Testing Testing - Ok so now here's our new look (but you don't have to have it, do you hear?)

[JustinExcelsisMumsnet]

This is a sneak preview of our redesign - it's planned across the whole site but we thought we'd give you a preview of Talk so you could give us your thoughts. ETA is early in the new year (God willing).

Two things we should make clear:

First Customise talk and Mn Classic WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE so don't panic if you really hate it!

Second it's not finished yet so not everything works perfectly - it's a test site.

You might wonder why we are bothering with a redesign by the way. We have had quite a lot of feedback that newcomers find the site a little hard to find their way round at first so we are trying to simplify it. We haven't changed much overall in nine years but we've added quite a few bits and bobs on, and to newbies it can be quite daunting we think.

And one more thing - we've found in the past (and we know ourselves) that change can be disorienting but do give it a go for a wee while before you trash it completely, please? .

There's no link to it yet - YetMoreTech will post it in a minute - he wants to add more caveats before he posts it up!

Hope you like it (or at least don't loathe it) - let us know your thoughts.

(Please address all complaints to [email protected])

Hmm. I'm not sure.

Reminds me too much of another parenting website I used to visit and left.

It's just very busy.

hmmm i like it
im looking forward to it coming into play soon
xx ei xx

Will be using mumsnet classic as always

YMT - did you deliberately choose a day with a full moon for your 'snapshot',or is it a coincidence?

I quite like it (but I like classic too, so can't see a reason to change)

Have had a ral good play and have to say......... MUCH prefer the original set-up, its clean, easy to naviagte and Im a grump who doesnt like change lol. For me I'd definitely choose to stay here - very comforting!

The new bar is better, but I still prefer the look of the existing page. I just find it more readable. Maybe it's because the new look seems to use two lines? I don't like the add a new message bit - I have this on another site I go to, where you basically quote the post that you are clicking on. The result can be very disjointed conversations. I think it is better that people contribute a post to the thread, rather than a message to a person, which is the implication here. In general (this thread excepted) posts are in response to the OP, or as part of a general discussion. If it becomes lots of two way chats then I think what is different and special about mumsnet will be lost.

Does the new site have more emoticons? And are they better drawn (I hate - it's creepy).

Also can we have a button to click for 'I hate this advert, please remove and give them their money back'. (NSPCC springs to mind)

(can we have a private messaging system on teh new site please? Ido keep asking.

nooka - the posts do still go to the bottom (or top, depending on how you read it) of the thread - you don't get the 'reply to a post' effect that you're describing.

I love it has that psychoticness about it that fits in so well with motherhood

Oh wouldn't it be nice if all internet ad agencies/distributors introduced one of those buttons helena99 - then advertisers would really know which of their ads we hate. Can't see it happening though, expect ad agencies will run whatever their clients will pay for.

The new site is functional in Opera Mini, which is good, as it still means I can mumsnet from my mobile. There are a few display issues but a site can't be tested on every browser going... getting it to work on the main browsers (IE, FireFox, Safari) is the aim I expect. Keep up the good work Techies, it's looking good so far.

name headers much nicer now

still no post count on the individual thread though...so no way of knowing if we are reaching the magic number 1000! Or will threads be limitless in length?

I bet OldTech(as in shed occupier the first) is sat giggling in his sparkly new shed (did he upgrade to a greenhouse?) because he knows the fuss that will be made when the change is made

(and speaking of one of the curmudgeons fussers...i like the new one better)

when does it go live? (please say full moon)

I like it, it's simpler to see what's what.

It's an improvement, but it still looks very busy to me. Personally I'd like it to be pared down even further, far less links on each page and larger text. Bt I know most MNers want more whizzy stuff and not less so I'll shut up

On a practical note, why not put Chat on the front Talk page as it's one of the most popular topics?

YMT, This thread seems to have some old posts tagged onto the end. New posts are showing up in the middle of the thread, with the old Sept posts remaining at the bottom.
Would you like a screenshot, or is it obvious enough from the thread?

I also agree with someone on there that the blue/grey bar needs to be a tad darker (I know. I know, ya can't please everyone )

TheTwelveDAISYofChristmas (and others), I'm glad you like the blue bars changing to grey, though, they'll be changing again tomorrow! But still to a very subtle shade (sorry to the person whose name escapes me who wanted them in a darker colour!).

EffiePerine, we have tried quite hard to make things less busy. The trouble is, every single thing you remove is missed by someone, so we have to be really careful.

KKNN, don't worry too much about that thread you linked to. It was edited, as an experiment and, well, erm, some stuff happened that wouldn't happen if it was a real thread on the real server.

There will be a new iteration tomorrow and that should address various issues.

mumofmonsters, I was around for the last change. So yeah, I know the kind of shenanigans that goes on.

The update will not be timed to coincide with a new moon, but you never know...

it SUCKS the sweat off a dead donkeys balls

"it SUCKS the sweat off a dead donkeys balls"

everGreensleeves, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

still shite but what do I know...

still shite but what do I know...