Suggestion: make the top part narrower?

[bigtiger]

As we are introducing ads support, which I totally support, I would like to offer one suggestion: can we make the top part narrower?

I mean the whole area above the ads area. I do not mind ads and I totally support signup fee. And I DID donate to Bill Morrow a little bit ( --not too much though).

The "thinkpads.com support community" is a redundant statement as it has been said in the left-most logo. The copyright thing can be put in the very bottom.

As to the logo, can we make a narrow logo? Or, how about we do a logo design competition? The winner will got at least 5 feathers.

The other suggestion is to put more ads in the right, just as Google does. That way, we can have more ads and they do not bother us at all.

Ohn, yeah, can we have google ad sense?

[gator]

I was about to suggest ad sense too, but they really clutter up the formatting, though they are unobtrusive. I think having dedicated ads like this is more befitting to this forum and its status. This is just my $0.02, please correct me if I am wrong.

As for the logo, it should stay - the current logo is a fantastic one imho and must stay. However, if we are looking for a new one, I volunteer to design one ... I have done some work on this before, and I draw a bit. I will happily do one for the forum if Bill/Mod team want me to.

[bigtiger]

Well, for me, the real estate at the top matter to me. I do not like to scroll down very often. I would like to read sth first before I scroll down.

Now, everybody is having wide screen (I mean, more than 800 pixels wide). It is not good to use full screen anyway. So use the extra space in the right "column" of your browser shouldnot be that annoying.

I like the way google put ads in my gmail. If I want to focus on my email, I do not even notice any ads in the right.

As to the logo, it is totally my personal feeling. The logo looks fine to me but if we could make it longer and shorter, I would like it more.

Gator, are you a designer?

[gator]

No, I am a EE PhD student, but I draw decently well (that is what people tell - I hope it is not out of courtesy ) ... I used to have a deviantART account ... not anymore. I did some logo designs for some of my friends when I was working in India ... typically I'll draw something and then render it in PS (I dont know photoshop much though, just enough).

[carbon_unit]

Thanks for donating! Any amount is appreciated.

I believe that the ads are that size because that is the standard banner ad size. Advertisers may not pay as much for a smaller ad space.

[tomh009]

I think the OP didn't actually suggest changing the ad sizes, but instead suggested that the header proper (above the ads) could be made slimmer, allowing the ads yo sit up higher on the page.

It's food for thought ...

[JHEM]

Putting all of the action buttons (e.g. Donate, FAQ, etc.) on a single line would reduce the size of the banner a bit, but that would necessitate reducing the size of the logo, which IMHO is a no-no.

James

[GomJabbar]

My thoughts exactly JHEM.

I have no personal stake in this other than the fact that I enjoy browsing this forum and contributing as I am able. Nevertheless, I am grateful to Bill Morrow for operating this site and providing this resource for all of us. It seems quite reasonable to me that Bill gets some payback, considering the time and personal expense required of him on a continuous basis. Bill should be proud of what he has built here, and having a prominent logo displayed is only fitting IMO.

[carbon_unit]

Right on Dave!

[snessiram]

What about paying a fee not to see the ads? This would leave an option for people not directly (or at all) wanting to pay the fee suggested in other topics.

[Stargate199]

I have worked on phpBB Message boards before, so I can say Snessiram that it is not possible to create both an ad banner and a non ad banner for paid users. As for the banner, leave it. Looks fine on my computers. The highest resolution is use is 1024x768. Low res isn't it? I might consider a redesign if I was using my huge 20" HP monitor that dud 1200x1024.

[Talon88]

:::

I guess they fix the width of the Ad now,
Keeping the width within 800 pixel is good....!

:::

[BillMorrow]

thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen (and ladies, if any)..

also, thanks for the donations..

as you can see, today, easter eve (ok, so it is afternoon here in florida) there is a new and temporary "logo" in the banner..

i thought you would all want to see a photo of the mod and admin staff at our new years party..

so there it is, temporarily..

try to guess who is who..

as for gator designing a new logo, i will contact him and discuss this with him.. the idea has merit.. a thankyou goes out to gator..
and all those who have contributed time and paypal donations..

i am trying to limit the ads to 5 across and thats it..
also to thinkpad related vendors or services..
i.e. no pharma, gambling, sex or pop-ups..
(hmm, operhaps i should re-organixe the line above )
no matter..

i am thinking of a new or changed logo to fit the time of year and or mood of the season..

any further suggestions are welcome..

[gator]

as for gator designing a new logo, i will contact him and discuss this with him.. the idea has merit.. a thankyou goes out to gator..
and all those who have contributed time and paypal donations..

Bill, it is a pleasure to be part of this forum in any way, and we all thank you for forum.thinkpads.com

i am thinking of a new or changed logo to fit the time of year and or mood of the season..

This idea is excellent and very exciting. You see sites like google and reddit and it is so nice to see different logos for various days/time of the year. I strongly welcome this idea for the forum.