MySpacePros site theme input

[Greg-J]

In preparation for the upgrade I'm going to make some additions to the theme of the site and I'd like to hear your arguments for what kind of width you like forums to have - fixed or fluid - and why.

I personally prefer fixed-width forums. Mainly because narrower pages are easier to read and the forum looks the same to relatively everyone. It's much more convenient for me to scroll down while I read than to scan from one side of my screen to the other. There's a good reason newspapers and magazines use multiple narrow columns than book-like page layouts.

I don't however dislike fluid width-forums, I just prefer fixed-width. I think the perfect width for fixed-width forums is about 1000px.


So what's your preference and why? I could made this a poll, but I want to know why you prefer one of the other.

[Marty]

I think the perfect width for fixed-width forums is about 1000px.Amen!

(Y)

[Jen]

I prefer fixed width at around 1000px. I think it suits everyone even those with widescreens. And for those who still live in the stone age, who care :chinese:

[DavidR]

Either way aslong as it isn't too slim. 1000px sounds ok, I don't really have an indepth reason... just anything no less than 1000px.

Speaking of forum changes, I notice in PM replies there is an option to expand the textarea's length. Could you add the option to extended the text area's width as well, it is annoyingly slim - for me anyway, especially if you write a long message and quote the previous.

[Greg-J]

Either way aslong as it isn't too slim. 1000px sounds ok, I don't really have an indepth reason... just anything no less than 1000px.

Speaking of forum changes, I notice in PM replies there is an option to expand the textarea's length. Could you add the option to extended the text area's width as well, it is annoyingly slim - for me anyway, especially if you write a long message and quote the previous.
I'll look into it, but I'm going to need to wait for the new release. They're using some prototype.js now and it could need some reworking to use jQuery (which I prefer) depending on how much of the library they decided to use.

Just FYI, I use this great plugin for firefox called Resizable Textarea (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3818) you might want to give a try. I can't imagine using a textarea without it.

[jvuonger]

Fixed @ 1000px will look pretty good. I'm currently running on 1600x1200 , i think i grew accustomed to having it fluid to 1600px, but the fixed width will should make it easier on the eyes.

[Greg-J]

I feel your pain. I run 1920x1200 and I keep my bookmarks sdebar (which is more like a link directory than a list of sites) open all the time just to take up some horizontal space.

[nando]

Yeah - fixed at around 1000px is fine... and I'm also going to looking that FF text ara plugin - thanks...

[itbejake]

I like fixed width forums, I don't know why, it's just a preference of mine. I really dislike the forums that are like 500px, it just seems like they are trying to cram so much into such a small space. With the wider forums such as 1000px you have quite a bit of space so it feels somewhat cozy, and you have all of that room.

Just my opinion.

[George]

I feel your pain. I run 1920x1200 and I keep my bookmarks sdebar (which is more like a link directory than a list of sites) open all the time just to take up some horizontal space.
wow I thought I was the only one that did that :)

On topic though what are the downfalls of using fluid? I mean doesn't fluid make the site the perfect width no matter what your screen size??

[Greg-J]

wow I thought I was the only one that did that :)

On topic though what are the downfalls of using fluid? I mean doesn't fluid make the site the perfect width no matter what your screen size??
There's not really a downfall as much as it is 'preferred' to have narrower and longer columns of text than wider and shorter pages of text. It increases readability.

[Jazzylee77]

Thought it rarely happens here, oversized images won't have you scrolling the whole page.

[Greg-J]

Thought it rarely happens here, oversized images won't have you scrolling the whole page.
I'll make it so that the images have a max-width of the forum post it is contained in so if the image is too big it will be scaled down.

[DavidR]

Thanks greg :D I downloaded it, superb plugin!

[Anne]

Ok, I'm still in the stone age, I keep my screen res at 800, even though it will go bigger. I just hate looking at things really small. So a fixed width of 1000 works for me, I can still see everything except the very edges, and most times I don't have to scroll.

[Sergio]

I'd also liked fixed as long as it's not the standard 800px wide, but it seems that you already made your decision. 1000px should be fine, although not for a lot of people. WHY? I simply don't like to read all the way across the screen.

Maybe you should add an 800px version for ancient people.

EDIT: I was browsing MSP during a break at school and fluid looked disgusting. But I guess you can blame the hugeee monitors (I don't remember the exact size, but they're big).

[Anne]

<kicks Sergio> who you calling ancient?

[RKGraphics]

i had my widescreen for a few days and im guessing the current template is on fluid????

i like the way it is now. i just like big things. i mean i like space. ;) just a thought. i read picture books. i dont gots the smarts like ya'll

[minnseoelite]

for reading i like narrow columns so fixed width here i guess

lol@tina

[Cyclops]

i had my widescreen for a few days and im guessing the current template is on fluid????

i like the way it is now. i just like big things. i mean i like space. ;) just a thought. i read picture books. i dont gots the smarts like ya'll
I agree, I have widescreen and I like it fluid ... by the way, you should see it on my 50" Plazma using high res ..... brilliant ROFL

[Greg-J]

I agree, I have widescreen and I like it fluid ... by the way, you should see it on my 50" Plazma using high res ..... brilliant ROFL
I hate you.

[RKGraphics]

i can hook up my pc to my 72" plasma............but i have to get a working one first.

wtf am i doing up

[Greg-J]

So then at 1000px wide, would you prefer the forum be the full 1000 pixels wide or would a 200px wide menu on the left side with things like 'latest posts' or 'subscribed threads' or some other useful information be something you would like?

[nando]

that'd be cool.. i like sitewide navs on forums.. as long as the info on them is useful of course..

[jvuonger]

So then at 1000px wide, would you prefer the forum be the full 1000 pixels wide or would a 200px wide menu on the left side with things like 'latest posts' or 'subscribed threads' or some other useful information be something you would like?
Full 1000px probably, but i'd have to experience the 200px menu one to finalize my decision.

[offthedome]

I prefer fluid width because I like to have as much content on the screen at one time as possible. I hate having to scroll around to read back, or to look for links or information, etc.

[offthedome]

//ADDENDUM:

Fluid with a side menu that contains new posts. I hate having to go to the home page or msplive or newposts to see what the new posts are.

[Greg-J]

I've been tinkering with it that way, but the problem with putting the new posts in a column is that it's a lot of text in a narrow space. I'm still tinkering though, so we'll see. This go around I think I might have a few options. Fixed, Fluid, Fixed with a menu, Fluid with a menu.

[applebooty]

I like it the way it is. I don't know what that is, lol, but I like it. ;)

[minnseoelite]

i like the sidebar idea, i think im wearing out the scroll wheel on my mouse always scrolling back to the top of the page to see the newest posts......is there any way that MSPlive could be integrated into the side bar so that we can see the newest posts as they happen while still being able to be on the main forum.

[Greg-J]

i like the sidebar idea, i think im wearing out the scroll wheel on my mouse always scrolling back to the top of the page to see the newest posts......is there any way that MSPlive could be integrated into the side bar so that we can see the newest posts as they happen while still being able to be on the main forum.
I love that idea. I probably won't put the latest posts in the sidebar because no matter how I format it, it looks squished. I've got some things to test out though.