NEW FORMAT: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
 

'll go first. I like the ability to just go to the most recent message or forward the thread to a friend. <BR><BR>I HATE losing a third of the screen to the animated banner, because now I have to squint and scroll to see the list of messages. You can only see one or two of the whole list of 50. And only the shortest posts can fit on the entire screen -- more often all you get is the header and the click-points and the first sentence or two. <BR><BR>Sorry, Fodor's, the extra time/effort it takes to go between keyboard and mouse is annoying and makes me less likely to scan the whole list, much less go on the the next 50.

I like it, it seems faster, but I miss the underlining of the headers. Though they are in blue, the underlining made it easier for me to skim topics.

<BR>I'm not sure---too much blinking stuff and my computer will not let me see the whole response without moving the screen to the left--let's give it a bit of time though. I'm sure we will get used to it!! <BR>As long as I can check in everyday, I'll be fine!!

It has some good features. Such as when posting a reply, you don't lose the message list on the left. But for me, this &amp; any other advantage is over shadowed, by how large you have made the banner area. You should make the banner area a little smaller &amp; increase the size of message title &amp; post areas. Way too much scrolling needed. Not everybody wants to make the window full sized to cover the whole screen.

Too much scrolling and mousing and I have Carpel Tunnel...please.....fodor's.

HOW DO I GET TO THE STATES? LIKE, FLORIDA, MASS., ETC?

So far, I HATE it! That could be because I'm an old-lady-computer-dummy and haven't figured out how to use it correctly. When I type in the name of a specific state and those messages come up, they all start in 1998 to 2000!! When I click on "sort by date" and/or "jump to most recent", the same thing happens. I cannot get to the latest ones or any posted in 2001 on specific state sites. I don't want to have to scroll through all of the US messages trying to find site specific ones. HELP!

Format may be ok, but something is making it not work. Get too many page errors (not connecting). Guess you tried yesterday during lunch time, and uninstalled the release. Third time I tried to get the page... I'd rather have the old system that works than a new and improved one. <BR><BR>Also, your team should do updates during midnight, not during the day. One sign your team is 'pro' or newbie..<BR>

THIS IS NOT NICE !!!<BR><BR>I posted a question yesterday about New Orleans at Easter Time. This is a very active board, so I didn't really expect to find my message in the first 50. Since I can't filter for only Louisiana any more, I used the Search to find New Orleans. I got fifty messages, dated in 1999. The next fifty didn't appear to be limited to New Orleans anymore, so I gave up on that search. The next Search was for Easter -- same useless results.<BR><BR>If you are going to have a search, at least sort it by date descending so the most recent postings display first. It doesn't do much good to post a question on a bulletin board, if you can't find it again to check the results.<BR><BR>I also have to agree with the number of timeouts -- I just got one trying to get to this 'Post A Reply' function!<BR><BR>Please return it to the way it was, or make it a lot more friendly.<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR>

I don't mean to be critical but this new format is just plain dumb. How do I read only messages from Flordia, for example? I inserted this state in the search function, and nothing happened. Get rid of all the clutter at the top - I have enough clutter in my life - do I need to get it from Fodors too. I just do not understand why you've screwed up the format - did you folks lose your institutional memory of the last go-round? Please, fix it quick - go back to the former format ASAP.

EWWWWW!<BR>I don't like it. I hate having to scroll back and forth just to read one post. Very discouraging. I also prefered the topic headings being underlined. As they are, they seem to get lost with everything else.<BR><BR>I DO like the feature for emailing though, but that's about it...so far.

I like it! I like it!<BR><BR>I find the flashing banners and the scrolling text top sometimes contained in the top banners annoying, but I'll get used to it. And they do stop after 60 seconds or so.<BR>Most people don't like change; it's a fact of life. After a couple of weeks' use, most won't remember what it was like before, so please give it at least that much time before changing it back again.<BR><BR>I also think it's great to be able to send a friend a threat. Good job!<BR><BR>Being able to "jump to the most recent post" is also a big improvement -- so useful im those "hot topic" threads that get dozens of responses.<BR><BR>One huge improvement is that you now automatically make suggested website addresses (URL) [if the person first types the lead-in "http"] in a post a direct link -- just click on the red linked URL and the person can go right to that website.<BR>Congratulations on doing that!<BR><BR>Kudos to the crew.

I don't care for the large banner space either, but it does stop blinking . I never could see more than 4 or 5 of the first 50 posts so that seems to be the same. I can see the whole message without scrolling back and forth, but, I full size my screen. <BR>The font is smaller, but when I click on it, the font becomes larger.I will wear my glasses. I liked the headers underlined as did some of the other posters.<BR>I like the idea of sending a thread.<BR>Like anything else, we get comfortable with something, and then it gets changed. "New and Improved". We still buy the item, or NEVER buy it again. Some people will continue to "check in" to the Fodors page, or NEVER will again. I will continue to "check in". <BR>I enjoy reading info about places I have been, or plan to visit. <BR>You know, the more I look at the small font and the color combination, blue and red, it does sort of make my eyes ache. I AM wearing my glasses!

HELP!!!!! I hate this new format..now I can`t access any of the guestions...it just keeps coming up the first thread that is on top..now I can`t use this site at all..I agree "if it ain`t broke don`t fix it"..please go back to the other format..I`m BEGGING you or I won`t be able to use this site...

I'm also having trouble finding posts within a state and am really frustrated...???<BR>...and I've tried mailing some threads this am to my address, but they haven't come through.

I am not crazy about the huge banner on top, the page seems crowded to me and runs slower. Not a great improvement by any means.

I miss not getting the postings by state !!! Please give it back to us. If I want to access Florida or Montana only, I don't want to sift thru L.A., New York etc.<BR>What was wrong with old format ???

Dear Fodors:<BR><BR>I suggest that BEFORE you make any changes, that you post what you are thinking. You would get less flack that way. How about a suggestion box?<BR><BR>I liked the underlining and ability to search by state or topic. I thought the previous way was just fine.

<BR><BR>What is wrong with you people? This is not a big deal; in fact, it's an improvement. It has a slightly different look, but I bet in two days you'll be hard-pressed to recall what the old one looked like. It seems somehow faster, and has three new features I love: "e-mail this thread to a friend"; "jump to my most recent post"; the fact that the message frame stays in view while posting. The last time there was a major format change, one would have thought the world was ending. Compared to that change, this is minor. For God's sake, get over it.

Don't like it. Way too much scrolling up and down and sidesways. Like a previous post, I also don't like losing a good portion the screen to the banner.

Gary - Fodors asked us what we thought about it, and we are just answering the question. <BR><BR>Fodors - Where's the "return to topics " button?

<BR><BR>Actually, Dave, they didn't ask. And try clicking "travel talk."

Here I am again. Fodors - PLEASE fix your site so that it works. It's MUCH slower and I absolutely HATE not being able to search specific states. When I do a specific search, up comes 3 and 4 year old messages at the top of the column. What good is that? <BR><BR>You have really badly messed up a good thing. I guess I'll be using other sites from now on. Yours used to be the best. No more!!<BR><BR>I'll stay out of the discussion now and hope you respond to everyone's concerns.

I am finding it much, much, much slower to load. The first time I tried to reply to this post, I got an error message. That never happened before, so I'll say it's some type of bug in the new programming.<BR><BR>I don't like blinking banners. It's a grrl thing. Some researcher proved men like blinking banners, women don't. So my guess is men at Fodor's went for the blinking.<BR><BR>No, I do not like the space the banner takes up at the top. Most people here know about the other topics on Fodor's. My concern is next week it will say something like "Powdermilk biscuits -- gracious they're good!" OR worse, some travel service buys ad space here, which might seem like approval of the service by Fodor's. If one of us uses the service and gets royally scammed, lawsuits might happen and Fodor's might get named in the suit (seemed like an endorsement, etc.) and then it's bye-bye Fodor's forum.<BR><BR>What I would like to see: numbers by the respondents. "Peg" would get #1, "AC" #2, "Bill" #3, etc. That way, when I'm scrolling past the responses I have already read, I know where I am in the list.

Absolutely AWFUL! You have to scroll to and fro just to read whole post. Getting connected to the page is a nightmare!! "Error, Error" that's all I seem to be having. No sorry, it's not a success. I really used to enjoy this website, but now... Please could we return to the previous format, there was nothing wrong with it and there is no point changing for the sake of it.<BR>Oh and the banner - what a waste of space.

Yuck! Not liking it so far. I posted a question yesterday and now can't find it to read any responses because the listing of states has been removed. I don't like the top banner either. Plus the site is slower and I can't read any topics because the server times out. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." You've now broken what was already working. Please fix it.

Very frustrating. I can't figure out how to move between US, Europe, Asia, etc. without going back to the home page. It's sooo slow now too. What exactly was the problem with the old format? Too easy? Too convenient? Too efficient?

<BR><BR>Sorry, Mr. Cameron; I really didn't mean to offend. But when I see twenty consecutive negative responses, it starts to make me wonder why I have been unable to find a problem. For instance, several have complained they can't sort by state--try typing the state in the earch box. Included in the reponse is a sort-by-date feature. A few have somplained they can't go back one level--try clicking the "travel talk" box. And I LIKE the way it looks--the removal of the separation lines gives a cleaner feel. But since I'm the only one who seems to like the new version, I'll shut up now, though it seems to me that if some of the users would have spent the two minutes it took to respond instead trying to find the solution, there would have been far fewer complaints.

For Dianne and others who seem to be so helpless at learning this slightly modified message board. To switch between TOPICS:<BR><BR>CLICK ON: TRAVEL TALK <BR><BR>Same as before, right? It's just been relocated to appear directly OVER the location name; i.e., "UNITED STATES."<BR>

Top Ten Reactions To The New Format:<BR><BR>1. Having to click on the scroll bar again and again because text doesn't fit on the screen.<BR><BR>2. Things that blink.<BR><BR>3. Kinda white and bright.<BR><BR>4. "Jump to most recent post" button adds nothing. It was possible to do this before by hitting CTRL + PG DWN.<BR><BR>5. Banner. <BR><BR>6. That Fodors did not announce this change. I kept clicking on my "Favorites" button for Fodors and assumed the site was down. In fact, everyone else was having fun without me.<BR><BR>7. Too many error messages.<BR><BR>8. Why would I want the option to see the threads with the most responses? Maybe so I can just "top" these really long threads and annoy everyone and thereby play a hilarious practical joke? <BR><BR>9. REALLY like the fact that it remembers my screen name. Let's see if it will let me post under this fake name and then let me revert back to my usual one.<BR><BR>10. No one said what "Home" "Mobile" in the upper right hand corner means. Any ideas?<BR><BR>Oh well.

Sorry, Gary, there are problems.<BR><BR>As I post this, the second post in the list(sorted by date descending, apparently) is for a topic that I know is about hotels in New Orleans. The title does not contain New Orleans or Louisiana. So it will not show up if I type 'Louisana' in to search. Given that people don't always use explicit titles for their posts, and that some people are not proficient typists and get a little fat-fingered typing, how do we know for sure what to search for? <BR>That is the reason there are predefined posting categories, to provide consistency across posters.<BR><BR>In addition, when I do search for New Orleans, to find the post I entered just recently that I know includes that phrase in the title, it doesn't show up in the first 50 responses, because they are not sorted by any date logic that I can recognize. Perhaps they are sorted by the most responses -- that doesn't do me much good if the topic is dated 1999 and the information is no longer valid in 2001. Trying to sort the result list by anything ends up with a time-out error, so I can't really tell you how well it works.<BR>

My biggest problem is that the topics at left are so darn close together.<BR>

Well, after all the folderol, and here we are again in our old familiar neighborhood, temporarily. It feels comfy to be home again, temporarily. Just a request: Fodors, presumably you're working madly behind the scenes to spring another change on us next week - or maybe even over the weekend. Why don't you give you new one a one-week trial period - and create a space for us to post feedback? This would permit you to do whatever fine-tuning that makes sense to you. Such as being able to easily search on a specific state or country - like the soon to be former system. Many thanks.

I think it is terrible - I could do without the blinkin' banner for sure. <BR>Frankly I didn't see a thing wrong with the "old" system, it ran well, worked well, gave me no error messages and was not so s l o w!!

It's so nice to be back in the old format, esp. since we have the full width of the screen to read the messages. I could probably get used to changes in the "search" strategy, but when the screen got so cramped up, it just got too tedious to keep scrolling every 2 lines. I agree with everyone -- what was wrong with it (other than too many of the named forums falling below the bottom of the screen at the "crossroads" page)? <BR> <BR>For the record, it was more efficient to be able to specify "Florida" and then search on "hotels," rather than having to search first for "Florida" and then again for "hotels."

The new format is (was!) too busy - were there complaints about the "old" format? Seems to work just fine for me.

People correctly ask what was the problem with the old format. Fodor's e-mails today emphasized they've been collecting poster input for a year or so, and that they never acted arbitrarily. My insticts tell me somebody is fudging the truth just a teeny bit. Okay, Fodors, lets see, lets see those recommendations urging you to insert blinking ads - and to squeeze the space for messages. If someone indeed made those suggestions, they were idiots. Frankly, and I apologize, but I'm having some difficulty believing this entire episode. Someone is fudging.

Thankyou. Could you please leave the page as it stands! I can actually read the posts again without having to use a magnifying glass - seriously, it gives you a headache (and the scrolling left and right!)

I have to admit Fodor's never asked my opinion when designing this new format with the banner and scrunched up screen. How many of you were asked??? Somehow I don't think many were. Let's hope they realize that people actually like to see what they are reading and not have some moving banner playing games with their eyes. Some of us are not so young anymore and our eyes tire easily ... did Fodor's think of that? Jumping to the last post is fine,but the rest is just miserable.

I prefer the format of mid-1999 to any of the recent "improvements." Where is the cruise topic?