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I don't like this New Trains Websites Now. Bring back the old website.

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 8:45 PM

rixflix
I much preferred the old compact format. This one's got too much wide open space and consequent scrolling mileage.

 

Try turning off  your ad blocker. I'll bet those empty spaces will fill right up, after you do. Whistling

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Posted by matthewsaggie on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 7:15 PM

I've been a subscriber for years, but now I can't login for the newswire,  but surprised I can post here.  Go figure.

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 7:14 PM

Convicted One
 
BaltACD
From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header.  I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other. 

Interesting, I get the same thing when accessing through Chromium, but when I access through Firefox, the page appears to render properly. The page also seems to render properly when accessing through the very obsolete Knonqueror browser.  In total fairness, I am constantly getting nagged that  my Chromium browser is out of date and that I need to update it, so it's possible that it would render properly under Chromium if I updated, but I won't.

Just for comparison, here is what I get under each:

Chromium

 

Firefox

 

Konqueror

 I actually like the new look. Cleaner, more modern, straightforward approach, without all that gaudy red header.

For the record, a "pay only" access model doesn't bother me. I find that in a "pay only" environment that the troublemakers who seem to participate only to irritate the other members tend to tone it down when faced with getting a paid membership cancelled for bad behavior.

FWIW

Kalmbach IT - says it all

When I was involved in computer oprations - my boss would have fired me if the applications I put in service operated differently on different computers/applications.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:48 PM

Ulrich

Give it a chance maybe.. nobody likes change..

 

If I want change I'll reach in my left pocket!

It looks like the regular stuff is still there, you have to scroll down to the bottom of the webpage (past the commercials) to find it.

I found the Forum by clicking on "Community,"  that's how the "Classic Toy Trains" Forum worked.  

Yeah, gonna take some getting used to.  

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Posted by rixflix on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:44 PM
I much preferred the old compact format. This one's got too much wide open space and consequent scrolling mileage. Also the clutter of model railroading links is annoying. I'd rather see more industry news and advertising. Seems like there was a lot more easily accessible newswire articles this morning on the old site. Rick

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:17 PM

If I had only one wish for this site, I'd really, REALLY, REALLY wish that Kalmbach would quit buying their fonts from Google.

When this site is runing slow, it gets REALLY  frustrating waiting on the page to load while watching that "waiting for fonts.googleapi.whatever" message in the lower left corner.

 

Plus, with the way it's set up, the "fonts  by google" delivery package is  intrusive behavior, just another way for them to sneak onto your platform and collect metrics from all of us.

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:07 PM

I really like the new look. CT changed for the better also, graphically.

On Safari I get that logo jumble at upper right. But in Google Chrome, I get what CO is getting in Firefox.

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:04 PM

Lithonia Operator
You'll see that a print-only subscription to Train seems to no longer be available. The print edition is now a $5 add-on to the digi edition; it would appear to me that maybe they're trying to kill off the print edition.

I think that a lot of content creators have taken notice of how "dealing  from the cloud" has worked out for companies like Microsoft, IBM, and  Adobe. Helping them reduce costs while at the same time stringing up their customers for a line of ongoing payments instead of a one time purchase. 

Personally, I think that  $20+ dollars per month "forever" is too much for Photoshop, especially after finding I am just as happy with Gimp. YMMV 

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 5:46 PM

BaltACD
From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header.  I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.

Interesting, I get the same thing when accessing through Chromium, but when I access through Firefox, the page appears to render properly. The page also seems to render properly when accessing through the very obsolete Konqueror browser.  In total fairness, I am constantly getting nagged that  my Chromium browser is out of date and that I need to update it, so it's possible that it would render properly under Chromium if I updated, but I won't.

Just for comparison, here is what I get under each:

Chromium

 

Firefox

 

Konqueror

 

I actually like the new look. Cleaner, more modern, straightforward approach, without all that gaudy red header.

For the record, a "pay only" access model doesn't bother me. I find that in a "pay only" environment that the troublemakers who seem to participate only to irritate the other members tend to tone it down when faced with getting a paid membership cancelled for bad behavior.

FWIW

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Posted by adkrr64 on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 5:08 PM

Lithonia Operator
Will these forums soon fall behind a paywall? Will only the "unlimiteds" get to use the forums?

I find a number of sites moving to a members only model. Sports Illustrated (si.com) just did this. They typically give you a couple of free articles then cut you off.

If it keeps the content quality high and eliminates the ads and clickbait, I'm OK with the idea of paying for online content. I find such sites much more enjoyable and usable.

As for the new site layout, I'm good with it so far. It look better on the iPad.

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 5:07 PM

Lithonia Operator
I have never known: is the digital edition exactly the same as the print one, content-wise?

I don't know about the Newswire articles, but as far as I can see, the digital edition is the exact same as the printed one.

York1 John       

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:54 PM

I find this interesting. If you go to this page: https://www.trains.com/trn/subscription-plans/

You'll see that a print-only subscription to Train seems to no longer be available. The print edition is now a $5 add-on to the digi edition; it would appear to me that maybe they're trying to kill off the print edition.

I have never known: is the digital edition exactly the same as the print one, content-wise?

If I go to the Train mag website now, I can read Newswire articles. But if I click on a feature story, it will let me read it, but tells me how many more free articles I get. Are those feature articles the same articles that are in the print mag I will soon get in the mail? Or are they "special" content which, after my (now) four more looks, will thereafter be availiable only to the "Unlimiteds?"

I'm, like, confused. Tongue Tied

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:33 PM

BaltACD

From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header.  I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.

I've got that too. And quite oddly, the little logo to the left of the bookmark is now the logo for the Washington Post. I deleted that bookmark, made a new one; same deal, the WaPo logo. ???

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:31 PM

Well...  I'm going to take the other side.

I like the new look.  Much cleaner, and for me, much easier to see what's what.

York1 John       

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:26 PM

I'll give it a chance. I do like the graphic look of it a lot. Technically, it will probably need some de-bugging, but that's to be expected.

What I don't get is:

What will still be free, if one doesn't do the "unlimited membership?"

If one subscribes to the print versions of both Trains and CT (as I do), does that earn any credit toward the cost of the unlimited membership?

Will these forums soon fall behind a paywall? Will only the "unlimiteds" get to use the forums?

How much duplication will there be between the print and digital content?

I am going to try to research this better. But my quick glance left me confused as to what the big picture is. What the actual business model is, and what the options are.

If anyone has figured this out, please fill the rest of us in.

My druthers would be to have exactly the amount of access I have now; but I don't know if that's going to be possible for long.

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Posted by conrailman on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:23 PM

I don't like the News Wire Part of the website. If its broken don't Fix it. The Old site was alot better. Thumbs Down

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 3:27 PM

From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header.  I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.

Kalmbach IT strikes again.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 3:22 PM

Give it a chance maybe.. nobody likes change..

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:51 PM

conrailman

Bring Back the Old Website Now. It was more easy too get too things. Now its harder too find. This New Websites S***.

 

I concur, but then I didn't like it the last time the website changed either.

I suppose I'll get used to it.  Bang Head

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I don't like this New Trains Websites Now. Bring back the old website.
Posted by conrailman on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:34 PM

Bring Back the Old Website Now. It was more easy too get too things. Now its harder too find. This New Websites S***.

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