May I suggest...

[mac_mogul]

^Ditto. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

So then why'd we update?

I think Tech-Forums definitely definitely definitely needs a good visual theme.


I mean, it needs something good to balance out everything else thats not so good.

 

[macdude425]

So then why'd we update?

Referring to the theme, not the software in general.

 

[LoTeX]

There are loads of different themes out there... Perhaps we could vote for, let's say 3 best. And then get those 3 as a user changeable, independent options, like some other forums have (dunno if they were vBulletin, though). Think of all the great possibilities! For example, we could have black theme for ethnic folks & satan worshippers, pink theme for gay people and green for tree huggin hippies and foot ball players! And of course red for rednecks. And vampires. Ride on!


some examples:
http://www.themesbase.com/pics/1143743719.jpg
http://www.themesbase.com/pics/1143743691.jpg
http://www.themesbase.com/pics/1143744527.jpg
http://www.themesbase.com/pics/1143744490.jpg
http://www.themesbase.com/pics/1143743508.jpg

Then again, why bother, the default is just fine. Only wrong color. It doesn't match my satan worshipping hobby.

 

[Mr. Switch]

Well we might as well use something different since tech forums was upgraded.

I REALLY like the site havoc was using, but I think there ate better skins.


I think Takeout would look great in blue:

ForumThemes.com - Powered by vBulletin



And Caprice would look ok if the colors were a bit deeper.

ForumThemes.com - Powered by vBulletin

just my $.02

 

[HAVOC]

I think what it has now is perfect. Its simple and it works. The only thing that could change maybe is to make it fill up the whole screen, instead of just the center.

Perfect? Interesting.. Sarcasm?

Anyway, this version of vBulletin is actually really nice. It has many many great features that previous versions just don't have. It's great on the admin end as well as the user end.

That being said... When you have a forum that is as HUGE as techist.com you want it to have "IDENTITY". Right now... It's using the default vb Skin.

tech forums has been around for what 5 years? With a massive software update it should also have a new clean, perhaps industrial look to it. A really great logo.. Heck, even use the same logo, but revamp it to make it look cleaner and more pronounced. Using the default skin does TF more harm then it's upgrade was ment to fix.

Honestly, browse the forums... if it weren't for the fact that you knew some of the members/mods/admins... would you even know what forum you were in? Cause I certainly wouldn't... About 20,000 forums out there use this default skin. Now I'm not saying it's "NOT" on their list of things to do... It's just a huge mistake if they don't find something that really sets TF apart from 20,000 lame useless forums...

 

[Phantom118]

And Caprice would look ok if the colors were a bit deeper.

ForumThemes.com - Powered by vBulletin

I agree.. Caprice is a nice one... It would be perfect if it took up the whole screen.

 

[Trotter]

Good suggestions all. I am sure that themes are on the agenda, but getting all the settings and tweaking done is being handled first. Many changes have already been accomplished since the upgrade.

Post your suggestions here:
http://www.techist.com/forums/f5/post-upgrade-suggestions-138349/

Personally, I hope we get a few themes installed, and allow each user to choose the one they like as a user option.