The New BON

by Peter Bean on Feb 20, 2007 3:25 PM CST Comment 36 comments

Readers, head on over to Corn Nation and check out the new site redesign that we'll eventually be implementing at BON.

We're sort of testing things out right now and gathering feedback, so please, please - leave any comments about what you see either at Corn Nation or here at BON. I like what I see so far (a lot), but there are bound to be things that need to be ironed out. So feel free to give us as much feedback as you'd like.

Thanks in advance.

--PB--

All comments, FanPosts, and FanShots are the views of the reader-authors who create them.

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Comments

2 things

One thing that has always drive me crazy about the site is the need for subjects on comments. I don't know whether this is something that can be eradicated, but they serve no real purpose.

The other thing would be the need for some kind of separation between posts - whether that be a line or a solid text box that exists now.

Plus, it could just be my browser, but why is the type so huge. And I like the format of the old comments section rather than the new one.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 20, 2007 3:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

so maybe that's4 things

and "drive" should be "driven"

by Jason Mayer on Feb 20, 2007 3:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Like my politics

Im conservative...............
Why change, is there someething wrong with the blog now. Are you changing to change or to conform to others ideals.
Im with you regardless........just giving my .02

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Feb 20, 2007 3:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the top certainly looks better

but the text is pretty big and like Jason said, there probably needs to be some sort of light line in between posts.

by billyzane on Feb 20, 2007 4:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

what am I missing?

Except for the section list in the left column (FB, BB, etc.), I don't see anything on Corn Nation that I prefer to what we have on BON right now (particularly the size of the type). Maybe I am missing something -- what's got you enamored of their design?

by NYCHorn on Feb 20, 2007 4:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Control -

If you are in firefox will reduce text size.

by Wells on Feb 20, 2007 4:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Might be

just the fear of change, but I like current better. I prefer the more pronounced separation between posts, although the font size doesn't bother me. What else has changed? Specifics on what is different (which I might miss visually) would help.

by Red Blooded on Feb 20, 2007 4:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the comments section

After playing around with it a little while, I think the new comments section is absolutely terrible.

I don't need to be required to preview my posts thank you very much.
Much harder to read since the superfluous subject line takes center stage to the actual text of the comment.
Thus, making any long back-and-forth discussion more cumbersome. The simplicity of the old design is much more user-friendly.

I don't want to sound like a jerk about it, but I would hate for it to change just for change's sake.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 20, 2007 4:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I like

being able to preview my post. It's my way of dhv-proofing it. If it looks like shit, I try to change it

41-38

by inVINCEable on Feb 21, 2007 9:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But

unlike the current setup with the choice of Preview or Post, the new design requires that you preview before posting.

If there are any dhevaiviciheos-type errors in this post....TOO BAD, right now I can still choose not to preview it.

by Shake on Feb 21, 2007 10:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Add a favicon

I think adding a favicon (those little pics next to the URL in the address bar) to the site would add a nice little touch. The BON logo would be perfect.

Other than that, I'm pretty neutral on the proposed changes, though I think the current site design works just fine. I'm with Jason Mayer in that I'd hate a change just for change's sake.

Dish the ball to KD for massive damage!

by Ramzlita on Feb 20, 2007 6:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

favicon

Is that what those things are called? I've often wondered that.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 20, 2007 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Weird

My favicon for BON on Firefox's bookmark toolbar is the "E" from ESPN. Tell me how that works out.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Feb 20, 2007 10:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

mine is the new york times logo

it didn't used to be, but now it is. it's odd.

by billyzane on Feb 20, 2007 10:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What's the gain??

Color me ignorant, but I just don't see any real advantages other than a few sharper images on the sight.

Things seem very JUMBLED on the new site. That seems to be the word that makes the most sense to me.

by Shake on Feb 20, 2007 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

well.

Hotlist- the ability to create your own hotlist.

How many times have you commented on an article here at BON, and then wanted to come back and check comments again, and the darned thing has scrolled off the diary page (mostly because the place is so damned popular and all ya'll love to hear yourselves talk about yourselves, right??? ha!) , and you have to go find it. Well, add it to a hotlist, and it's right there available.

Diaries with polls.

Easier formatting.

It's not just change for change sake. It's change for a better tomorrow (please don't force me to come up with a catchy slogan, because I will, and then you'll be sorry!) .

Go Big Red Nebraska!
http://www.cornnation.com

by cornnation on Feb 20, 2007 9:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

changes

I think the idea of hotlists is good, but I've never had that problem. Besides, if it has scrolled off the page, chances are no one is bothering to comment on it anymore. Also, you can set up the page to display more diaries.

Polls (pointless, especially in a diary) and easier formatting (nice to have) are not that important to me.

The main beef I have though is with the comments section. Why is it limited to a small block with the added bars, large subject headings, "(none/0)"????, etc. Every comment should spread all the way across the blog page. By constricting its width and adding all the other extraneous stuff, it makes it a lot harder to read and you have to excessively scroll just to read everything. And I shouldn't have to click on comments and then click again on "post comment" and then have to preview my post every time. It's just cumbersome.

Plus, on the main page, there's no real separation between posts and everything just runs together. On widescreen monitors especially, where there aren't huge chunks of text to break everything up.

I'm trying to be constructive and not just crapping on the design. But this is a site I enjoy going to multiple times a day, and the new design would frustrate me and keep me away. I may be in the minority on that issue and that's fine. But the ease of use and the simple, streamlined design are huge reasons why this site is so inviting.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 20, 2007 10:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ditto

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Feb 21, 2007 7:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can't you already put polls in diaries?

by bamfor on Feb 20, 2007 11:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Corn....but,

Can't we have upgrades like "Hotlists", without having to change the overall appearance of the page??

And I'd have to agree with Bamfor...I've already seen polls placed in a Diary.

CORN- Please don't misundersand...I do have a lot of respect for you becoming the guinea pig.

But in the end, my vote is with Jason (the other one). Let's not make radical changes to BON.

by Shake on Feb 21, 2007 7:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PB, BON is awesome as is.

I'm with Jason - no need for change just for change's sake.

by bamfor on Feb 20, 2007 8:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This little box here

I am writing in is kinda small. It would be nice if more of the size of the post. Sometimes this crappy little box is a hindrance and I just write in a word processor and paste in the comments. You should be able to go into the page Format html and re-size more along the lines of how it will look in a finished post.
Other wise this is a fine layout, easy to use, not very cluttered.
Some of the problems folks are having might be because old browsers don't render these blog formats cleanly. The latest versions of Opera and firefox do very good job and allow some adjustments.

xerxes

by Xerxes on Feb 21, 2007 12:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Firefix plugin for editing

The Xinha Here! plug-in for Firefox lets you open a new window that's larger to enter text and format -- e.g. links and so on -- and then drops it back into the dialog box for the comments.

by DC Trojan on Feb 23, 2007 9:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For those of us who read mostly at work

I cannot format anything on my computer. I just have to hope it works and go with it. Fortunately, BON works. I agree with Jason on this. I like the current format more-so than the one over at Corn Nation. I'm sure there are features that could be implemented, but would the whole site's format need to change along with it?

by GoHorns on Feb 21, 2007 7:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Attn: PB

Can we move this thread to the main page, and add a Poll to see what the masses think? Obviously, you would probably want a Poll with more than just a Yes/No choice. Suggestions:

What do you think of BON changing to the new format (like CN)?

LOVE IT!!!
Overall, a better experience
Neutral...I'll always be here no matter what, like a devoted stalker
Worse for wear & tear
I'll go Milton on you, and burn down BON if you change to this design...or if you take my stapler

by Shake on Feb 21, 2007 7:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

the poll would be front-loaded

people hate change. Doesn't matter what it is, they hate it unless they're giving darned good reasons for it, and even then they hate it, so most people would vote that they want things to stay the same.

I understand where we're going, and while I don't do web development, I do web servers, infrastructure, data interface/communications - those types of things. Some of the things we're changing will lead to more/better later. Consider it evolution - it isn't change for change's sake.

We're not entirely done with the site change at Corn Nation and I think most of the comments are helpful.

My head friggin hurts. That's enough for now.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Corn Nation

by cornnation on Feb 21, 2007 9:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not true

But if that reasoning helps you justify the changes, so be it.

Most websites are vastly improved with a redesign. But in this case, even though some of the new features look useful, it's a case of one step forward, two steps back, because the look, feel, and "readability" of the site has been sacrificed.

Don't just assume that other readers and I are simply resistant to change as the reason we don't like it. Couldn't be further from the truth in my case.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 21, 2007 11:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We're working on the design-ish stuff

Adding color to the background of headline titles, making things easier to read, smaller font - all that good stuff.

The upgrades are an effort to add more features -without- sacrificing design, so feedback on both counts is welcome.

I do understand that you're speaking up with legitimate thoughts; I hope you understand that we're working to make changes with legitimate hopes of making things better for readers.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Feb 21, 2007 11:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

redesign

That's why I'm speaking up - probably because I'm becoming a little too dependent on this stop every 30 minutes..err..few hours at work.

As for the upgrades and new features, I spent a lot of time over at Corn Nation and couldn't figure out how to create hotlists or what some of the various radio buttons were for. But I'll just shut up about it until something is finalized.

by Jason Mayer on Feb 21, 2007 11:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Appreciated

The feedback - not the shutting up.

The last email that we had through the internal SBN list was noting how nice it was to have user feedback as we try to figure this stuff out.

Corn Nation is really just the first implementation and test of this stuff. The more we know about what readers do and don't like (and the more specific the better), the more we can try to marry the upgrades with what readers like and enjoy already.

The last thing we want to do is cram a new system down readers' throats in a manner that's insensitive to what works best for the reader experience.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Feb 21, 2007 11:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

I must continue to second the comments made by Jason Mayer. We are very much in agreement in our perspective of this issue. This is a good thing, as he is much more gifted in typing his thoughts than I.

I'll also go on the record as someone who advocates change on an everyday basis. It's not only part of my job, it is a large part of my personality. However, I am only an advocate of "change for the better", and in no way support changing things simply b/c they haven't been changed in a while (change for the sake of change).

If a graphics or appearance change to the sight is much more functional, logical, eye-pleasing, etc.....then I will be one of the 1st to give it a 'here-here'.

I am glad that SBN sites are looking to improve upon themselves. But let us not forget what 'platform' helped to foster the growth of the BON community. If the readers are turned away by a site's appearance, then no matter how good the blogging is....it may never be read.

by Shake on Feb 22, 2007 7:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with the no changers

Some of the tweaks might be nice, but otherwise I like the site the way it is.

by rom on Feb 21, 2007 8:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of apple pie.

Have you ever gone to the store and picked up an apple pie because it looked great. You get home, take it out of the box, take a slice out of it, put it in your mouth and say to yourself "This tastes like shit, but it looked sooooooooo good.

BON on the other hand is like my mom's apple pie.
Nothing fancy, doesn't look different over the 50 odd years I've been alive. The recipe has basically remained the same. Mom's pie would never win a best looking pie contest, but it's the best tasting damn apple pie I've ever had.

That's my final .02 on the subject...........

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Feb 22, 2007 8:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

May already be a way to do this, but can you have it set up where diaries with the most recent posts are refreshed to the top of the list?
The search option: have a search box already on the front page rather than having to click the "Search" link first. The search should also include diaries, or create a separate search.
I've also always thought it would be cool to have an integrated search amongst the entire SBN. That way you can see what -everybody- is saying about anything you might be looking for.
Maybe a more detailed profile page?

Dish the ball to KD for massive damage!

by Ramzlita on Feb 22, 2007 1:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs