If you're going to leave them as a sidebar, and putting the ads at the bottom of the page is not an option, I'd prefer left or right side as an user cp option. I already give up about the same space from full screen for GKrellm, and I could just scroll the ads out of sight on the left...
Now that I've used the scroll bar with code blocks I do like it. Also, the buttons are better than the text menus, as far as easier to read IMO.
Can you set word wrap column in user cp?

Well, I know two things I would like to see changed:

(1): The tree links at the top AND bottom

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Website Questions & Suggestions << Top and bottom

(2): I would like to be able to brouse all of MY threads by clicking a button such as "My threads". I would also like to be able to view all threads where I posted, that is without having to do a search.

Other than those things, I like the layout.

1) That nav is on the top and bottom
2) You can do that a variety of ways - by clicking the links in your profile or clicking the search button that shows up in each one of your posts

--jeremy

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: fantastic site, and thanks for all your work. and your taking the effort to get users' opinions is appreciated.

I'd say generally, simpler is better - meaning the least graphics, the least number of elements necessary for display at a given time. for ex., there is a reason drudge is so successful, despite other sites having better news info. and we all know sites that are just so cluttered they're unusable.

so I'd favor text-only menus - but the buttons top-right are ok if people like them. the "forum jump" at the bottom of the thread is a useful and efficient feature - and avoids reloading pages to navigate back up the forum tree. that could be placed under/next to those buttons instead, as it fits the navigation function of the button area - but it may not look right there...

I don't mind the ad to the right of the thread - although the resulting empty column below seems like a lot of wasted space on long threads.

edit: wrong post

Jeremy,

I just looked at the proposed layout, and it looks great (actually seems more user friendly than the present one)! When do you plan on making the revision official?

BTW - you and the mods do a fantastic job of keeping this board "friendly" and helpful to us n00bs that are getting on the Linux bandwagon - thanks for your efforts!

fmfnavydoc,

We are still working out a few things and getting feedback from the community, so it may be a little while before things are 100% implemented. Thanks.

--jeremy

I would actually like this option. I think it's okay on the right side but when I login I like sites like this to be more universal. I find it kind of strange on the linuxquestions.org/index.php page the Menu links are on the left and when you login they are now on the right, just doesn't seem right to me on that aspect.

And when you scroll larger threads, it just seems weird to see emptiness to the right side after the advertisement. In my mind it wouldn't feel or look so unbalanced if the emptiness was actually on the left side. As my mind reads left to right, etc.

Cheers.

Sounds good to me... Took me a while to find the right buttonw when I joined...

Tim

I'd miss the buttons too. It's a habit now to head for the top corner to hit the cp or search buttons.

As far as the whole contributing members thing and ads, there is definately no reason why any contributing member should even have to look at a single ad while browsing, as there really isnt any other incentive to become a paying member.

If the ads are that necessary then linux questions has got some serious problems for the future. I, (and I'm sure basically every experienced user) have already put the linux questions ad servers in a hosts file for blocking along with a few hundred other sites that commonly serve up banner ads. I get so used to not seeing them I forget what people are complaining about. The only thing that's kept me from posting a "howto get rid of all banner ads" to the site is respect for the fact that they might need em. You can't count on everyone to remain silent on the subject...

If you have another way to get the bills paid I am all ears. I don't think most people realize what it takes to run a site of this size.

--jeremy

Well, you could start with all the items that other "banner free" free websites use to make money.

First, you start out with what perks you get for being a sponser. For a website like linux questions it would be things like.
A special font color or choice of font colors for posting in.
Extra fonts to choose from for posting in.
Limit ability to post html and links to paying members.
Allow small (30x30 pixel?) images for either user names and or posting signatures.

Pick and choose what goes where and how much to charge and also make packages where you can buy all at a discount.

Part 2. Physical items.
You start out with T-Shirts. Have contests to design linux and linux questions t-shirts and either print off and transfer sheet for people to apply themselves or invest in a printing machine and images and begin selling them and giving them away as prizes for buying larger support packages.

Hats, mugs. Mouse pads. There's an endless stream of things that can have pictures printed on them and be sold to happy users as support for linux questions.

Part 3. Its a linux site, it should be selling linux. An area of the site dedicated to selling cd's made from iso images would be nice. Keeping it to 2-3$ a disk or 5$ a distro would garuntee sales while providing a source of income as the disks are worth less than a cent if you buy enough of them or catch a sale.

Part 4.
Locally obtain a permit for the hosting of small auctions and prize giveaways. Allow people to enter contests by sending a dollar through paypal or in the mail. Make the odds so that 10 out of 300 people win and give away 100$ worth of prizes.


See. Lots of ways to make money. And lots of places that do it everyday, as I got all these ideas from the other websites I visit and what they do to keep going.

We have had #2 for many years and are looking into #3 (there is not a lot of money to be made here, and you have to deal with billing, fulfillment, inventory, etc. - which takes time away from what we really want to do). The reality is that we will not be able to get enough contributing members to support the site, no matter what the carrots. I have many lofty goals for this site (we've only just begun) and to accomplish those goals we need steady and consistent funding. At this time, advertising is the best vehicle to accomplish that. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to help funding, that stay in the spirit of the direction I'd like the site to take (that is, there are many things I am not willing to do in the name of funding). As always, thanks for the feedback.

--jeremy

Mmmm.

1. You want Jeremy to remove basic features for non-contributing members and to allow contributing members to have pictures as part of their sigs? Personally, I have a huge dislike of both avatars and of piccies in signatures.

2. I refer you to this page

3. and 4. Jeremy has a huge amount of work to do. He runs this place (and mods as well), he writes for Linux Magazine, he attends Linux expos all over the place, he has a job and a home life and you think he should run a shop and/or auction site as well? Which of the above should he give up?

Personally, and this is entirely my opinion, I ldon't have a problem with the banner ads - I rarely even notice them. I think the mix of ads and non-paid/professional support for this site is just right.

XavierP also brings up another good point. My focus always stays with members. I see contributing membership as a way to help support the site, not a way to get extra features (I consider the extra features a bonus). I made a promise long ago to *never* take a feature that currently exists and make it contributing member only.

--jeremy