Do you like change?

davidburleson
Do you like change?
25 Jun 2010 9:31AM Views : 545 Unique : 359This is a blog post that I would like alot of feedback on from you guys.
Everything changes; technology, surroundings, television shows, work, tax, government, ideas. Websites change as well. I totally agree that change for change sake is not a good idea. But change to move with the times, to be innovative, to improve and to make things better surely is a good idea.
But, you, the website user, do you like change? If so, why? If not, why? Are you the type of person who loves trying out new things or are you the type of person who prefers to keep things they way they are?
The comment box is below, share your thoughts.
Tags: Web development Change Discussion.
Comments

Quote:you, the website user, do you like change? If so, why? If not, why?
For me, there is no unequivocal answer to this. Because it all depends, you see.
Change for change's sake is not something I would advocate. I'm a supporter of the idea "If it works, don't fix it." But if something could do with improvement, why not change it - as long as the change is indeed an improvement.
As a web user I'm not always happy with change. Changes to a web site can mean that I can't find my way anymore, or that a new design is less pleasing to the eye - which is how I feel about the new EPZ design, I felt that the previous version was easier on the eye, and that I had a better overview of everything that was on a particular page. It all looks a bit full and busy now - hard to explain exactly how it feels, but it's not a positive change for me.
Having said that, some new features look promising and I will definitely have to give them a try.

Quote:It all looks a bit full and busy now - hard to explain exactly how it feels, but it's not a positive change for me.
Thanks for contributing conrad! It is very difficult and like photography, web design can be quite opinionated. Once we can pin-point exactly what it is that makes people feel that the new site is full and busy we will work on resolving the issue. We have applied all the resonable suggestions so far with the new design.
I recall the same issue when V3 -> V4. Everyone was lost and didn't know where things were. So, the difficult bit is how can we locate these sort of problems.
So to sum up your point, change is not what is important, improvement is.

I like the familiar, but if the change really improves the site then that's fine. It does take a little getting used to, but after a week or two I can hardly remember what the 'old' was like................short memory span

I don't see the point of change for change sake, just to make it 'newer', 'fresher' etc.
(I don't like the inevitable flak all you guys get for 'daring to change things')

For example I think it was last year sometime that the BBC News website altered their "Weather" page.
It certainly changed but was a massive improvement with some new features.
As for epz, there have been loads of changes / improvements / new features over the years, some I like, the recent new tabs on the Homepage / Full screen width for the Forums page and some that I do not, like the Nikon Nation logo / link against camera details in the Gallery.
However, not knowing all the details or reasons why, I just wish you would complete the current upgrade across all sections of the site so that the format is consistent ( Conrad's ... "Less Pleasing On The Eye" feeling )
Oh,
Please do not change the format / layout of the forums here on epz.
Some sites I visit have them laid out like a "folder" structure indenting at each level of comment etc.
I just cannot follow the threads at all

