We’re thinking (yes, only thinking) of changing the WordPress theme (layout) for IPR. Currently it is a three column format, with two narrow columns on either side and a somewhat wider column in the middle that contains the actual stories.
I’m leaning toward a theme I use on one of my other websites: West Boca News.
It is a two-column format with a much wider column for the articles. That added space allows for larger YouTube embeds and images.
My gut says that most of what we have in the side columns is not used much, and we can probably keep most of it. As I see it, the “Recent Comments” widget is very important and I would keep that at the top of the one remaining side column.
Most of the rest would follow below that.
One important thing – I do not intend to change the comments yet. The comments are critical to the site. While most of us would like some other way of doing it, there’s no consensus on the best way. In my experience Disqus dramatically slows page load times and that’s a very bad thing. I like Facebook commenting (it inherently promotes the site), but a lot of users would not. I’m still open to change, but that’s down the road.
From a tech standpoint, the current theme is no longer supported and that’s a problem. A theme like the one on WestBocaNews is much more up to date.
Please post comments to let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Warren
KL @ 14
“Hasn’t IPR had the same theme since it was founded? It’s time for a change.
Ahhhh! Change for the sake of change!
You are TRULY, a bonafide RADICAL – :>)
I never look at the “recent comments” column. It’s a waste of space.
Without a doubt go for it. Hasn’t IPR had the same theme since it was founded? It’s time for a change.
I prefer the current theme. However, if it is causing technical problems on your end, I say go ahead and change it.
Just do it . . .
fwiw I like Twenty Ten and Twenty Eleven, haven’t tried Twenty Thirteen
@7
I don’t even play the videos, what I mean is any time there is a lot of flash on the page it takes FOREVER to load.
I live out in the country where there is no high speed internet. Dial-up & satellite are my only options, & I can’t afford satellite.
I like the proposed lay-out. As long as they don’t change the IPR logo or restrict comments, I’m fine with the change.
If you convert to a two column format, would that automatically widen the “LEAVE A COMMENT”
section, which is the ONLY area I find problematic
@4 You can make YouTube videos run faster by clicking the “gear” symbol on the bottom toward the right side and choosing a lower bandwidth stream.
I looked at the link to Warren’s other publication (if that is the correct term in the digital world) and I like it. If that makes life easier for IPR, I say go for it. I do have a high speed connection so if that is an issue then I cannot address that.
Recent entries is on bottom left and top right … if you have to remove anything, the recent comments can go.
Subscribe is in the navbar + right hand sidebar AND Social Networks is in the navbar + left hand sidebar. Removing both from the sidebars along with the repeated recent entries (and maybe recent comments) would allow you to consolidate everything into one sidebar, leaving more space for the live content
I’m just concerned with “larger YouTube embeds”, which usually creates problems for those of us with slow connections.
@2 It is broke. It is badly out of date and that creates technical problems.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Keep the current format.
FYI, the current theme is “Cutline 3-Column Split”. The theme on West Boca News is “Twenty Ten”, which is a more standard WordPress theme. I might consider the more recent Twenty Thirteen or Twenty Twelve. But because I have good experience with Twenty Ten I’m leaning that way.