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Welcome to CD Freaks v2.0 – Celebrate with us and win free stuff!
Posted on 01/11/06 09:21 by Robin
All our frequent visitors will probably be surprised; this is not the site you were used to! For nearly 18 months we have been working on a total redesign and re-code of CD Freaks and this is the result. We understand you will have to get used to it and not everyone will like it, it’s a matter of personal taste.
However, we are confident that everyone will find their way on our website over time and will see the benefits of it. We could talk for hours about what we think has improved, but the best thing is to browse around and see for yourself.
In order to make browsing our new site even more enjoyable, we give you an opportunity to win prizes while you get acquainted with the new website. The total value of all prices combined exceeds the $25,000 and has been made possible by our sponsors:
Lite-On IT, Traxdata, Verbatim Ltd, Meritline, Ricoh Europe, Fengtao Software, Datacatch, GameJackal, Dimadsoft, ashampoo GmbH & Co, VSO-Software, Slysoft, MuvEnum, Elaborate Bytes, Roxio, AVS Media, Engelmann Media, Nero, Eximus B.V., Alcohol 120% and Cyberlink.
On our special give-away page you can find all the information you need, including the prizes you can win. If you follow all three steps there is a large chance you will win something! More information can be found on
http://www.cdfreaks.com/giveaway !
Furhermore, we are working on hard to fix all possible bugs in the system. If you see anything strange or not working, please report about it in the bug report mainpage forum.
We are really looking forward to see all your reactions. What do you think of the new website? You can leave your message below!
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Reactions
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Wow, what a change! Great work guys! Much much more modernised.... I'm sure i'll get used to this in no time. However, the URL shortening makes www.cdfreaks.com/giveaway to www.cdfr(...)ks.com/giveaway ... which I think isn't really necessary cos it doesn't save any letters :P
Great work! Lets hope it runs smoothly, many thanks!
Gough
Hmm, doesn't seem that I can edit my reactions, and also doesn't seem like URL detection is on .... If you go to edit account, you get all these SQL errors.
In my honest opinion, i prefered the old one, and the reason is that it was a lot simpler. You just got here and got what you wanted. It was sleek ,simple and quite fast to get around not as colorful as it is now. Anyways, I hope it improves over time, and thanks very much for the effort anyways.
I think I've been a member & have written some articles since 1999 or earlier. Most people do not like change; I've learned that change is constant, therefore CONGRATULATIONS CDFREAKS! Our site has been a winner since its' inception. It has been an honor & a priveledge to be a part of CdFreaks.com for many years. I'm behind you guys nomatter what you do, all the way!
First impressions are important, and my first impression is great!
Keep up the good work!
One thing I always liked about CDFreaks was the simple, no-nonsense interface. I like seeing all the relevant pieces quickly. At first glance, it seems like this is still intact. Of course, it takes time to get used to a new interface...
Will I like this better than the old one? Time will tell. But at least I'm glad the easy accessibility seems to be intact.
Great work, the new layout really reveals alot of the features the site has to offer alot more strongly whereas before they were hidden away, now they're prominent and so hopefully will get used alot more by everyone, including me!
I liked the old interface more. This one is too loud - I feel like I'm in Vegas. I'm a professional Webmaster and, yes, change is constant but it seems to me like you're throwing in everything but the kitchen sink. I like the colours, except this sickly yellow/gold (hard on the eyes).too flashy!
i preferred the old one, better presentation of all articles on one line.
sorry, but your new web sucks now.
New site looks cool !!! Just one thing........I logged in on the home page and when I went to the Community/Forum I had to log in again....Looks very good i think. I really don't post much on this site much but i still view it from time to time. The front page looks very sleek and clean and the colour is well choosen. Well done CDFreaks for making the site look much better for the future. I wonder when you will do the forum section? Keep up the good work.
It is going to take some time getting use to, one thing it takes forever in firefox to load the page to react ect.... Overall though I like it if the speed can be as fast as the older version on loading.
I like the old design more, it whas more tight. But that wont make this v2.0 a bad layout, i think i need some time to get use to it. Great Work as usual. 1 little question why is there no RSS support??
Sorry guys, I can't say I like this new site design. Some of the new features look like they might be nice, but I don't think they are worth the trade off. I don't think the colour scheme looks that good (but that's a simple matter of taste). It's far too flashy and makes me feel like I'm using a Mac... which for me is not a very pleasent feeling at all. It strikes me as being more showy and less professional. It also seems to be much slower to load and harder to navigate. Hopefully some of these issues will be resolved though.
Too girly, flashy. Liked the old site better. WHERE IS THE "LATEST POSTS" COLUMN?Bug/Typo
Everywhere on the Contest page, you say Price(s) when you mean Prize(s)
Also, the link to report bugs takes me to..
MarvinMar, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation. 
Also, question 10 seems very vague.
Which packages are listed for the "Verbatim 16x DVD+R" media in the new pricewatch system?
So far my answer looks like..
Verbatim 95033 DVD+R 4.7GB 16x 25 pack , Verbatim 4.7GB 16X DVD+R LightScribe 20pack Discs, Verbatim 4.7GB 16X DVD+R LightScribe 20 Pack Spindle Discs, Verbatim 95243 DVD+R 4.7GB 16X White Glossy Inkjet Printable Hub Printable 20pk Slim Case,
25pack Verbatim 16X DVD+R Media 4.7GB Branded DVDPlusR Discs,25pack Verbatim 16X DVD+R Branded Blank DVD Media in cakebox, Verbatim (94917) 16X DVD+R 4.7GB DataLifePlus White Inkjet Hub Printable Media 50pack in Cake Box Spindle, 50 Verbatim DVD+R 16X 4.7GB Silver Thermal Lacquer Branded 50 Disc Spindle, 50 Verbatim DVD+R 16X 4.7GB White Inkjet Only 50 Disc Spindle No Stacking Ring (Hub Printable), VERBATIM - DVD+R 4.7GB 16X BRANDED SUPL SPINDLE 100PK, 100 Verbatim DVD+R 16X 4.7GB Silver Thermal Lacquer Branded 50 Disc Spindle, 100pack Verbatim DataLifePlus 16X DVD+R Media White Inkjet Hub Printable 4.7GB Blank DVDR Disc (94917) on Spindle,
And thats only using 2 of the 5 pricewatch pages
Update, there is only 1 listing on the Pricewatch link on this page.
I am not sure I like new design , looks too ... colorful 
Really too much different colors, also relatively to long to load first page, otherwise all seems OK.
Really too much different colors, also relatively to long to load first page, otherwise all seems OK.Update, there is only 1 listing on the Pricewatch link on this page.
BUG
I am seeing duplicate posts from myself, with totaly different timestamps, that I did not repost.
Wow, what a change. I would have to agree with some others in that this site looks too bright and colourful (yes, I spell it with a 'u'!). It looks a little too girly. 
I guess this is the overall trend of web sites, so it's not so unusual IMO. There's a few areas with white text on a yellow background, which is a definite no-no for most people's eyes. I look forward to reading more MPAA/RIAA bashing in this new format! Congratulations, fellas.
I guess this is the overall trend of web sites, so it's not so unusual IMO. There's a few areas with white text on a yellow background, which is a definite no-no for most people's eyes. I look forward to reading more MPAA/RIAA bashing in this new format! Congratulations, fellas.Not for me either, its a bit ToysRus and lets follow the sheep and show system icons because it looks cool and a bit like an OS.
That said i am sure my opinion counts for 100% nothing and it will grow on me.
I like the new Web Site but it still does not fill my wide screen lcd
JohnnyJT
South Philly 
First be sure to be a registered member (Important!) with all requested information filled in correctly, this will be checked before we send out the prices, and we will use this information for sending them. If the information is incorrect, we can't send you a price!are you sure you mean price and not prize? ... would be interesting to think we're winning a price!
Well its ok. Glad I have my ad blocker on. I notice your using google-analytics . Would rather be anonymous.
ok ppl... 1st.. i don't like changes... infact... i H.A.T.E. changes... you know why... cus it always ruins something that's been running smooth for YEARS!!! BUT!!!! that doesn't mean i wasn't astonished by the great work 
once i opened the new CDFreaks page... i was like... HAPPY!!! like a little kid with abig big big cone of colourful icecream!!!! so... CONGRATULATIONS
eventhough... i have to add something too...
1st. PLEEEEEEEEEASE!!!! this is NOT a Barby website!!! i am an Artist/Graphic Designer... but, even a Bushman can tell that these colours HURT!!! i've already left some sites for no return upon the change of layouts... just don't do as Bolt2.com have done, over 60% of the users have left Bolt's Community cus of the loud, slow,flashy, Ad-filled new layout!!!! and cus the new site was (and still is) full of bugs!!!
so please, use some "wiser" colours, u can use one colour for links, and one colour for open tabs.
2nd. what's the matter with these Ad's!!! Tribal Fusion Pop-ups, these crazy eye-killer-earth-quakey ads on the site header!!!! again!!! just a reminder, this is NOT a Wallpapers site!! and not in anyway related to "Ninja Turtles"!!!!
3rd. if ur going to do the same to the forums.... then pleases don't do.... it would be so hard on me to have to leave this place and try to live with CDRLabs -No offence-... but many of us are still using these lousy 28k dial-ups!!!
and last...
i know u've been working on the new design for 18months... but.... working more won't hurt as much as having users dumping the site would do...
CDFreaks have been my 1st and ONLY source of information since 2004... and we have here many ppl who've been on since '99 and before...
remember that what matters most on this site is "DATA"... Information, and the knowledge stored in the pages of this site, and once u make the process of reaching what we care for on this site harder... ur just sacrificing the real reason for the creation of this site!!! so please!!! less colours, less flashy and shiney things... i think that the Freaks here won't even mind using a WIN 3.1, or Win95 Designed layout for this site with only 16 colours, as long as you have the same amount of knowledge and experience available for all in the easiest and best accessible ways...
i hope that you keep up on updating the layout, i know ur doing ur best...
thanks for all the effort... but ur still a few step far from perfection 
The first impression is good except for the pop ups and expecially for the colors that are annoying.
Keep on the good work and please try to find asap a combination of colors, at last for the news, that is more relaxing for our eyes or I'll have to watch the new CD Freaks with sunglass!!!
No Sir. I don't like it.
The old version has a certain elegant simplicity that the new one lacks. I access CD Freaks primarily for the news. In the new version, news plays only a minor part on a page where the reader is assaulted by a collage of colors, advertisements, pictures, logos, and still more ads.
In particular, I am very disappointed by the appearance of a Google Ad for "DVDShrink 2007" which is well known as a ripoff of the original DVDShrink author's work (who has always said "You should NEVER pay for DVD Shrink!"). The presence of that ad alone speaks volumes about the "new" CD Freaks.
RIP
I'll be honest, first thing i did was to find where to change the skin, and to my surprise, i didn't find it.
Damn it's flashy, oldskul worked better for me, and it was simpler, and what is more important information was at hand, or you knew where to look for it.
All the hard work is appreciated, and you have to have money from sponsors, but i really don't like the new design, it follows the trends of vistavisation of the Internet, cool colors and icons, all at the expense of content.
I hope that that would not be the case here.
Frankly, don't like it. Don't know yet how easy it will be to navigate. However:
1. Too colourful. Reduce on the colours, please. Especially reduce or get rid of all this gold. Quite hard on the eye.
2. Instead of being easier to look and find things on the initial page, it looks like everything is now harder to find.
3. "News" should be the prominent item (for me it is, by far the most important) as it was on the older layout. Now the "News" seem to be lost among a lot of "noise".
4. GOLD. Did I say for you to get rid of all this Gold? 
Any change of having the old skin still available?I do not like it either. Everything is squished into the center. Afraid to turn my ad blocker off to see what all the white space is on the sides. Almost as bad as the new techdeals.net.
On the plus side, I like the Modern theme.
What I miss is the simplicity of the old way and that the
older way presented more information in a more concise
manner.
In the final analysis, because my time is having more
and more demands placed on it. I greatly prefer simplicity
and efficiency.
I don't care for this theme, it most certainly doesn't make the site more intuitive or easy to use.
Go back to the old, or offer cdfreaks classic as an option please.
Like many I come mainly for the news, which appears lost in the busy main page. I much preferred the layout of the old site for news, give me the headline and let me choose to read or not. I'm sure the annoyance of the new interface will diminish once I get used to it. But as of right now - I'd rather have the old familiar CDFreaks back.
The colours are a little oud for my taste but I'll get used to them.It was a little hard to see with all the colors but my eyes are starting to adapt to the layout.
Me likey, but
Gold/mustard is not my fave - hm, ok.
I like to call up cdfreaks and start reading news topics...
now it looks clean & more organized but I have to click more often to get to what I want to see.
I wish more of the old style which also was part of cdfreaks identitiy survived
Page lost a bit of its face.
And the logo is a bit... boring
Anyway... a homogen, good looking pageI hate to say this, but I think that visitors to this site are already declining. People aren't even commenting anymore on new articles. A sad era has begun for CDFreaks.com.
The site isnt THAT bad.. Its gonna grow on you a little, give it some time..
Change is good occassionally..Hrm, it looks like I'm not the only one feeling like not stopping by anymore. I used to pop in a couple times a day to read news posts and make comments... but now I can see much MUCH less news being posted, and a lot less comments being made by others. The sluggish loading times of the site are quite the drawback also.
I guess I'll probably stop by every couple days now instead... since it's boring to just read one or two news posts a day, especially with no real commentary.Dolphinius_Rex - You hit the nail on the head, brother. Here are the problems, as I see it:
1) The new colour scheme blows chunks.
2) Nobody is posting new articles.
3) You can't edit your own posts if you make a mistake.
4) You can't post reactions to a particlar comment. It just goes to the end of the list.
5) Slow load times.
I used to come here twice a day. Now, not so much.
I don't like it at all. It seems the main idea driving the redesign was looks, not function. The main purpose of the site should be to convey information. There is now less of it on the main page and it's harder to access what is there.
At least the forums haven't been wrecked. My bookmark for the site is currently for the main page, but I'm probably going to change it to the forums instead.
No, I don't like it either
Is there a link to the old site ? ok... here's my second reaction after 2 days...
1. I STILL CAN'T LOVE THE SITE!!!
2. u might think of making a wise use of CSS, if u insist on keeping this new sucky theme (sorry.. but it hurts ).. u can make more than one theme available to be chosen per-user.. that's how we might get that classic CDFreaks back 
3. just as DirtyRobotFeet has said 2 post above.. the redesign shuold be more concerned about the information rather than the looks... cus the looks are really... NOT GOOD
4. the old logo is better be back... this new one is more of a "Microsoft Help System" logo... NOT CDFreaky
5. AGAIN, the main page better gets back to be the News page... as we can always access other artticles and reviews from News as we used to do before
6. what are u doing with the ads!!! what's with "WINNER" FUCKIN flashing ad!!!! u've never used such kind of ads!!! cmon!!! ur only LOSING US !!! 
Site looks and runs fantastic! I always hated how the old pages had that terrible dropdown menu that only worked if you moved your mouse a certain way. Also when logging in and replying it would mess up in Seamonkey BIGTIME!
Now it all works and I can login and comment without messing around.
Well done!Luv your site, but where is your help page? My activation code didnot come to my email.
Thank You
Sundance1550
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