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

Just curious how many people are using the new site for general h2g2 activities (as opposed to testing for bugs and such)?

Lots of concern is being expressed about the losses of functionality, and I've gone back to alabaster myself despite having been excited about the redesign.

Can you please say which site you are using, which skin, and why.

tried the new one...doesn't work, so I'm back in alabaster.

RF

Still in Brunel....

Do not want to change!!!!!

Do no know how to change, anyway!!


Getting bad vibes about the new place, anyhow!


GT

I've stayed in Brunel - which I never especially liked, but at least it works.

I'm struggling to cope with the amount of lost functionality in the new skin. Mind-boggling.

I can't post (hardly) in the new site/skin, as it keeps saying I've used a word which some user's may find offensive, and I have absolutely no idea on any occasion which word it was, also can't use any smileys, or get to the right point in the conversation thread as the X number new posts, X minutes ago etc., links from the PS don't link to teh right place in the conversation thread. So back in alabaster, though I've been onto the 'new' site several times today to try and use it, the functionality problems means, well, its just not working IMO.

Old site, Brunel , because there is no useful '42 new posts' facility in the new skin.

I couldn't keep track of my conversations without it. Or at least without something which would lead me straight to my last post -- I'd revert to the old system.

If anyone wants to use the new site (or try and use the new site ) here's the access link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/

If you are using the new site, please refrain from using apostrophes because they show up as a character set in the old site.

Good God!!!

It is RUBBISH!!!!


Where are my convo's??

How do I tell when someone has replied to me????


RUBBISH, RUBBISH, RUBBISH!!



GT

Went into Barlesque for a bit, changed my PS so it now says I joined two days ago, discovered I can only go back as far as last June in my old convos list and gave up.

I'll be staying in alabaster until those things are fixed.

Been there. Tried that. Even the t-shirt didn't fit.

I'm in Goo 'til they that away from me (even though some of the posts look like algebra equations )

Is it barlesque or burlesque or?

We are not amused: so it must be barlesque.

I was using barlesque for a few hours this morning,looking for bugs and testing various things. But it got tedious not knowing whereabouts I was up to in reading my conversations, not being able to post without it triggering the hair-filter of doom and not being able to use smileys and apostrophes.


I like change. I like new things. I like adventure and get bored with the same old same old wallpapers etc. So I am very, very reluctantly reverting to Alabaster until the new hootoo gets to work a bit better.

I am sure it will.

It's Barlesque. It means 'like Barley'. Barley is a skin they used in other BBC websites but never on h2g2.

I'm using Barlesque, but mainly to test it. It still has a number of major bugs:

1. about 1 in every 2 clicks fails and you have to hit refresh
2. Links in lists of conversations all go to the wrong places. This was pointed out in the testing of the Beta version but not fixed.
3. You can't post smileys in conversations.

As far as I can see, those are the main bugs. They will all be fixed but the system is virtually unusable until they are. There are other minor bugs as well.

There's also one feature which is considered important by some but not by others - the lack of a "which conversations have I not seen yet". Personally I can't see how anybody could survive without it, but apparently lots of you never use it in the old system.

Thanks.

>>Where are my convo's??

They're on your Conversations page.

>>How do I tell when someone has replied to me????

The line on your Conversations page is highlighted in blue.

Reposting this from another thread.
Gnomon will have already seen it.

>>
I have to wonder how it is possible that such a simple thing
as the 'apostrophe' (aka single inverted comma or single quote
mark) falling apart and becoming &#39 in the old skins can't
be fixed.

Until it is fixed a lot of postings 'look like algebra' and become
very difficult if not impossible to read. And since so many of us
are still reluctant to 'go Beta' just yet, it is causing major headaches,
frustration and anger - not helpful.

Surely it's a basic keyboard code recognition issue.

Maybe not a quick fix but given that there are other issues
slowing down the migration to the new blue skies of Beta it
would be helpful if we could carry on communicating here without
the algebra for the duration.
<<

Anyone posting to a barlesque thread should bear in mind that
the use of apostrophes will render their posts unreadable in
the old skins.


~jwf~ (still in alabaster til they tear it from my old dead Hans)

Where did that post come from ~jwf~?

dna Brunel

I have been switching back and forth in order to test and get used to the new h2g2. Without the fixes that Gnomon and others have mentioned, it is just too hard to use. Also it is really difficult trying to avoid using apostrophes and smileys in conversations.