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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
Over on a test forum (where we turn it on when we want to test updates and new plug ins) I have a test going on a new “skin” for the forum. Note we’re
[See the full post at: Sneak peak – testing out a new skin on the forum]
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
Testing anything new here in the “Test” Forum first? Wise move. So far, the new look of the Forums section seems OK to me, except some forums’ thread lists might not be quite up to date (see below).
And as long as achieving this better look does not break something else … For more reference: “Magic has consequences, it always has!” (Spike to Xander, when learning that the gang has brought Buffy back to life by all joining in the making of a spell conducted by Willow, in Buffy TVS, Season 6, episode 3.)
Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).
MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV
This is a database of the site as it was months ago. So the threads in there are quite old. Most of the time the testbed site it turned off, but we turn it on to test major patches/updates/redesigns before rolling them out on the main site.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
I use only Firefox, the current version or the one before for a few days after a new version is released.
Overall the new look is clean and functional.
Personally, of course, I’m not a fan of reddish text for general use and prefer that it be used sparingly. But that’s just me. (I once had a house with a very similar color scheme, predominantly gunmetal grey with maroon doors and shutters.)
In my browser, on the current AW forums pages, hovering over blue links changes them to red. Visited links are shown as purplish (without hovering).
On the test AW forums pages, hovering over links triggers the underline but the color stays the same reddish color. Visited links don’t seem to show any indication that they have been visited (although the visited case just may not have been addressed yet).
Oh – You almost had me setting aside time to update our PCs this weekend when I saw the “4” all clear MS-DEFCON at the top of the test forums page. 
@opt1 said above in post #2391778:
Oh – You almost had me setting aside time to update our PCs this weekend when I saw the “4” all clear MS-DEFCON at the top of the test forums page.
This still exists as of this writing. Any real way to fix the image so it doesn’t mistakenly dupe a user into updating too early and inadvertently becoming one of the “canaries”?
If @opt1 nearly fell for it, there might be a few others who might fall for it before they realize that the MS-DEFCON status indicator reflects the status on a certain date that was seven months ago, not today.
I agree with opti 1. as to each of his comments. I’m also a Firefox user and the red lettering you used is very harsh on the eyes. Is there a softer shade of red that you might use that would fit in with your motif? Everything else looks pretty good to me.
In the end result, it’s the content that counts and brings readers to this site. But, form can’t be ignored. That’s my two cents worth.
You work so hard on this site Susan that my comment seems trivial. Thanks for all your efforts.
Peace, CAS
On the list to be changed to traditional blue. Hang loose (see why we do testing
What blue? I HATE blue (as it is the harshest color to read). I like most other colors. So, I am grateful that this site lets me change link colors in my default browser (Basilisk), and most other browsers also, to the colors I prefer AND this site HONORS those changes.
What changes is the darkness of the (to me at least) brown name of the topic on the left column, from dark to light brown, of any thread I have recently accessed.
It is definitely clear that some of us are not seeing the same things in the new pages, or in the old ones, for that matter, at all
I meant to ask you earlier what “brown” name of the topic on the left column? The name of the thread topic is not on the left column but ACROSS the page at the top. It is in Black BOLDED FONT. It’s always been this way since I joined here (and I have not tried to alter its look). I have an Apple watch and iPhone but my computers are still (and always have been) Dell XPS (and its predecessor) ones and a Dell Ultra Sharp 24″ widescreen monitor since 2013. So, maybe what you describe is a Mac thing?
As for link colors, you had versions of Windows that allowed you to change default Windows link colors to whatever you wanted but Microsoft warns that the colors YOU choose may not be honored if you are not ALSO using Microsoft high contrast themes. I have had Dell computers since 1999 and Windows 98 and have ALWAYS been able to change link colors in Mozilla Suite, then Firebird, then Firefox and some other browsers WITHOUT needing to use a Microsoft ugly, garish looking, high contrast theme. I have run into only a handful of sites through out all these years that did not honor my link colors even though I have never used a Microsoft high contrast theme.
Recently though I have been seeing more sites NOT honor my link colors. I have not tried to change my theme to a Microsoft high contrast one to see if then the link colors would be honored. The high contrast themes are extremely garish…just like the bright garish blue link used here by default if you don’t change it in your browser. Interestingly though, IE never honored my link color changes but Edge does! In fact, Edge is turning into a very decent browser to my surprise. (I’m still a Mozilla person though and my default browser Basilisk is forked off Fx 52 ESR and it is the best browser I’ve ever used).
I suspect some of these differences in how this website looks to different users may be due to video card settings. I’ve always had nVidia cards (except for my first computer) and I set digital vibrance to about 60%. That definitely affects colors. My first computer with Windows 98 came with an ATI Radeon card and a Sony Trinitron monitor. Being new to computers, I didn’t attempt to change anything regarding link colors. The next computer though I knew I wanted an nVidia card (same Trinitron monitor). The difference in the colors PARTICULARLY RED AND SHADES THEREOF between the two video cards using the same monitor and a newer Dell Dimension XPS computer three years after I got my first computer was astounding. (I don’t think moving to XP Pro from 98SE on the second computer had anything to do with how different red in particular was between the two computers one with an ATI Radeon card and one with an nVidia card. The RED SHADES were far more vibrant with the nVidia card and playing with the setting for digital vibrance that came on the nVidia card but not the ATI Radeon (it may have a similar setting now, I don’t know) made colors especially rich and vibrant but not garish with the one exception of the Microsoft default unvisited link color which was always an extremely garish bright neon like blue that is extremely harsh and makes my eyes water, burn and sting quickly.
So, I think a lot of the color differences we see and feel sort of puzzled because others see the colors differently is due to the video card we have (and the Intel one that comes with most Windows computers these days is very weak on colors) and then the ATI Radeon one is different from the geForce Nvidia one and then all the changes one can make in how colors display with these cards…well, no wonder we don’t see the same things even though we may be on the same site.
Mele20: Actually, now that you mentioned it and I have had a good look in a long time to this, it is not really very dark brown but black lettering and the other is grey lettering on the LEFT column. And the links I have recently used are still blue, exactly the same blue as the rest of the links, used already or not.
I have not done anything to set the colors, I have never done that. They do not matter to me, at all, as long as they are different in the LEFT and the right columns.
See below:
Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).
MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV
One should remember that there are browser settings to visited link colors. BTW Is this thread in the NEW mode? When I first looked at the test site every thing looked BIGGER. I am not seeing it here.
May we inquire what were you trying to change, so we may comment on that??
In fact, until this conversation, I thought that the way I saw the links was the way everyone saw them. Until now I find out it is not.
OscarCP – Lol. You should trademark that phrase. I know it could apply to many things I have encountered in life, especially as I enter the so called ‘golden years’ where it seems nothing is as it was even just a few years ago.
Hang in there.
https://testaskwoody.holbihost.com/forums/
Okay take a look at the colors now please?
If you intend to force such a GARISH look on us….well, I guess I won’t be coming here anymore. Currently, on Basilisk browser your regular site honors MY choice of link colors but your link just now to the new site showed up in horrible neon blue links! Perfect way to cause a migraine headache. 
this how my browser displays, it is set by me and is readable and easy on the eyes. Perhaps you might try these colors.
BTW the new fonts are a bit too big for my taste.
my poor scroll finger will wear out 
Please reread
What makes you think I do not have what I want in the realm of color?
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