Hi guys, I just posted a message about this in our notices area. But we are looking for feedback from our newest site idea. This is where we will eventually be moving all of our content. The site is located on our same server (here in Seattle), but due to limited support and development of vBulletin, we are looking to make a move to a new software platform.

I've gone through and created a test system that I am interested to see what you think. Can you take a look at it and post your opinions here in this forum? Most of our content has been migrated about a week ago and you'll notice that most current posts are not online. However, I'd be interested to know what you think about the different features.

In a nutshell, there are also a lot more features included in the new software that we did not have in the past. Integrated chat room, easier to use and integrated gallery, integrated store, better blogs, and top notch support. The absolute best part of this software is that all features are integrated. Right now our system is compiled of many different packages all sharing the same database. The integrated solution is best for me because it allows the system to be managed from a single location and from a single license. I will no longer have to upgrade 8 different pieces of software in the future.

Anyway, if you can spare a few minutes and let me know what you think it would be appreciated. Your opinions really do matter as we will be looking at all of them.

The new site is here:

http://vision.classiczcars.com

The site is still a work in progress and it's limited to supporting members and administrators. You should be able to use all of the features, but, if something is disabled please let me know and I'll open it up.

m

Looks really cool! Like the newer look of the Weather Channel, kind of a chrome type look. I mainly go to "What's New" and interact with the others that try and solve peoples problems with their cars. I haven't found anything like that on the new platform yet but I'll spend some more time on there tonight, it's absolutely beautiful outside right now. Thank you Mike for always moving forward and improving.

My recommendation is to aim for more content on the page layout and less header, side bar and footer.

Things like (Add us on facebook) should be on their own separate page for interaction/linking/communications rather be than on every page in the side bar. One location on the site is sufficient. The core of the site is cars so the web fluff should be far in the back seat.

Ensuring that redundant, and minimally used content does not appear on each page is important.

"View New Content" is what I'll be doing. Could you make adding an attachment to a Private Message easy like we can do on a reply to a thread? That's something I've had trouble with in the past.

Ditto on adding attachments to private messages, have trouble every time.

Wow, all the options. You've got it dialed right in! I'm seeing a full screen too.

Thanks guys. I'm glad you're liking the new system. The layout is actually extremely flexible. But, in a nutshell there are two things I am trying to figure out. One of them is where to put the navigation. The default theme shows a left menu navigation. But, you can also try our typical layout with the tabs on the top. To make a theme switch, simply scroll to the bottom of the page and select "change theme" on the bottom left. The top-tab design is Blue.Tabs.

The second thing I am trying to figure out is the theme design itself. At this point I'd like to buy an off-the-shelf theme until we save up enough money to have one custom made. Here's a website of themes that look pretty good: IPBFocus.com / Premade and custom IPB skins and themes for Invision Power Board There are several options, if you guys have some time can you check out a few and give me opinions?

What do you guys think of the integration of the gallery, downloads, and chat?

m

Is it possible to have 2 front-ends to the site: 1 that is read-only for the general public searches and spammers and another where it is accessed only through a VPN like a corporate Intranet by members?

I like the notifications the best. Now you can set how to be notified. I like the menu on the left side because typically don't need the entire screen width to read posts or view images/videos.

I like it on the left too. When I went to the Blue Tab, up top, I thought I was at hybridz.org.

Need a button to get directly to your personal gallery. How do you add a signature pic?

EDIT: I found the personal gallery under My Settings under Profile. My gallery is empty. How will my photos from here be transferred?

Edited March 25, 201410 yr by bpilati
amended

If there was a way to click on a button to just see the threads you are actively in that would be great. Sort of a subscribed thread. But I like the look, keep it up.

If there was a way to click on a button to just see the threads you are actively in that would be great. Sort of a subscribed thread. But I like the look, keep it up.

I think you can by going to your profile.