Why Change Just to Change?

20 Nov 2007

I regularly get my news from MSNBC.com. I read it daily. Well, let me correct myself, I used to read it every day. With all websites, MSNBC.com has a new look. The problem is they have traded glitz for usability and now I can see less news and what I can see is buried in clunky Javascript menus and slow navigation.

I get wanting to refresh your site, but was a usability lab done? Was it done with current readers? Was it done by monkeys? This new site is bad. Of course it’s pretty at first glance, but if you read my recent take on Apple’s design ideas, consistency is so important. Especially when you have hundreds of thousands of readers.

It sounds extreme, but MSNBC.com has lost me as a reader. I will move primarily to CNN.com now most likely for my daily news bits.

Look at the consistent navigation, the lack of advertising above the fold, the quick headlines on the right. It was very usable and easy to read. Now there is almost an overload of headlines, the navigation is only half visible and if you move the mouse the site is obscured by very poorly written menus.

I know it takes a serious ego hit to roll back, but this design isn’t quite ready for prime time.

Editor’s Note: Historical preview brought to you by the Way Back Machine.

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