There have been a couple threads in the forums about it, and beta tests for premium members.  I have been using the new format for over a month now.

I really like the changes, especially the home page. Good work!

Brilliant, thanks! 

It shows you guys do take the time to listen or read. I didn't see all 500+ of them, but I saw some comments about how this looks like "facebook" in the previous thread, and in just the first two comments on this one, there is a reference to a social networking site. So it seems that it's something about the "look" to most people. I know I was used to the original interface, and liked it when I first compared it. Originally, I would have said "old version". There's no way for everyone to be happy, I guess, but anyways, I'll just write a few thoughts:

1) Is there a way for the analyze window to already be embedded into the the original window? Or at least the window that pops up be automatically resized to the entire contents (i.e.: Explore, Get PGN, Flip Board all included, not with the scroll bar at the bottom)?

2) Seems to be a little longer lag on the tactics trainer between moves, maybe it's my connection right now, but it normally doesn't do that. If this isn't the case for everyone, then oops.

3) I like the 'highlight over players and see the stats' option. I like stats, I'm a stats guy. ha!

4) I took a stroll around the site, and realize I like it more than I thought. It probably is just shock for most people. It does seem "facebookish" with its' new layout, but at the same time it is very user friendly. Great job!

Lazaeno87, please read the comments posted by staff. Erik has already said in this forum before you  made this post that the friends list will be able to be hidden soon. They are working on it. Also typing in large text is not a good way to get heard. People don't appreciate being what looks like shouted at and it's not necessary as we are not all 5 year olds who  need large font to be able to read what you are saying.  

I consider myself to be a very active user of this site... I loved chess.com that's why I payed money to become a premium member... I have over 50+ games going on... I watch video lectures daily... I publish all my OTB games in blogs... I love this site! But - I am not in favour of the abrupt changes for too many reasons to list... but I please urge you to listen to what another premium member wrote -

Zhane - "Sure I'll give you some time to fix bugs and all that side of stuff, however you should listen to the members more."

What I'm saying Erik is that I'll never stray from chess.com it's too good! But the madness changes such as making our friends list public is for me and a lot of other die-hard users of this awesome site, just too much...

I have my site in the blue theme and at the top of my page it says "Chess.c" with a blue pawn behind the 'C' and so is missing "...om" from chess.com - anyone else have this glitch??

I love the new design, and all the suggestions that I would have made have already been resolved or at least addressed.  The only bug I've experienced is that a live chess game told me I had won by checkmate when I really won by resignation.  It's correct on the page now (http://www.chess.com/livechess/game.html?id=271340727), but at the time the pop-up said checkmate.  I have no idea if this bug is related to the new changes or was already present.

Great work, and thanks for keeping the site fresh.

What could the worst thing could  happen to you if your friends list is open to the public ? When I look at mine is doesn't seem to bother me that much and I don't care or mind what others say about on my friends list.

I just noticed this topic here. I was looking for it before and couldn't find it. I'll delete my topic and move my comment to here. --->

8 Hours Ago

I love the new layout! I haven't had a chance to fully explore it yet but it looks great! I love that you can switch from grid to list view in the online games. One thing that needs a little tweaking is the background, but I'm sure yall are working on that.

Yall fixed that fast! I have my background back :D

I also like the new things shows when you mouse over someone's name including the trophy showcase, but I think it would be cool if I could hold the mouse over one of those trophies and the text would show what the trophy is the same way it does for the country flags.

I've gotta say the thing I'm the most stoked about is the Training Plan!

I haven't found anything I don't like yet but I'll put it here if I do.

OK new look, what about chess TV for non premium members to review old shows, and could you improve the quality of chess TV with more professional looking sets and anchor people , like they do at the tournaments.  How about new features on the Ipod aps too..

If you're referring to replies from Erik, he's been at this for the past 10+  (maybe even 12+) hours and it's probably time to go off duty till tomorrow.

I'd like to chip in on this thread and say I, for one, really like the new design. Good work!

I think a little bit more tweaking could be done on the colour contrasts. Although I'm a fan of clean, light design (like this), the italic could be a little bit darker. Also, I'd rather the thread headings were one or two points smaller, but that's more of a taste issue.

   I really like the new layout, it seems more concise and to the point. Clean looking would be my best description. As for my friends list being hidden, unless I was chatting/playing secrectly an old boy/girl friend behind my spouses back, I really don't see the problem. Hope that was constructive enough.

As a long time contributing Member since 2008

I would have done better with an advance notice of the Site Changes.

I happen to have more chess battle than I have time for.. Fortunately I am set with

Vacation if necessary. My big concern it the lake of chronological order to games to Make moves.. This needs resolving.. If I could vote I like what I have become

comfortable with.. Yet as they say Change is inevitable.. I was bummer this am to

see the Change.. I sign off and Went away..

Hrs later.. Because my love for Chess Here I return. I Do Trust The Good Crew

Of Chess.com Eric and the chessperts Staff...

I will try to adjust..

I understand that the change was made for some obvious reasons that we all won't or can't understand.  I do wish that some prior notification had been given so that I wasn't totally shocked when logging on this evening.  I'm sure it will take everyone some getting used to, but so far looks ok.

Everything is taking forever to load though.  I'm not sure if it's due to the volume of people that are on the site, but it's like a few seconds of delay before things adjust or appear in the right places.  Just typing this post is sluggish.  Is everyone having this problem? 

I do love the site, and look for things to improve with time.

Thanks,

Steve

to erik or staff, there seem to be a few things that won't work for IE, so far for example chat room won't work nor the 'table' layout for the online games. Will you be working on that ? but I am using google chrome it work fine for me so far.    

I don't know for sure, but my guess is because programming costs are expensive and Erik is running a business that puts food on his table and a roof over his head.  I imagine that employing another programmer so that Chess.com can have two different appearances but effectively the same content and functionality is probably pretty low on his priority list.

My guess is he'd rather his team were working on fixes, new features, content improvements, browser compatibility and making sure that Chess.com remains at the top, rather than dealing with a heap of subjective criticsism about whether a colour is quite right or the gap between the top menu and the content is perhaps a few pixels too big.

also his top proirity would be live-chess.

"Not technically feasible" to allow the old format?   I really find that hard to believe.   People are not the sheep you appear to treat them as.