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])

I quite like it.
I can navigate the current site OK cos I'm used to it, but I think the new one is clearer.

Bloody awful

don't like it.

It looks like it's been designed by the same person who designed the Argos site.

oh my god it's hideous. The first thing you see when you open it is that huge great advert on the right...

But (a) I possibly don't do change that well, as seen the last time MN changed

and (b) you've promised we can keep MN classic haven't you????

I've seen worse!

It is ok, as has been said it is a bit NM and a bit Bounty which I don't like. I do think newbies will find it easier to use (although there could be an argument to say that a newbie working out how to use MN is part of the initiation - if they manage to find a topic, make a post and survive a flaming then they deserve to be here..)

The advertising overshadows everything, I am not quite sure why the need to have bigger advertising really....

I will stick to my faithful classic version personally, however, I will have a little question at the back of my mind with each newbie "would you actually have made it this far with the old site...?"

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Definitely easier to navigate, but I couldn't remember what the general chat bit came under and it wasn't in the popular forums so that screwed me.

But I'd probably stick with classic anyway as I don't do change.

But I'd probably stick with classic anyway as I don't do change.

I like it

Overall looks nice however I hate the excessive white gap on the right and another large gap between thread title and the start of the posts (nearly a full screen of blankess and just an advert on the right !!!

Should add I am on a laptop with a normal screen running IE.

i like it! it's better than that dreadful one you inflicted on us! - i never bothered with it! stuck to the traditional.

The only thing I don't like is when you get into the thread itself, it seems rather squashed up. iyswim.

plus i don't like the colour - what is it, aquamarine or turquoise or something? tis pants. have the proper blue. the original blue. the only blue.

but apart from that - i think i could live with that.

• i tried to post this on that site, but it said incorrect username or password

The gap at the top is the same for me babies. I'm on a laptop too running IE.

From a commercial perspective I like it and am sure it will bring in more members/increased ad revenue.

From a user perspective I am not massively keen, I mean, it's ok but as others have said blue bars too big, looks a bit more NM etc.

I think it will attract a different type of user not just an increase is users which could be interesting, my main worry would be losing the essence of MN i.e. - intelligent women who don't need pretty colors to talk about parenting and gaining a new audience of people who tlk lyk dis. I might just be being an anti-change snob here though!

Well I don't like it as it won't let me post.

It took me an AGE to realise there were talk topics as the advert gets in the way. Will people know to scroll down (or is that just thicko me??

like the latin , talk much much better presented but the ads are even bigger , couldn't they be a little more subtle?

Ah - I bet I know the problem with the big gap at the top. What size window are you running it in, do you know? I did notice the fixed width is a bit wide (considering you're supposed to allow for 800x600 screens) - I wonder if you're viewing smaller than it's set to then it does funny things with the scrolling/resizing?

Why can't I get into talk?? It said I was logged in, but it won't let me into any of the topics.

I hate that you have to click "more" to see all the topics in the section - I can't find chat as I have no idea what section it is in, and it would be the same for others (serious - AIBU as a most popular is just inviting trouble)

Generally pissed off I can't see the main boards to comment

I'm in.

Horrible.

But...but...but

it looks like other forums now!

So generic

I don't like change

"RubberDuck" - I don't know - got a 17" screen if that's what you mean?

I know how to switch computer on, off and.......nope, just on and off.