Bring back "Classic" Button

[Spencer F.]

If you're going to have that "funny" introduction page then please bring back that clear "CLASSIC" button that I can click on. Muchos gracias.

[Hartmann]

If you scroll down, that left side has a link to "Classic" down at the bottom. Once it's set and you accept cookies it should stay that way.

[Spencer F.]

Yeah, I know that. But I'm on many different computers, so it needs to re-cache each time. It's just very unclear and NOT very user friendly.

[MaxS]

I agree. I cleared my cache and went looking for that botton. Took me a few minutes to realize there was a small link at the bottom.

[Spencer F.]

It's really frustrating when you're just a guest and you cannot find Classic view.

What's the reason for this!?

[duuudie]

But now that you know where it is, where is the problem?
This feature is a great opportunity for people to post in threads they would probably not notice if it wasn't highlighted. It's especially useful for guests and can motivate them to register.

just my $0.02

[Spencer F.]

The option does not appear if you're a guest. I'm often browsing a forum from a public computer and I don't want to register. Therefore, it's really annoying without the "Classic" view.

[mmj]

I think at the moment our priority is to promote the 'featured' view. If we can improve the featured view until it is so useful that everybody prefers it, that would be ideal. Because we will never satisfy everybody, we provide the classic view as an alternative. Could you help improve the featured view by identifying which features you would like to be included on it?

[Hierophant]

I think at the moment our priority is to promote the 'featured' view. If we can improve the featured view until it is so useful that everybody prefers it, that would be ideal. Because we will never satisfy everybody, we provide the classic view as an alternative. Could you help improve the featured view by identifying which features you would like to be included on it?

Right now Highlighted threads are not useful if you have already read some of the posts in them. They need to have a link to the last unread post in the thread instead of requiring multiple clicks to find your place again.

Also making the choice of classic view or featured view an user option stored in the $bbuserinfo array would allow people to control their view on multiple computers without having to worry about clearing their cache or finding a link to reset their views. Wouldn't even require that much it the way of coding changes, just look for a $bbuserinfo value instead of a cookie. The field itself can be a custom profile field with a default of featured view.

[Defender1]

Right now Highlighted threads are not useful if you have already read some of the posts in them. They need to have a link to the last unread post in the thread instead of requiring multiple clicks to find your place again.

Also making the choice of classic view or featured view an user option stored in the $bbuserinfo array would allow people to control their view on multiple computers without having to worry about clearing their cache or finding a link to reset their views. Wouldn't even require that much it the way of coding changes, just look for a $bbuserinfo value instead of a cookie. The field itself can be a custom profile field with a default of featured view.

Awesome idea Wayne.
It'd be great to have it stored on vB's side so that when I log in, it's part of my preferences.

[someonewhois]

Awesome idea Wayne.
It'd be great to have it stored on vB's side so that when I log in, it's part of my preferences.

But at the same time guests should be able to change it.

[Spencer F.]

But at the same time guests should be able to change it.

Amen. That's all I'm asking for!

[Spencer F.]

In my opinion, the main reason the Featured View will never work is that nobody here is interested in every section. For instance, I'm only interested in the Manage Your Site and the Community Center. I could care less about the design and programming sections -- not because they're not great, but because I don't need the information that is provided there. Therefore, the Featured View is more of a hinderence to getting at the information I want (Manage Your Site and the Community Center) so it will never be better than the Classic View for me.

You shouldn't force content on people. Does that make sense? Sorry if I'm out of line.

[someonewhois]

In my opinion, the main reason the Featured View will never work is that nobody here is interested in every section. For instance, I'm only interested in the Manage Your Site and the Community Center. I could care less about the design and programming sections -- not because they're not great, but because I don't need the information that is provided there. Therefore, the Featured View is more of a hinderence to getting at the information I want (Manage Your Site and the Community Center) so it will never be better than the Classic View for me.

You shouldn't force content on people. Does that make sense? Sorry if I'm out of line.

I've found that too, so I use forum subscriptions. I view forum index occasionally to see featured threads, but I bookmark my userCP - then I have all the forums I read subscribed to (non-email). I also have all threads I post in subscribed, so basically the UserCP is my portal. I tab-open all threads that I've posted in and think I'd like to read more about, and then I tab-open Sell your Site, Sell your Domain, and General Chat and go through the threads that look interesting. Then I have PHP, CSS, Accessibility, XML, Promotion, Community Building, SEO/Google, trade your services and looking to hire subscribed that I view occasionally. Works well. Then I'll click to mainpage every few days to take a look at any hot topics to see if I'd be interested in reading them.

[urban101]

I use to go on the featured, but it got too confusing so im back on the classic. In my pc, the classic is still there..

[Egor]

I honestly can't stand the featured view.

[willmoss]

Please, sitepoint, bring back the classic view button! It makes it so much easier.

As has been already said, the featured view just doesn't cover enough interest .. it doesn't show the latest threads from all the main forums, just a few of them.

Although there is a link to the classic view, it is very hard to find.

[willmoss]

PS. If you want irony, put this thread in the "featured view" section

[Spencer F.]

PS. If you want irony, put this thread in the "featured view" section

Hehehe!

[Dean C]

Featured view should be optional IMO

[vgarcia]

Featured view should be optional IMO

It already is optional. It's just the default choice if you don't set any preference otherwise.

[Dean C]

It already is optional. It's just the default choice if you don't set any preference otherwise.

Yeah I meant it shouldn't be the default choice IMO

[Defender1]

You guys may be promoting the Featured view, but that doesn't mean you should make the classic view harder to find.
I too was stuck for a few minutes trying to find the "Classic" link cause I'd cleared out my cache.
It can be quite frustrating.

[vgarcia]

Another classic view link to make it easy on everyone: revert to classic

[Sparkie]

I use the Classic style all the time. Featured threads might be good for new members to browse through, but I want to look at posts over a given period of time. I hope you don't do away with the classic style completely!