The New VB.ORG: Feedback

[akanevsky]

• Logotype
  [Changed] We all know what "vBulletin.org" is. What about "VBULLETIN MODS"? Could be any random vbulletin hacking site retrieved by entering "vbulletin mods" into google and then clicking on a link from the N'th result page with one's eyes closed.
  
• Navbar
  The new navbar reminds me of what can be seen on an overhacked entertainment site that is powered by vBulletin + vBArcade + ibProArcade + Flashchat + you name it, and that has more to place on the navbar than the latter can fit.
  
  vBulletin.org is not an entertainment site. It is a site intended mostly for the purpose of publishing hacks, and the vast majority of the people who come here to download those hacks are new to vBulletin.
  
  Considering that, let's take a look on the current configuration of the navbar:
  1. On a standard vBulletin, which is most familiar to new users, User CP is clickable only once, and I think that's how it should be considering that User CP is the one page accessed most. On current setup, the item opens a dropdown filled with irrelevant and rarely accessed items. The two non-standard subitems, "my profile" and "installed hacks", have nothing to do with control panel. Suggestion: move the two items to "Quick Links", then revert User CP to a regular hyperlink.
     
  2. On a standard vBulletin, search function is accessible via navbar links, and the right side of the navbar has a greeting on it. On current setup, not only has the search been moved away from the navbar links to where it does not belong, but it has been moved to where the greeting has been. I was thinking that something is wrong with the navbar aside from the search function, and I just realized it: the absence of the greeting makes the site look kind of hostile. Suggestion: move search function back to navbar dropdown together with the new "all/mods/articles/graphics" control and the new links. With the exception for "Today's Posts" - that should be moved as a dropdown item for "New Posts". As I was writing this, I noticed that the greeting is at the top on the black background - but it is not noticeable there.
• The Tabs
  Remind me of a virus-infected start menu on Windows 98. Every other part of the design is either pseudo-3d or has a gradient on it. The buttons are just plain, and they have an angular arrow that is alien to the design - either it has to be somewhere else too, or it has to be removed. Perhaps you should consider making different tab colors to signify current tab / highlighted tab.
  
• The Sitemap
  Good feature, but perhaps it should include links to the usercp, installed hacks, and any other important pages not yet included.
  
• Meet Our Staff
  Since there is now a separate page for it, perhaps there should be a policy of having same-sized avatars. Otherwise, the page looks very unprofessional.
  
• Hacks, Articles, and Editor Interfaces
  • The "seperate" typo is back from ashes.
  • The "thread-2-pdf" button does not work.
  • The fieldsets have the same background color as their container cell. Ugly.
  • The mod information links move 1px to the left when hovered. Ugly. They should be static.
• Miscellanous Observations
  The tabs lose focus when you are within the tab but not on the page it points to.
  [Changed] Why are usertitles in parenthesis? This makes people feel unimportant. Like, "meh, coder". Or "meh, designer". "who cares? so let's put it in parenthesis".
  Logotype is logotype of the whole site, not of its part, no matter how major. Therefore, it should point to the site's main page as is done on most sites.
  The miscellanous blocks on the homepage should be on the right, since English is a left-to-right language. Main things should be on the left (looked at first).
  The heading block is too stuffed up. Make it more spacious.
  "About Us" and "Privacy Policy" should be accessible from "Quick Links" and from the footer.
  The information on "About Us" does not match the administrators listing on "Meet Out Staff".
  Since you now have QA in the article section, please delete all the bullshit articles that are posted there. When one wants to find a truly useful article, it's almost impossible to do so because 80% of the articles are junk.
  RSS Syndication in the Information Section is not very useful - I don't think anyone would need to syndicate the whole forum, which is what that information section syndication button is linked to.
  FAQ is not accessible from Information Section.
  "Are you showing up as unlicensed" is in the bottom link body but not anywhere else (in the navbar or in the info section).
  Since there are so many information spots, perhaps the links should not be duplicated three or four times as some links are. Perhaps, do the following:
  • Remove the bottom block with links.
  • Place "about us", "privacy policy", and "help" in the footer link row.
  • Make "Help" in the navbar a link pointed to the information section. People will go on from there.