FLUID vs FIXED

[MJ DeMarco]

I've noticed that most forums use a FLUID layout so I thought I would experiment with one here.

FLUID gives the forum a wide view dependent on your screen width.
FIXED contains it among all screens.

What do you think?

Please vote (or comment.)

 

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[vtlambo]

I just noticed the change on my laptop about an hour ago. Looks great!! Layout stretches from one end to the other instead of it being dead center like before.

 

[healthstatus]

Not a fan, my wide screens text goes and goes and goes, then whiplash to the next line......

 

[1PercentStreet]

I have several monitors and usually keep the forum full screen, not a fan at all. Doesn't look great on 27" for me.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Please vote. Thank you!

 

[The-J]

I prefer fluid on my tablet. But I'm on my 17" laptop, so fixed looks much better for me.

 

[AllenCrawley]

Voted fixed width. One of the small things that I like about this forum vs other forums is the use of fixed width.

 

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[JasonR]

I run two widescreen monitors but keep mostly everything in a windows which are NOT maximized (with the exception of excel/Photoshop), so the fluid width does nothing for me. I dislike fluid layouts (for the most part).

 

[JAJT]

I was wondering what the hell happened - I couldn't put my finger on it.

I kept thinking I had a pull-out tab that I had collapsed or something to make things unusually wide.

I'm not a fan of the fluid but it's probably a "don't like change" thing more than an objective opinion on the merits of both...

 

[Amail]

I like the fluid layout - seems cleaner.

 

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[FastNAwesome]

Voted fixed layout.

Don't have any special explanation, simply prefer it that way.

 

[Eskil]

Fluid can be nice sometimes, but for the most part fixed is the way to go - especially when there are large paragraphs of text on a wide screen. Most people on this forum probably have 23++ inch monitors and it's just easier to read a lot of text when it's all more together horizontally.

Voted fixed.

 

[Pinnacle]

I enjoy the wide screen on my desktop, but the forum looks gorgeous on my laptop with the centered screen and sharp fonts.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Bump for more voting!

 

[Determined2012]

I vote fixed... Because it just SOUNDS easier to use/understand?!

Can I see an example of the FLUID version of the site. This is the only forum I use/know... I like things perfectly the way they are now!

(Ps. I googled "fluid forums") lol

 

[1PercentStreet]

This is the fluid version of the site.

Fluid means it fits to your browser. With fixed, it's fixed width for the content.

 

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[TK1]

Voted fixed because of this:

The Line Length Misconception | Viget

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Voted fixed because of this:

The Line Length Misconception | Viget

They found that line length no impact on comprehension on the screen

That says longer lines don't impact readability -- so shouldn't fluid be the vote?

 

[TK1]

That says longer lines don't impact readability -- so shouldn't fluid be the vote?

Sorry, I should have added: While there are many different opinions on optimal line length I prefer shorter ones to read.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Bump for more votes!

 

[theBiz]

I have a large screen and it hurts my eyes and is a bit awkward reading the full left to right.

 

[Ãœbertreffen]

Off Topic: This is a great example of listening to the crowd. Instead of changing and hearing about the complaints, a change was made and you physically asked for opinions. Great lesson to be learned here that many could use to apply in their venture(s).


Back on topic: I really don't have a preference. I've learned to adapt to change. Those that have larger resolutions or screen real estate may hate how a whole paragraph may be stretched out in one or two lines. Personally, it doesn't bother me. I'm never on the same computer so I get the best of both.

While I could figure this out, is there a way that both options could be available for each member to select for their own preference? I know there are modifications by user such as template changes but I'm curious to know if there were options that stretched further than that to decide by layout preference.



- Devin

 

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[LightHouse]

Fixed, its odd though it isn't responsive, it has a min width set so it can only go so small anyway. I like the consistency of fixed and having everything in the center. Thanks for polling vs just doing!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Off Topic: This is a great example of listening to the crowd. Instead of changing and hearing about the complaints, a change was made and you physically asked for opinions. Great lesson to be learned here that many could use to apply in their venture(s).

True, although if the change had an impact on sales or conversion this would probably be minimized. Since the forum is not really engaged in commerce/conversion/sales, user preferences hold weight. However normally, one layout would be preferred over the other based on conversion metrics.

 

[Lusches]

Isn't it possible to create a option in the user-settings so everyone can choose the version that he/she likes ?

When I click on Settings->General Settings->Forum Skin I can choose the skin I like. Maybe you can add a Fluid-skin there...

 

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[TheTruth]

the fluid layout is the worst thing that has happened on earth since WWII.


Voted: fixed

 

[Ãœbertreffen]

True, although if the change had an impact on sales or conversion this would probably be minimized. Since the forum is not really engaged in commerce/conversion/sales, user preferences hold weight. However normally, one layout would be preferred over the other based on conversion metrics.

Exactly. One layout is all that's needed. Typically the landing page should be focused to the vast majority which provides the greatest results. Without a focus in conversion, all of this is noise of course and is only mentioned in generalities.

The point was not surrounded by the forum environment entirely. As it goes, trial and error works along with the measure of listening to the positive and negative response. What was mentioned was just that it can be as simple as asking the community. One who has a business could join communities (forums for example) in which their business is geared towards and ask the right questions to improve and make an impact.



- Devin

 

[sigurdur]

I vote both.
Fixed maximum width (1000px or so) and a fixed minimum width (maybe 500-700px).
This way you'll get a responsive adjustment for smaller monitors/tablets/phones.

I have a 15" laptop monitor 1920 pixel wide.
I don't like to read so much left to right, I prefer reading downwards (I read quicker that way ..).

On the front page it's hard to see who made a recent post in the "Top 15 stats" (too much white space).

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Effective immediately you can change your style settings to either FIXED or FLUID. The default is FIXED. If you like the screen to span the width of your screen, please select FLUID.

The style setting is located at the bottom LEFT of all pages ... in the forum's footer.

 

[LightHouse]

Ahh back to fixed. Thanks for spending your time on improving and testing things around here MJ.