F-Chat in need of new look | FerrariChat

F-Chat in need of new look

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by modena, Jan 17, 2008.

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  1. modena

    modena F1 Rookie
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    May 14, 2006
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    John
    Just looking at a couple of other forums (6 speed an L-Power) and I noticed that f-chat is seriously behind these two in terms of the website design. Dont get me wrong, it works the way it is but I think that a fresh, updated new look would really be good for f-chat. The other forums are very colorful and have graphics/pictures. TBH i think the f-chat forum layout is pretty dull and boring. On 6 speed I noticed that there are porsches which change color if someone is active on the forum. I thought that was really cool. The same grey/blue layout on f-chat is very dull and the other color choices look very bad. Just a thought - anyone agree with me that a fresh look for f-chat would be a good idea?
     
  2. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 20, 2003
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    Just so you know - this has been a topic amongst Moderators a few times - and is currently under review again.

    [Back to our regularly scheduled programming]
     
  3. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
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    Whatever you do, don't pick a black background...it has a headache inducing appearance.

    I look at Fchat for the comments/info/commaraderie. Quite frankly I think it looks fine, and its an easy read...

    Don't pursue change for the sake of change itself...
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    I mentioned this a year ago or so and it fell on deaf ears. It was suggested that not having all the bells and whistles made it easier to navigate.
     
  5. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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  6. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
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    What might be cool is a specific technical section for key articles/thread/how to articles...

    And make it a permanent resource...

    There is an amzing amount of knowledge on here, if someone could just group it together...
     
  7. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
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    Just so you know you can change the color scheme of your Fchat page. There was some info on this about a year ago. The grey / blue is just the default colors. Go to the 'user controls' , then 'user options', and at the bottom there is a tab for other options with 'skins'. You can pick from three other color schemes there to change it up a bit.
    :)
    BT
     
  8. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    Clifford Gunboat
    Please leave it alone.

    No busy backgrounds.

    No dancung avatars.
     
  9. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
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    Chris
    I think you could update some aspects (buttons, color schemes) but stay away from too many graphics. It really only needs a slight face-lift.

    This is coming from someone who has a background in design and still can't get his own forum sorted out- believe me when I say it's NOT easy (and the benefits aren't much either). As Bo said, it's an easy read and should stay that way.
     
  10. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Here's the thread SrfCity's referring to:
    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132888

    The "Black and Gold" 'interfered' with database and server.

    The default "drab" look is meant to look as innocuous as possible, as it helps prevent nosy people at work and school from noticing screen and getting sneaky f-chatters in trouble.

    There's one optional, kick-ass oh, so modern redesign I'd really like to get to work on vBulletin without impacting server or database, but, can't say... *wiggles eyebrows*

    Again - there's been more threads like this on the Mod forum.

    [Back to our regularly scheduled programming]
     
  11. Horsefly

    Horsefly F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2002
    6,929
    Leave it alone. Leave it alone. Also,......leave it alone. If anybody wants more bling, let them design their own web site.
     
  12. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ
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    There is nothing wrong with it so leave it alone.
     
  13. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    I think the colors and graphics are okay as they are.
    The real entertainment value of this site are the posts and the personalities of the users.

    As long as we're wishing, my wish list of improvements are:
    - the ability to upload larger picture files (279k for a jpg is way too small).
    - a place to upload and share high-resolution pictures (perhaps a new section).
    - a much higher storage limit for PMs (at all levels of subscription).
    - the ability to get more than 250 results on a search request (as an option, not all the time).
    - the ability to edit a post more than 10 minutes after saving it (this might help the "morning after" for some)

    And for FerrariAds:
    - larger pictures of the cars.
    - make the entry of an asking price mandatory.
    - a specific mandatory Car Location field for City and State or City and Country.
    - require a manual reactivation of any ad that has been posted longer than 30 days (and require a reactivation every 30 days from then on).
     
  14. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    +100,0000000
     
  15. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    great post ! excellent points!
     
  16. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    The server errors are gone -- it's working. So it's time to muck it up again? I think not.

    It ain't broke, don't "fix" it.
     
  17. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

    Jul 11, 2004
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    NYC
    I like FChat just the way it is. :)
     
  18. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    FerrariAds could be a lot better. I don't think you should have to enter a price, but the other ideas I agree with.
     
  19. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    Leave it alone. The dancing bunnies and repetitive graphic sigs belong on kiddie boards. Clean, subtle, easy to read is the way to go.

    I would agree with the larger limits per image, I HATE having to degrade a 800x600 image to get it on here.
     
  20. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    Jul 26, 2004
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    I totally disagree with the original poster.

    Like the body lines of the 330 GTC, the look of this site fits it like a custom tailored suit of clothes. Simple, elegant, easy to look at.
     
  21. Samimi

    Samimi Formula 3

    Oct 17, 2005
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    +1...FChat is very easy to use, and look at. In contrast to ***********, and other sites, they are just to hard to read - black background, and they seem too messy and cluttered.
     
  22. jorge.rios

    jorge.rios F1 World Champ
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    Good Points Toggie...

    Agreed with you in all of them...
     
  23. 4REphotographer

    4REphotographer F1 Veteran

    Oct 22, 2006
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    Chris
    I was on a forum the other day and everyone had huge picture signatures, I have DSL and it still took forever to load the entire page, so please if you guys do change it make sure nothing but text signatures, and I agree with Toggie about everything else, the JPEG size needs to be bumped up specifically.
     
  24. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

    Nov 3, 2003
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  25. TurboTodd

    TurboTodd Formula 3

    Jan 8, 2004
    1,084
    Brentwood, TN
    Like the simple layout.. only thing I would ask for would be a simple "new posts" link in the header vs. the two step User Controls - New Posts action..
     

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