FF2 needs your input - what should be displayed on the home screen?

[FF2-Team]

Hello fellow fractalists!  

Currently if you enter http://www.fractalforums.com into your browser or click "home" you will see the forum index.

If we implement a modification 50% on the team want, this home site will instead show a list of the recent activity and a sidebar - see image below.

There is currently no other option to get the change implemented without moving the forum index to this url: http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?action=forum
Nothing but the URL would change, the index would of course still be there but one click further away, as marked in preview-image below.

We won't be able to add that activity list + the sidebar if the index has to stay at "home".


Please let us know what you think.
Written comments are also welcome.


Though this poll is not about the sidebar, we should provide you with some info on that:
-it is collapsable. If you don't like it you can close it, it will stay closed until you re-open it.
-it currently is just on the home screen, not on any other page (like thread-view) to save screen space for the posts.


so here's that preview you've all been waiting for

[simon.snake]

I very rarely go straight to the forum index anyway.

My favourite in Chrome takes me straight to the "New replies to your posts" link and from there I generally use "Show unread posts since last visit" to view new stuff I've not seen yet.

That works well for me, and then I might go looking around if I have time.

[0Encrypted0]

I use an RSS feed from the site to see latest posts and gallery additions.

[3dickulus]

I use "Personal Messages > Inbox" as an entry point and then I usually look at "New replies to your posts" then "Show unread posts since last visit"  before browsing or (re)searching. No problem with one more click. I think people will adapt to the new layout, my entry point will still be my inbox ( lol just read that over again giggle, smirk)

The preview looks very nice 

[0xbeefc0ffee]

I really only care about the latest posts

I think the categories of posts aren't very important

[FractalStefan]

My most frequently used view is "Show unread posts since last visit", so I don't care if the forum index is on the front page or not.

[Softology]

For me I always scroll down and click the "View the most recent posts on the forum." link to see the latest posts.  That view saves me having to log in unless I specifically have something to say.

I hope that functionality exists in the new forum.

[Chillheimer]

thx for your input everyone!

"View the most recent posts on the forum."
I hope that functionality exists in the new forum.

Still exists, you're not the only one who uses that a lot. So we made it easier accessible - see lowest entry in the sidebar in the screenshot:  "recent posts"  


and we take extra care not to mess with your entrypoint 3dickulus! 

[xenodreambuie]

I have the home page scrolled down to show the latest posts, so it always shows that when I refresh. I am totally for keeping latest pics and comments separate from other topics in the latest posts. It's compact and easy to read. It's fine to expand it if there's less competition for space on the home page, but the sidebar example below is wasteful and slower to read, so I'd hope for improved design. Then I'll be all for it.

[Sockratease]

I have the home page scrolled down to show the latest posts, so it always shows that when I refresh. I am totally for keeping latest pics and comments separate from other topics in the latest posts. It's compact and easy to read. It's fine to expand it if there's less competition for space on the home page, but the sidebar example below is wasteful and slower to read, so I'd hope for improved design. Then I'll be all for it.

I'm the one who was totally against the new index page, but rest assured - it is Only the index page!!

The forum will still be there and you can bypass the index page entirely by bookmarking the forum index.  Otherwise it is a matter of one click to get to the forum index page.

I mostly use the recent posts page and rarely visit actual threads so I was reluctant to make this change, but it provides a way to see a lot of things in a way that some people think is an improvement and others question.

I question, but as long as we all get what we want, it is for the best.  Nothing is being lost, all categories and interfaces here remain there.  We may reorganize the sections, but that has happened quite a few time here as it is. 

It is only the index page that is changing, but it links to a nearly identical version of this forum.  And the portal only operates as a portal, meaning it is just an entry page.  We still have our forum and it will feel very much like this one.

Public Beta Testing is coming soon, so watch for the open call for test members!

[mclarekin]

I personally have no preference, I am adaptable.

BIG THANKS TO THE TEAM WHO ARE WORKING ON THE UPDATED FORUM.