h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I would like to know WHY h2g2 can be viewed as alabaster or goo.
Is it something to do with the bbc changeover?
Obviously it would be simpler for the people behind the scenes if it was all the same.
Please answer me (preferably someone with a slanty name, but anyone will do).

Hiya Catwoman, slanty name person here!

Goo was the original skin when h2g2 was launched. We created Alabaster because it's a bit less graphics heavy and therefore easier to load. We're hoping to launch yet another skin later in the year, just so that people can chose the one that they like best.

So it's just for the hell of it really!

Do you think it's a good idea or not? What's your view? And which skin do you use?

I'm in goo, but spent a long time in alabaster before giving in to people's personal pages saying 'this looks better in goo' 'I use goo' 'goo rocks' etc.

Have 'asked h2g2' what they think, although there's already an article about it. What's your opinion on me writing about it anyway (obviously not for the edited guide, but is it rude?)? I could say that it's sort of an update to the first one (which was over a year ago), and mention that a new skin will be available soon, comment on the likelihood of many people changing, etc.

So the official stance on the skins is that they're there because 'why not?'.

Yes, and also because Alabaster loads a bit quicker. The two options also allow people to chose which one they find easier to read, some people with visual difficulties find one easier to read than the other.

Brunel -- I was curious, looked, and got goo. Please explain, what should have happened? (Is it anything like the hub? I quite like that lo-fi look).

Never mind, I typed Brunel into the address bar. Hmmmm, interesting. I like it, but it'll take some getting used to.

The page mentions three skins: Classic Goo, Alabaster, and Brunel, which is now the default. (In fact, if you type any old junk you like into the address bar, you get the Brunel version. Go on, try it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/any_old_junk_you_like/A308206.)

In fact, there are more skins, are there not? Such as Mobile and Plain. Why are these not mentioned? Are they unnofficial? And each of the skins has a text-only version too.

TRiG.