so will get used to it I think.

clyde_never_barks (Anonymous) says…

I don't like it. The font is very difficult to read - seems as though the spacing is not correct - letters and numbers blend together. Also don't like the fact that when you click the “back” button, you go back to the main page, not the “most discussed” tab. One final thought/question…what are the little letters followed by a period at the bottom and to the left of each post?

Defender (Anonymous) says…

It is WAY too big, and I have perfect eyesight and a large hi-res monitor. I really dislike the new design, makes everything too hard to read.

Defender (Anonymous) says…

Also, the 'Most Discussed' link doesn't do anything. Even if you right click and choose 'Open in a New Window' it doesn't work correctly.

Easy_Does_It (Anonymous) says…

Who moved my cheese?

MeeMa8 (Anonymous) says…

So far I hate it. Maybe just busy because everyone is trying it out. But it took be 5 tries just to log on to ljworld and now it is taking forever to go anywhere. can't find anything and it keeps kicking me off. Too spread out. Where are births at hospital?

MeeMa8 (Anonymous) says…

Again, got kicked off and took 1/2 hour to get back on! where are the designers that commented on feed back last night? They should be here today when most people are seeing the new design for the first time.

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

I just think it's extremely unattractive—vast expanses of white, broken by bars of anemic blue. Change for change's sake, apparently, rather than for any logical or improvement-driven reason.

And, yes, part of my impression could simply be due to being accustomed to the former appearance, but I'm trying to adjust for that. I also realize that it's a work in progress, so I'm less concerned about the links that don't connect (or that lead to error pages) than the intentional changes—which, to me, seem to be for the worse rather than the better.