News - Forum changes, and your thoughts please!

[mickjaguar]

The page layout of this forum is nicely compressed and clear, particularly on a small phone screen. I can see the last eight posts, without scrolling, as we'll as how many replies have been made very easily. Navigating to the last reply is also very easy to select, even with big spuddy fingers.

I'm not keen on the graphical styles used by some other forums, as they just clutter the interface and waste space. Looks flashy but isn't actually as easy to use. Typically only fitting between 2 and 4 posts on the screen.

Ability to upload videos here would be handy though.

[AdminFred]

The page layout of this forum is nicely compressed and clear, particularly on a small phone screen. I can see the last eight posts, without scrolling, as we'll as how many replies have been made very easily. Navigating to the last reply is also very easy to select, even with big spuddy fingers.

I'm not keen on the graphical styles used by some other forums, as they just clutter the interface and waste space. Looks flashy but isn't actually as easy to use. Typically only fitting between 2 and 4 posts on the screen.

Ability to upload videos here would be handy though.

Thanks Mick, that's good input. The thing that concerns me about featuring the latest posts so prominently is that it can create echo chambers discussing the same few topics, at the cost of wider conversation on more threads. There's definitely a balance to be struck. Regrettably the software presently running doesn't enable us to see how many users are on mobile devices versus tablets versus screens, but the package we're going to has good optimisation for all devices.

[gasgas]

Thank you; do you mean that the front page should look as it does now, with a list of current topics at the top, or would you be happy with a layout with each forum in order, and latest material first within that?

latest material first within that? yes please, as some end up several pages to scroll through old comments to get to the puch line

[Kev]

Perhaps a page similar to Wikipedia with all things F-Type relating to its development, production numbers of specific models etc., online brochures for the different model years

The wiki sounds like a huge undertaking but we'll look into it.

That sounds like a project for someone with time on their hands!

And I believe SCM has just volunteered themselves to be the responsible adult for this task given you have a post count exceeding one million across two forums which clearly indicates you have time on your hands

[NavigatorNI]

I think a "How to" guide would be very beneficial. I am already in the habit of saving the downloads as they appear in case I need them in the future. Access to the workshop manual (from which some extracts have already been posted) would be useful, although I assume there may be some copyright issues involved.

[mickjaguar]

I prefer the 'latest posts' arrangement, as it makes it very quick to notice and respond to new things, irrespective of the subject.

Some other sites have the 'menu list of forums showing posts in order' and I find it bit of a faff to look at several categories in order to notice the new stuff (one of the big Jaguar Clubs uses this approach). A few categories get hammered, whilst others sit idle for ages.

Although, your preference may depend on how often you visit.

[AdminFred]

The wiki sounds like a huge undertaking but we'll look into it.

That sounds like a project for someone with time on their hands!

And I believe SCM has just volunteered themselves to be the responsible adult for this task given you have a post count exceeding one million across two forums which clearly indicates you have time on your hands

One volunteer is worth ten pressed men, as they say... If we had an @ function, I'd be using it now, SCM!

[AdminFred]

I think a "How to" guide would be very beneficial. I am already in the habit of saving the downloads as they appear in case I need them in the future. Access to the workshop manual (from which some extracts have already been posted) would be useful, although I assume there may be some copyright issues involved.

Thank you, it's very clear that practical guides and information is a key thing here... The question is, how to satisfy that need...

[AdminFred]

I prefer the 'latest posts' arrangement, as it makes it very quick to notice and respond to new things, irrespective of the subject.

Some other sites have the 'menu list of forums showing posts in order' and I find it bit of a faff to look at several categories in order to notice the new stuff (one of the big Jaguar Clubs uses this approach). A few categories get hammered, whilst others sit idle for ages.

Although, your preference may depend on how often you visit.

Thanks Mick, this is perhaps the most difficult and binary decision as we set the new forum up... Grateful for you insight and patience, if the route we choose is not immediately to your liking.

[NavigatorNI]

I too like the "latest post" feature. At present, my first action when visiting is to press the "What's New" button.