Wikipedia talk:2008 main page redesign proposal/Wintran 4

Please view this design with Firefox.

This design is based on my second proposal but with less icons and topical links (and some other minor changes). Feel free to comment here, but also see the talk page of my other version.

My comments

I don't have Firefox, but thought I'd comment anyway. If it all seems negative, please be assured that I wouldn't take the time to write, if I didn't like a whole lot about your proposal.

1. Redundancies and confusing links: I do so agree that the "main page should focus on catching the attention and liking of new users." Why and how do people get involved in working on Wikipedia? I had a special reason - maybe everyone did - but I had to be very determined in order to not just give up, as all those "helpful" links kept sending me 'round in circles. So. Fewer links and preferably NO redundancies, please.

Sorry, but I don't think you've accomplished that. Within the first few lines you've linked twice to Wikipedia:Tutorial (Editing), and not by its name in either case. That is just the sort of thing I found so confusing and annoying, starting out. Now, do you want the new user to pay no attention at all to the left panel? Well, you can't stop him/her. So, including the left panel, you have duplicate (redundant) links to at least Wikipedia:About, Help:Contents, Wikipedia:Community Portal and Portal:Featured content. The mouse-over doesn't tell the user in all cases that the two links will take them to the same place - it takes a few trials and errors. Annoying, I think.

That said, I really like the intent of your top two boxes! A solution might be to use the Explore box to explain the left panel, instead of duplicating it in a confusing manner?

2. Featured content: I really like the 3 featured articles and the 3 featured pics! You are never going to be able to make the pic large enough for me; they are often spectacular photos. Perhaps the new user needs some fine print above the photos: "Click to enlarge". And don't the pics deserve the "Featured"-star as much as the articles above? Portal:Featured content tells of several types of content which are featured, including pictures.

3. Basic disagreement: I've said elsewhere that the "old" search box should be moved to the very top of the left column (Look to Norway!), and that there shouldn't be a duplicate of that, either. But I just had to mention it; I don't expect to convince you ;-)

4. Being picky: I suggest changing "Other languages" to something like "In 200 languages" or "More than 200 languages" or however many there are. No point making everything but English be "other". To a great many people in the world, English is "other". Just sounds more inclusive to me. --Hordaland (talk) 13:18, 16 July 2008 (UTC)