Crank

'll go first. I like the ability to just go to the most recent message or forward the thread to a friend.

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.

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.

peg

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.

AC

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!!
As long as I can check in everyday, I'll be fine!!

Bill

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 & any other advantage is over shadowed, by how large you have made the banner area. You should make the banner area a little smaller & increase the size of message title & post areas. Way too much scrolling needed. Not everybody wants to make the window full sized to cover the whole screen.

Susan

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

Susan

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

Jackie

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!

patl

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.

Also, your team should do updates during midnight, not during the day. One sign your team is 'pro' or newbie..

Melanie

THIS IS NOT NICE !!!

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.

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.

I also have to agree with the number of timeouts -- I just got one trying to get to this 'Post A Reply' function!

Please return it to the way it was, or make it a lot more friendly.

Thanks.

L

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.

SharonM

EWWWWW!
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.

I DO like the feature for emailing though, but that's about it...so far.

Helpful

I like it! I like it!

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.
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.

I also think it's great to be able to send a friend a threat. Good job!

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.

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.
Congratulations on doing that!

Kudos to the crew.

sheila

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.
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.
I like the idea of sending a thread.
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".
I enjoy reading info about places I have been, or plan to visit.
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

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...

Eileen

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

Lori

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.

Jenny

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.
What was wrong with old format ???

Dave

Dear Fodors:

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?

I liked the underlining and ability to search by state or topic. I thought the previous way was just fine.

Gary

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.

howard

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.