View Poll Results: What do you think of the new layout?
- Voters
- 162. You may not vote on this poll
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I like it.
11 6.79% -
I don't like it.
115 70.99% -
I'm easy.
12 7.41% -
Back to the drawing board.
17 10.49% -
I suggest an alternative.
7 4.32%
Results 101 to 125 of 401
Thread: New WHT layout [merged]
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11-11-2006, 12:39 PM #101Eternal Member
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Originally Posted by Jortex
http://web.archive.org/web/200007062...stingtalk.com/
Originally Posted by Jortex
Advertisers on here aren't trying to get in to the minds of the forum "junkies". iNet have the job of catering to buyers as well as providing a free forum.
(edit: might not need)Last edited by AussieHosts; 11-11-2006 at 12:49 PM.
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11-11-2006, 12:41 PM #102Junior Guru
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Originally Posted by AussieHosts
Last time i checked WHT was neither a shop or a business, it was a community where users could post and communicate with each other.0
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11-11-2006, 12:42 PM #103Retired Moderator
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I think that we would all have been a lot calmer and more okay with a change like this had it been discussed earlier with the WHT userbase. You've implemented a change that basically drives up your ad revenue, and makes WHT squished and rather unattractive (less "usable" for us members). Now we have to go through lots of arguing back and forth, and I still have to try and uncross my eyes staring at the screen. Arguing isn't productive, brainstorming before hand is productive and would have prevented this entire thing. It isn't so much the ads, but all the dead white space to the right of a thread (I'm on 1280 by 960). We can probably learn to deal with it, but it's more the concept of shoving more ads down our throats that makes me upset. Your goal may one day backfire, as you'll find that many members at WHT become sick of getting more ads and other things shoved down their throats, and without members, what do you really have but a few really expensive computers and some pretty software?
I hope next time such a big change is implemented you will let us know before hand and maybe have some sort of IRC discussion or even just a thread here.
Alex0
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11-11-2006, 12:47 PM #104Junior Guru Wannabe
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I have officially begun looking for that plugin for Firefox that allows you to alter a web site's layout to your heart's desire. It's bad enough when half your members already use the hosts file or their browser to block all of the advertising on WHT, but it must be even worse when they have to alter the layout to make themselves happy...
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11-11-2006, 12:48 PM #105Eternal Member
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Originally Posted by tickedon
Here's one example of what I am talking about:
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflor...5/daily22.html
"Neil E. Merin, chairman of NAI/Merin Hunter Codman, which oversaw the renovation and is managing and property leasing on behalf of BPG Properties, said prospective tenants are drawn to dramatic views, private office terraces and elite roster of companies."
G0
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11-11-2006, 12:51 PM #106Disabled
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Interesting how this was done on the Eve of Stoddard Hill Capital acquiring INET Interactive and Troy being President & CEO of it.
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11-11-2006, 01:05 PM #107Eternal Member
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Originally Posted by Jortex
Originally Posted by Jortex
In order to provide that facility, new startups, well established providers and opportunists pay the bills.
Find me a dozen free web hosting forums that are as large as WHT, and that are completely free of advertising and membership fees. Then I'll accept that iNet are doing something so completely leftfield that they should rethink their strategies.
G0
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11-11-2006, 01:28 PM #108Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by LAXNOC0
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11-11-2006, 01:47 PM #109Junior Guru Wannabe
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I see nothing wrong with more ads being shown to guests, but for members it's annoying and distracting.
¤ If I go there I lose my way
¤ If we stay here we're not together
Moiraine0
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11-11-2006, 02:24 PM #110Nerf Herder
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I hate the new layout, there are far better ways to generate ad revenue, makes it harder to read and slower loading and just crappy.
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11-11-2006, 02:33 PM #111Death is Sex
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No way, Dont try to make more $$$$ each day. It doesnt look any good now. Let me see broad WHT.
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11-11-2006, 03:13 PM #112Web Hosting Master
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if the majority of users dont login, but they're the ones you want to get ad clicks/views from, why not increase the ads for non-members, with the promise of less ads on signup? its almost a win-win for you...
currently this awful..0
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11-11-2006, 03:54 PM #113Web Hosting Master
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AussieHosts -- how could you possibly be defending iNet? First off, not only do they make more than enough to run the forums, they cheap out by getting fewer servers and with constant lag and/or downtime. It's been better in recent times, but most of my time spent here has been one issue after another.
Secondly, without us this forum is worth next to nothing. We work for free and post because we enjoy it or want to sell a service here. That's about it.GeeksGather - Undergoing redevelopment. Stand by.0
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11-11-2006, 04:15 PM #114Retired ***ulator
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I think he's coming from the business perspective. Maximise the income from your properties.
I haven't noticed that much downtime here, but then again our local power utility is testing BPL (Broadband Power Line) and when it's turned on, it knocks out my DSL, so I don't access the web as much and probably miss any downtime here.
Originally Posted by PixelManual73's, Kim
Everything happens for a reason I make up.0
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11-11-2006, 04:34 PM #115Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by PixelManual
You have to also understand his perspective because he's talking about revenue while you are talking about usability. Two different things.
I think that if the company that owns and runs iNet will simply come out with a better solution that's better on the usability side. For example, it was suggested to have ads after posts, having a horizontal skyscraper in the middle of the page. Its clear that the current format doesn't work, and perhaps about 90% of users here are in signature violation as well. But the decision won't be after iNet, that's what you have to realize, and the company that runs it is driven only by increasing revenue, so don't expect them not to squeeze every dollar they can out of WHT.
Best,0
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11-11-2006, 04:34 PM #116Retired Moderator
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Originally Posted by Kimmikat
Alex0
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11-11-2006, 04:41 PM #117Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by Techark• WLVPN.com • NetProtect owned White Label VPN provider •
• Increase your hosting profits by adding VPN to your product line up •0
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11-11-2006, 04:51 PM #118Retired ***ulator
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You got a point.
Something somewhat simular is the website I do for a transit agency. I designed the site from a user's perspective and to make accessible for as many as possible. But the management-types wants lots of graphics and Flash all over it, which I refuse to do. The reason is they mainly want "Eye Candy" to win awards. Another site went from usable to Flash ladden and like here, people started to complain.
They need to come up with some kind of comprimise for get more revenue, but not chase the life and blood away, the members.
Originally Posted by adb2279173's, Kim
Everything happens for a reason I make up.0
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11-11-2006, 05:10 PM #119Web Hosting Master
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Originally Posted by Kimmikat
WHT's ad model was balanced, with the large banner at top and a smaller banner at the bottom. There's also the many other revenue streams, including stickies etc etc. It's a balance of advertising and usability.
If it aint broke, don't fix it!• WLVPN.com • NetProtect owned White Label VPN provider •
• Increase your hosting profits by adding VPN to your product line up •0
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11-11-2006, 05:18 PM #120Web Hosting Master
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I have to say, this new layout sucks!!! (I'm not being blunt or anything!)
I agree with you, Aussie Bob, a higher price would've had the same effect for iNet, and it would have gone over in a much better manner with the WHT users.Daniel B., CEO - Bezoka.com and Ungigs.com
Hosting Solutions Optimized for: WordPress • Joomla • OpenCart • Moodle
Data Centers in: Chicago (US), London (UK), Sydney (AU), Sofia (BG), Pori (FI)
Email Daniel directly: ceo [at] bezoka.com0
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11-11-2006, 05:59 PM #121Web Hosting Master
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I didn't know what anyone was talking about till half way through the thread.
Chalk one up for my #30' dell. I didn't even notice.
As for the people complaining, it would seem to me that it's a pretty simple resolution. Since 80% of the people seeing the ads are non members, make the premium accounts allow hiding the side bar completely like it use to. I would imagine the percentage of premium members to members is not very high, and understanding that it's still only 20% of traffic combined it's an easy fix, makes it more desirable to be a premium member and satisfies all the needs.
Just my 0.02Show your reciprocal links on your website. eReferrer0
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11-11-2006, 06:10 PM #122Owner of the net for a day
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I have a solution, all community leaders, guides, etc need to resign until the layout is changed back
They are the core of the community without them it would not be here.......
for me Greasemonkey on firefox is it, and I think the little script needs to be added to www.userscripts.org to make the site usable.
I have installed some ad blocks in the past but as of late had not and even clicked ads that were of real interest to me(like the ICANN consultants for starting the processes of being ICANN registrar). However with the layout changes the site is not usable on my laptop that I utilized 99% of the time and I will look for other ways to view the site(greasemonkey), if iNet wants me to remove this they can remove the ad over there. I need a public announcement of the change in order to remove the greasemonkey because I am not changing the rule
In essense, this move can make iNet lose large amounts of money by maddening old visitors and advertisers, as well as keeping new people away because of the usability factor being way down.0
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11-11-2006, 06:41 PM #123Web Hosting Master
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I think we can pretty much sum this thread up by saying this;
iNet, you screwed up. You didn't consult your clients (Yes, we *are* your clients). Members are threatening to leave WHT, and in some cases, members already have. Members are installing ad blockers, which not only block the ridicule that is the right side of WHT, but also blocks the other ads that were not being blocked before. The overwhelming majority of your clients hate the right bar.
Do yourself a favour, remove that right bar at the end of the current sponsors cycle, or better yet, remove the damn thing now. Do yourself a favour and address the points in this thread. Do yourself a favour by considering the members, before your bank balance, both now and in the future. And by God do yourself a favour and listen to the advice in this thread... increase your prices if demand is above supply. Adding a new lane to the highway only solves the problem in the short term. Eventually there won't be room for another lane, just like there won't be room for more ads. If demand is above supply, your prices are obviously reasonable, and likely have room to increase.0
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11-11-2006, 06:59 PM #124-=*/E=-
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To be frank and sorry to say it sucks now , my screen really looks ugly now and all the blank space and smaller window size makes me puke.
http://www.sbclansite.com/viewer.php...75whtsucks.JPG
Thanks to my adblocker in firewall it blocks annoying ads so i see only white blank page on right.12+ years -same website , new server [SSD Inside] providing shared/reseller hosting only !
These things we do not provide/offer : Unlimited Storage ! Unlimited Bandwidth ! But Why? Cause, we were unable to put such a large number on our pages, it just would not fit.
So check out the numbers that actually fit >> << the page as well as your budget too !0
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11-11-2006, 07:12 PM #125Temporarily Suspended
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Originally Posted by Equentity - Jamie0