New forum theme?
Canadaka @ Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:17 am
In efforts to get the forum more active what do people think about changine or an entire new forum theme, look. but will still have a CKA red feel.
if you have any suggestions for new looks, let me know.
Andem @ Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:15 pm
I think something should be done.
It just takes way too long to load on these forums and I have a T1 line at home, so it's not my connection. There's just too much junk, like an extra advertisement at the bottom of the screen the no one really sees.
Edit:
It's quite a lot of work to do an entire phpBB theme, even if you're talented. Why not look around at phpbb.com and see if there's something minimalistic that you can build on?
Canadaka @ Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:23 pm
i'm completely capable of making a phpbb theme i have many times, but yes it takes a lot of time, sometihng i don't have. So i think I will just tweak this one a bit.
I also made the forums load a less heavey header, without the banner or site promo adds.
I think i will take your adive and get rid of one of the 2 banner adds... they slow the page down a lot. but they are whats paying for this site. hopefully the payoff will be more people using the forums.
This site is slow at times, my rackserver is not the best, and its always running at 100% capacity. the 512mb of ram i ordered should help out a bit, some more food for the mysql beast! 
Andem @ Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:31 pm
*refreshes*
With the skyscraper ad gone, it's loads faster! Sweet.
PS. You won't be missing much by removing the skyscraper ads. Fastclick's skyscrapers are an extremely low paying ad-format. The only ones that perform with fastclick are popunders and 468s.
Canadaka @ Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:45 pm
I have always refused to subject my visitors to the popup pop-under or flaoting over content adds. I know they pay the best unfortunatly... 
The horizontal banner and the skyscraper on a good month can cover the server co-location costs. I can't really afford for it not too.. but the forums do load a lot faster! so i will elave one off. I also did a couple other tweaks that should help the speed. aswell as modify the look a bit.
What does canadian content use for advertising? fastclick aswell?
Robair @ Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:54 am
Now it doesn't say who posted last (on the main page).
Canadaka @ Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:05 am
Robair Robair:
Now it doesn't say who posted last (on the main page).
Hey thanks for pointing that out! i actually meant to take out the author column not the last poster, i will fix tonight!
Would be great to get some feedback from other people if they find the forums faster, and they like the tweaks.