Small layout cleanup... comments please

robmueller · 9 Apr 2002, 11:45 PM

Ok, I've just been playing with doing a bit of a cleanup on the interface front. Nothing major right now. No additions, just a little streamlining.

We've been getting way to many emails asking even basic things like "Where do I upgrade?" Clearly having a bunch of links stuck at the bottom of the Preferences screen has just been a hack that's long outlived it's due by date.

Also, quite a few people think the header bar is cluttered. Really how often do you edit Signatures/Pop Links/Folders? Do you really need 'single click' access to them on most screens?

So here's probably what the screens are going to look like in a day or so. Just wanted to get some feedback before putting them officially in place.

http://robm.fastmail.fm/mockup/new_f...l_screens.html

Mailbox

Only 'Mailbox', 'Compose', 'Addresses', 'Options' and 'Help' links in header now
Options is a new screen to give another level of indirection to Preferences, see below
Poll link now on Mailbox screen
No other changes for the moment

Options

This is the screen you get to when clicking 'Options' at the top of most pages
Basically gives more structure and description to the dozen links currently on the bottom of the Preferences screen
Also has links to some previously fairly 'hidden' options, such as the 'Purge mailbox' screen, the 'IMAP migrate' screen and the 'Upload Addresses' screen

Preferences

Same as before, just no silly list of links at the bottom

Comments?

Rob

ajmoraal · 9 Apr 2002, 11:56 PM

The options screen is a good idea. But there's some much text on the screen that it looks a little cluttered. Why not put the helptexts under a '?' character, like the other screens?

chrisdamato · 9 Apr 2002, 11:56 PM

I like the all the changes. I would like to suggest another small one while you are at it.

When in Mailbox view, I suggest that the top-left Mailbox header item (next to Compose) should be a link with the same functionality as Refresh.

From most other screens, the Mailbox link has this "check for new mail" functionality, but not from the actual Mailbox screen.

Not a major problem, but I often find myself clicking for a Mailbox link that's not there.

Thanks for all your great work, you should be very proud.

jshumway · 9 Apr 2002, 11:57 PM

The options screen is much nicer than the current display. I think that it will really help the new users find their way around.

The Folder and Preference screens are subtle cleanups, but they should help minimize confusion.

Good job.

One last thing that will help. The folder view that is in the works. I often forget to check the other folders in the web interface. This is even more important now that we have the spam filtering in place.

Thanks,

Jeff

Tango · 10 Apr 2002, 12:03 AM

Might I suggest that the "cancel account" link be moved elsewhere? it's just below the "resource usage", which i click often...have misclicked once or twice...i know there are still confirmation screens to go through, but still the experience was quite scary!!

Oops...sorry, i wrote that before i finished looking at the new layout...

mklose · 10 Apr 2002, 12:05 AM

Quote:

[*]Also has links to some previously fairly 'hidden' options, such as the 'Purge mailbox' screen, the 'IMAP migrate' screen and the 'Upload Addresses' screen

Comments?

I don't see the purge mailbox anywhere on the options.

It should be under actions somewhere.

Otherwise, BIG thumbs up. I like. Makes things a lot clearer.

**gpdoyon** · 10 Apr 2002, 12:06 AM

I especially like the new "Options" screen. Very nice.

- Gerry

Meuh · 10 Apr 2002, 12:07 AM

Don't know if it's just my browser - work has me stuck on IE 4.5 for the MAc - but the Mailbox is ugly, ugly, ugly. All that grey . . .

**DBH** · 10 Apr 2002, 12:11 AM

You can change the colors by going to the 'Preferences' screen and picking a different style sheet.

**DBH** · 10 Apr 2002, 12:15 AM

As far as the Mailbox look, I kinda like the way it looks now, but I'm willing to accept the change if that's what everybody wants! I guess I just like having everything on one page.

**psalzer** · 10 Apr 2002, 12:54 AM

As long as everything is still there, I'm happy. I do like having the poll link on the mailbox page. that's really handy.

jhs · 10 Apr 2002, 02:08 AM

Agree with psalzer, poll link on mailbox would be really handy.

About the preference page, I think the input fields could be group more logically. Now it seems to be distibuted more or less randomly (I guess actually in the order they were added). But for example make one group with personal information, one about dispaly settings, etc.

Si1 · 10 Apr 2002, 03:30 AM

Hi,

Could 'Preferences' be made to fit an 800 x 600 screen without having to scroll left to right?
(Perhaps by making the back-up email box shorter?)

P.S. I'm a recent Yahoo convert and I think Fastmail is excellent!

**psalzer** · 10 Apr 2002, 03:34 AM

that gets my vote, too. none of the fields have to be that long. Just make the max size entry big, but it doesn't have to take up so much screen real estate.

geoff2 · 10 Apr 2002, 05:45 AM

I think the organization is much nicer. My only concern is that the revamped Preferences page is loaded with text, making it cumbersome to find what you're looking for because nothing really stands out. I don't have any constructive suggestions at the moment, though.

9 Apr 2002, 11:45 PM	#1
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,102 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	Small layout cleanup... comments please Ok, I've just been playing with doing a bit of a cleanup on the interface front. Nothing major right now. No additions, just a little streamlining. We've been getting way to many emails asking even basic things like "Where do I upgrade?" Clearly having a bunch of links stuck at the bottom of the Preferences screen has just been a hack that's long outlived it's due by date. Also, quite a few people think the header bar is cluttered. Really how often do you edit Signatures/Pop Links/Folders? Do you really need 'single click' access to them on most screens? So here's probably what the screens are going to look like in a day or so. Just wanted to get some feedback before putting them officially in place. http://robm.fastmail.fm/mockup/new_f...l_screens.html Mailbox Only 'Mailbox', 'Compose', 'Addresses', 'Options' and 'Help' links in header now Options is a new screen to give another level of indirection to Preferences, see below Poll link now on Mailbox screen No other changes for the moment Options This is the screen you get to when clicking 'Options' at the top of most pages Basically gives more structure and description to the dozen links currently on the bottom of the Preferences screen Also has links to some previously fairly 'hidden' options, such as the 'Purge mailbox' screen, the 'IMAP migrate' screen and the 'Upload Addresses' screen Preferences Same as before, just no silly list of links at the bottom Comments? Rob

10 Apr 2002, 12:03 AM	#5
Tango Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 529	Might I suggest that the "cancel account" link be moved elsewhere? it's just below the "resource usage", which i click often...have misclicked once or twice...i know there are still confirmation screens to go through, but still the experience was quite scary!! Oops...sorry, i wrote that before i finished looking at the new layout... Last edited by Tango : 10 Apr 2002 at 12:08 AM.

9 Apr 2002, 11:56 PM	#2
ajmoraal Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Netherlands Posts: 30	The options screen is a good idea. But there's some much text on the screen that it looks a little cluttered. Why not put the helptexts under a '?' character, like the other screens?

9 Apr 2002, 11:56 PM	#3
chrisdamato Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 65	I like the all the changes. I would like to suggest another small one while you are at it. When in Mailbox view, I suggest that the top-left Mailbox header item (next to Compose) should be a link with the same functionality as Refresh. From most other screens, the Mailbox link has this "check for new mail" functionality, but not from the actual Mailbox screen. Not a major problem, but I often find myself clicking for a Mailbox link that's not there. Thanks for all your great work, you should be very proud.

9 Apr 2002, 11:57 PM	#4
jshumway Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 25	The options screen is much nicer than the current display. I think that it will really help the new users find their way around. The Folder and Preference screens are subtle cleanups, but they should help minimize confusion. Good job. One last thing that will help. The folder view that is in the works. I often forget to check the other folders in the web interface. This is even more important now that we have the spam filtering in place. Thanks, Jeff

10 Apr 2002, 12:06 AM	#7
gpdoyon Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Westbrook, Maine USA Posts: 462	I especially like the new "Options" screen. Very nice. - Gerry

10 Apr 2002, 12:07 AM	#8
Meuh Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 42	Don't know if it's just my browser - work has me stuck on IE 4.5 for the MAc - but the Mailbox is ugly, ugly, ugly. All that grey . . .

10 Apr 2002, 12:11 AM	#9
DBH Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,533	You can change the colors by going to the 'Preferences' screen and picking a different style sheet.

10 Apr 2002, 12:15 AM	#10
DBH Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,533	As far as the Mailbox look, I kinda like the way it looks now, but I'm willing to accept the change if that's what everybody wants! I guess I just like having everything on one page.

10 Apr 2002, 12:54 AM	#11
psalzer Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,654	As long as everything is still there, I'm happy. I do like having the poll link on the mailbox page. that's really handy.

10 Apr 2002, 02:08 AM	#12
jhs Essential Contributor Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 350	Agree with psalzer, poll link on mailbox would be really handy. About the preference page, I think the input fields could be group more logically. Now it seems to be distibuted more or less randomly (I guess actually in the order they were added). But for example make one group with personal information, one about dispaly settings, etc.

10 Apr 2002, 03:30 AM	#13
Si1 Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: UK Posts: 590	Hi, Could 'Preferences' be made to fit an 800 x 600 screen without having to scroll left to right? (Perhaps by making the back-up email box shorter?) P.S. I'm a recent Yahoo convert and I think Fastmail is excellent!

10 Apr 2002, 03:34 AM	#14
psalzer Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,654	that gets my vote, too. none of the fields have to be that long. Just make the max size entry big, but it doesn't have to take up so much screen real estate.

10 Apr 2002, 05:45 AM	#15
geoff2 Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 49	I think the organization is much nicer. My only concern is that the revamped Preferences page is loaded with text, making it cumbersome to find what you're looking for because nothing really stands out. I don't have any constructive suggestions at the moment, though.