Wikipedia talk:Historical archive/Petition for the return of the Old Wikipedia

For a November 2004 deletion debate over this page see Votes for deletion/Petition for the return of the Old Wikipedia

I don't really like a few things about new skin, and I especially don't like the way it was sprung on everyone with no warning and without being fully tested. However, now that it is deployed, I think the issues are getting systematically resolved and that reverting now would cause more problems than it's worth. -Lommer 22:34, 2 Jun 2004 (UTC)

As a new contributor to Wikipedia (with experience of other wikis), I just want to say that I have started contributing because of the better layout. It is now a joy to use... David Remahl 18:42, 2 Jun 2004 (UTC)

There is some discussion at:

http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_1.3_comments_and_bug_reports

For what it's worth, I found the default font too small, but discovered a handy "minimum font size" option in Mozilla preferences.

I use the "standard" skin in IE 6.0, and it looks just as it always has. You might want to try it. Meelar 22:00, 2 Jun 2004 (UTC)
 * Yeah, change your skin :) Dysprosia 11:38, 3 Jun 2004 (UTC)


 * But then I'd have to log in every time, and I hardly ever do. Hans Zarkov 08:46, 12 Jun 2004 (UTC)

In my original complaint on General complaints I did not press for the immeadiate removal of the new design, first of all because I do not know why the change was made (am curious though), and secondly because I would not be suprised to learn that quite a few people actually like the glossy look. Therefore I suggested that at least it should be made really easy (not only for those with an account but other visitors as well) to change the look to a basic style (I'm thinking, one mouseclick on a link in the top of the page). But if really a lot of people are unhappy with the new look, that must mean something. Even the glossy look (which is somewhat in the eye of the beholder) aside, I fear that the style makes too many presumptions about the kind of browser and the kind of fonts the reader is using, and that the intricate layout may be easily broken (at least I saw the tabs dissappear when tried a browser I do not normally use, Konqueror 3.14).

I agree with the additional points of Litefantastic, even point 6, because I like the accassibility of the links on the top, which with the new style are removed for the tabs (like "printable version" and the other languages the article is in - I actually look at two other languages regularly, besides English). However, since I don't know what exactly is going on with regard to the new style, for now I wont display the banner that asks for its immeadiate removal. I do ask for easy access to something as solid as the old standard, and feel personally that the new style is flawed. --Kornelis 16:40, 3 Jun 2004 (UTC)

In response: Thank you all for helping me, and contributing your POVs. I have read them all (thus far) and wish to make a suggested change to our petition: That the old style be made the default, and that the (currently) new style be made an optional skin under 'preferences'. Sound good? It is possible to revert to something resembling the old look by fiddling with formatting, but I'd still like it put back as default. But that's just me; as always the call goes to the majority. -Litefantastic 18:15, 3 Jun 2004 (UTC)


 * Well, as long as we're voting, I think I'll go ahead and make mine "keep the new look." -- Wapcaplet 19:12, 5 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Old Wikipedia? Do you mean this ( http://web.archive.org/web/20010405113633/http://www.wikipedia.com/ )? Maximus Rex 18:12, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)
 * No. Not quite that old. Just before this skin change. -Litefantastic 15:59, 5 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Perhaps we should mention also this:

&mdash; Monedula 23:21, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)


 * But that's the problem. Or a problem anyway; God knows we have enough of them. The Pedia doesn't work as well in some browsers; charactrs don't work, the font bothers you, etc. -Litefantastic 01:02, 21 Jun 2004 (UTC)

This new Wikipedia skin doesn't have to be that bad. Of course, it looks like Windows XP, but with some changes (well, quite a lot) I could even accept it, if it weren't for one thing: Was the Wikipedia community ever informed of the skin change before it happend? Was there ever a big note at the top of the Main Page encouraging Wikipedians to vote in this matter? Well, at least I didn't see one. I've finally found a voting page, but it was hidden in a list under Community Portal/Current polls. This is a MAJOR change to Wikipedia. A notice should have been placed on the Main Page with a link to a voting page at least a week before the change. –The Phoenix 09:08, 23 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Preferences editor
What is meant by "Make the preferences editor easier to use" ? --Yath 19:58, 23 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Opera
I strongly recommend the Opera browser. The different Wikipedia skins work and it's possible to zoom the size of the entire page (fonts and images both) up to 100's of times over if required. Opera can also emulate a text-only browser or a "nostalgia" browser (makes it look like the web ten years ago). Most useful of all, a magic wand system remembers to log you in automatically each session (if you tell it to) in a much more reliable way than IE browsers.

--wayland 14:13, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Screenshots
Does anyone have screenshots of the old Wikipedia? I never saw it, so I would like to see what it was like before I vote. Ryan 10:28, August 7, 2005 (UTC)