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[Skinner]

On Tuesday afternoon, we unveiled new layouts for the Latest Page and Greatest Page. Since then, you've been using these new pages for about a day, and you've had an opportunity to get used to them a little bit.

When we were designing the Latest Page, the admins were torn between putting the Latest Threads on the left side of the page, and putting the ads on the left side of the page. After a day of use, the admins are still not sure which layout we prefer.

We don't usually put changes up for a vote of the membership. But in this case, this is something purely cosmetic, and as a group you all are probably better suited to decide which works better than the admins are. So, we decided it might be useful and fun to put it up for a vote.

Which layout for the Latest Page do you prefer?
We have two mock-ups of the Latest Page, and we want you all to let us know which one you prefer. Just click the two links to see them both.

OPTION 1 - Latest Threads on the Left
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=latest_threads

OPTION 2 - Ads on the Left
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=latest_switched

We're not sure how long this thread is going to stay open. Probably until sometime Thursday, or until the preference becomes clear.

[ourbluenation]

1. Can't explain it - the ads just seem right on the left....eom.

[rateyes]

2. I voted that it matters not to me...

I think it's true that it's in the center of the page that the eyes first fall, so, IMHO, the answer to the question hinges upon what you first want people to see...the ads, which raise revenue streams, or on the discussion threads, which is what bring people here in the first place.

Just my thoughts. Others may differ.

[Skinner]

3. Feel free to recommend this thread for the greatest page.

I am going to let it float in GD for a bit. Feel free to give it an occasional kick if it falls too far down. Later today I will pin it to the top of the forum.

Thanks for your input.

[stepnw1f]

5. Pssst... Awesome Site (nt)

[yvr girl]

4. It's easier to see everything with ads on the left

Things such as announcements get lost if the ads are in the middle - you don't look past them as much.

[Barad Simith]

6. To anyone who wasn't peaking on mushroom fudge...

...the only sane choice would be ads on the left.

:eyes:

[Stephanie]

7. Ads on the left

definitely!

[mainegreen]

8. I like the adds in the middle

Its nice yellowy goodness separates the latest discussion threads so nicely from announcements/LBN on the right. Unconventional? Sure! But I like unconventional. The ads are in your face no matter what, and I'd rather not have the ads on the left where my eyes fall first.

But hey, I think I'm in the minority here.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I like Option 1 with the threads on the left. This makes it easy to ......

.... to know if you're on the Latest page or the Greatest page.

That said, it really doesn't matter all that much to me.

[nashville_brook]

10. much prefer latest threads on the left -- it's more natural and better

design. you want your newest stuff to be read first. not ads. they block it in and make it seem too old-style. like the old salon design.

the new design is wonderful. i hope you keep it.

[MamaBear]

11. I prefer the look of the page with the ads on the left. n/t

[SheilaT]

12. Latest Threads on the Left

seems much harder to read, and I'd probably not come here as often. Not that anyone would miss me, I realize.

[Extend a Hand]

13. I like adds on the left..

It feels less cluttered and when screen real estate is in short supply I can move the window to shift the adds off the screen.

P.S. I really like having my forums at the top of the screen.

[Der Blaue Engel]

14. As a web designer

I recommend ads on the left...people tend to move their eyes to the right of the screen, expecting the key content there. Navigation usually appears on the left, while ads often appear in a third column on the right; in the absence of left-side navigation, I think ads would be best there.

(But then I'm not a pro, so take it FWIW.)

Thanks for some great changes!

[patricia92243]

15. Very annoying - Latest being on the left. I would not have believed

something so little could make such a huge difference. I know this sounds silly, but I get a creak (sp) in my neck because my head is turned left for the long periods of time that I enjoy spending on DU.

Sure hope you decide to put them back in the middle like they were.

But anyway, thanks - once again - Skinner for all your hard work.

[tridim]

16. Ads on the left.. As it is now it seems like the thread titles are going

to fall off the left side onto my desk. It's very out of balance.

[Cronus Protagonist]

17. Ads on the right so I don't have to look at them

Rule of thumb for web development. Put the most important content top and left, least important bottom and right. Top is seen first, left is always on the screen. Right side can be covered up by contracting the window and the bottom is rarely noticed and rarely seen.

So we're left with your decision that the ads are more important than the content, since we don't have the option of content left and ads on the right, only content left ads center or ads left content center and right.

I can't vote for my choice because it's not given.

[Ksec]

18. I like the new style and I hope you bring back the listen live radio links

I liked those. The new style seems more natural for some reason, maybe because Im rght handed??:)

[Clintmax]

19. I prefer Option 2 also, Skinner...

The ads seem more "in place" on the left side. The site looks great, Man! I appreciate all you do!

[patdem]

20. ONLY because change is hard..no particular reason...n/t

[Skip Intro]

21. Ads on the left. Emphatically.

[MisterP]

22. forum links on the left--I can't click on the tiny menu bar

to go from GD to LBN and others

[cynatnite]

23. I'm good with either one n/t

[me b zola]

24. Ads on the left

:)

[johnnie]

25. Ringo

[mikelgb]

26. I would like option 4... Ads on Right...

Announcments/LBN / Latest Threads / Ads

I the western world we read left to right... I'm sure the ad holders like the placement on left but for me the anouncements/LBN should be first then the meat of the page, the latest threads, then the junk of the page.

[marions ghost]

27. I like option one

the way the ads break up the two sections is nice. It just looks less cluttered. But I see this is the minority opinion.

[MGKrebs]

28. What's a "layout"?

:evilgrin:

[sandnsea]

29. I noticed the ads in the middle

Ads on the left will probably be ignored. I kind of think it's a business call.

[Sydnie]

30. I like the ads on the left, leaving the latest threads next to the LBN

threads because - it makes it easier to see the LBN threads and then scan for the newest discussion threads that might fit any of the subjects of interest in LBN. If you have been away a good part of the day, it makes it easy to see where things are headed as the latest threads often have the most up to date info on the threads from LBN. I really like that layout.

[LeahD]

31. I second that.

Easier to scan both sections with the ads on the left.

[starroute]

32. I've been hating having ads in the middle but didn't want to bitch

It just seems easiest and most natural to have the most important content in the middle of the page. Not only is it an extra step to look over to one side for the threads, but the graphics and large type of the ads tend to catch my eye and pull it back towards the center, adding to the strain.

I'd *love* to have the ads on the left.

[bigwillq]

33. Latest on left (nt)

[seaglass]

34. Visually I like the ads in the middle, separates the text.

Whether I'd pay more attention if the ads were on the middle or left, I don't know.

[dalloway]

35. I like the latest and greatest looking different, with

different placement of ads. Makes it easier to tell apart quickly. Don't make them look the same, please.

[progressoid]

36. There's a "Latest Page"? Cool!

[rug]

37. Option 2 is more balanced.

The more you put on the left, the more balanced things become.

[IronLionZion]

38. Only a corporate Republican would keep ads in the middle

Keep the leftist ads on the left where they belong.

[lateo]

39. How about back to the way it was?

[psychopomp]

40. I use Privoxy so don't see the damn ads anyways

They are actively blocked by the client software. Privoxy is a free, proxy-based near-anonymity program which also blocks most advertising on the web.

"Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, modifying web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks."
http://www.privoxy.org/

Privoxy is used with TOR for near-anonymous internet use:

"Your traffic is safer when you use Tor, because communications are bounced around a distributed network of servers, called onion routers. Instead of taking a direct route from source to destination, data packets on the Tor network take a random pathway through several servers that cover your tracks so no observer at any single point can tell where the data came from or where it's going. This makes it hard for recipients, observers, and even the onion routers themselves to figure out who and where you are. Tor's technology aims to provide Internet users with protection against "traffic analysis," a form of network surveillance that threatens personal anonymity and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security.

Traffic analysis is used every day by companies, governments, and individuals that want to keep track of where people and organizations go and what they do on the Internet. Instead of looking at the content of your communications, traffic analysis tracks where your data goes and when, as well as how much is sent. For example, online advertising companies like Fastclick and Doubleclick use traffic analysis to record what web pages you've visited, and can build a profile of your interests from that. A pharmaceutical company could use traffic analysis to monitor when the research wing of a competitor visits its website, and track what pages or products that interest the competitor. IBM hosts a searchable patent index, and it could keep a list of every query your company makes. A stalker could use traffic analysis to learn whether you're in a certain Internet cafe."
http://tor.freehaven.net/

All DU'ers should take measures to preserve their security online.

[cwydro]

41. I'nm still a newbie

and learning my around this site...but somehow, the ads on the left makes it more user-friendly.

[Usrename]

42. looks like the preferences are getting clear

B-) keep up the good work!

[Skinner]

43. I think the results are pretty clear now.

:D

We're gonna go ahead and switch it over. Thanks, everyone, for helping out.

-Skinner