MSN.com is one of the most popular websites on the Internet with roughly 100 million unique visitors per month that come to the website. The design of the Internet portal has not changed a lot in the last ten years. Users who are visiting the old MSN page notice a lot of links and elements on the page leaving many users with the feeling that the page looks cluttered and confusing. Microsoft has recently made the decision, after conducting surveys, that the MSN page needed an overhaul. And that overhaul is now available as a preview.
The best way to see the changes on the page is to display the old and the new MSN homepage as images:
The new page looks much cleaner and more interactive. Microsoft claims that they cut the number of links by almost 50% and while that may be true for the links that are displayed visually it is another story if you analyse all the links on the page. The new MSN page sports 219 external links currently compared to 186 on the old page. These figures are subject to change but it currently means an increase by almost 30 links on the MSN homepage.
The number of objects on the page on the other hand was reduced from 46 on the old page to 29. The total size increased on the other hand to 192568 bytes from 135594 bytes which can be largely attributed to the larger photos that are displayed on the page.
The new page should on the other hand load faster for Internet connections faster than 128 Kilobytes per second thanks to the reduced number of objects that need to be loaded. Here is what Microsoft has to say about the new MSN homepage:
The clean, new MSN is designed to be the best home page on the Web, with powerful Bing search, the top news and hottest entertainment, and convenient access to some of the most popular social networks — all in a fresh new look. Based on customer input, the new design has 50 percent fewer links than the previous home page and a simplified navigation across news, entertainment, sports, finance and lifestyle. In addition, sophisticated technology powers the home page to deliver personally relevant information and improved performance satisfies people’s need for speed.
The new homepage will be gradually enabled for visitors from the United States with the option to access the preview MSN homepage at anytime and from anywhere. What’s your opinion on the new homepage?
Update
We have discovered a way to get the old MSN back, at least for now. Visit the second part of this article entitled How To Access The Old MSN Website.
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good for msn.com good for users
Don’t like it either. Many other people have told me they dislike it also. I like the colors and layout better of the old page. They say the new page loads faster. But high speed access is virtually everywhere, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Not impressed with the new site. My stock watch list was deleted. The new site appears geared towards day care use as opposed to business. The former site was relevant, useful and professional. Unfortunately, it appears that there is no option to go back to the old format. I guess a change to Google or CNN is warranted.
THIS SUCKS……what the F — sometimes you shouldn’t mess with things and just leave them the way they were.
AND BING SUCKS
I’m not to thrill with the new page cause it is way to bright and I cann’t read the page… I will be making a new home page on another web site if this problem isn’t correct for the elderly…I have been with MSN for about 10 years and like the way the page appears and I can control the color options… They have made changes about every 6 months in the last 2 yrs. to the old page but nothing that compares to the mess they have created now…..
Don’t like it
I really don’t like it. I want my old MSN page back. It is really hard to read – they should at least give you the option to change the background to another color.
Just like the government, get a new idea and stuff it down our throats.
Congratulations MSN, my new homepage is changing to GOOGLE!
Didn’t you people learn anything from Coca-Cola? If it works, DON’T FIX IT!
Hate it! Too light, Too shallow, Too boring. The old page was unique in that it was like seeing the complete contents of a newspaper, all on one page. One click after reviewing the home page and you were on your way to a specific topic of interest. WAY TRY TO FIX WHATS NOT NO BROKEN!
I hate this new page. I am now looking for a new homepage and a new E-mail account. Why did they have to change it??? It worked and I knew where everything was. I can’t find shit on this new page and like everyone else said….it is too light and ugly. Goodbye MSN……Hello???
I am very dissapointed with the new msn home page.The glareing white background and color of text is very hard on my eyes.Iwill not use it if it has to stay this way
The new design is a coplete faliure.
Absolutely bad and almost useless.
The nwe design in my mind is, invent a better one.
This is not better.
No cheers
Uborka
I can not get local weather like you could on the old MSN homepage. I really do not care for it since it seems confusing and disorienting. It is not as easy to read and lacks easy to find links. My vote goes to the old MSN. Not that any ones opinion really matters since microsoft rarely listens to its customers. It back to the shove down your throat concepts.
I hate this new home page. Did MS really do a survey? I didn’t see any such a survey. I want my old home page back. Any ideas, anyone?
The new MSN home page sucks. I want my old home page back. I don’t think MS conducted any survey. If they had, they wouldn’t have implemented this crap. How do I get the old home page back?
Go to botttom of new home page and hit the feedback button and leave comment . New home page is CRAP!!!!!!!
I want my old MSN homepage back please. I can’t find anything. I never received a survey and I log in several times a day. Would never have voted for this.
YOUR NEW PAGE SUCKS BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not leave a good idea the way it was and should be..This new MSN home page sucks!!! I will make CNN my new home page!!
I WANT THE OLD MSN BACK. I AM LEAVING MSN. IHAD NO CHOICE IT JUST SHOWED UP ONE MORNING. WHY WAS I A LUCKY ONE. STILL HAVE THE OLD PAGE AT WORK THANK GOD. TOO WHITE, TOO BRIGHT MSN YOU DID NOT GET IT RIGHT.
The new MSN page sucks. Boring (all white), confusing, I can’t find anything I was used to look for. I’m going to change my homepage to iGoogle.
Whoever created the new homepage is inept, and lacking. Whoever approved is a change agent who must change things, if for nothing else just to change. I think there is some intended negatives to attempt to drive off the population to allow the site to be used for other than intended purposes.
I HATE IT! How do I go back? The old page still works with Chrome. I think I need a new homepage and while I at it, a new browser.
New homepage is a piece of garbage. Old page was easy to read and had a good flow – this new page jumps all over the place. Someone s/b fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want my old home page back
The new msn web page SUCKS!!!!!!!!
I am devastated. Please bring old home page back. ASAP.
This new homepage really bites. I’m moving.
The new home page is a complete confusing mess. I will not use it!!!!!! I want my home page back. I hope mns goes out of business.
The new mobile site is even worse. Fewer links to msnbc news stories, less content, no way to read a story without clicking through multiple pages… Fewer liks, less content. What’s to like? This isn’t a complaint about colors or appearance on the page from someone who hates change. You have severly reduced one of my substantive news sources without warning and for no appparent reason.
Si
Si
how do i get it back to how it was? Man, i wish i didn’t click NEXT.
I agree the new msn sucks please go back to the old page!!!!!
How do I get the old one back? the new one sucks!!
Cannot stand the new MSN home page. Looking for another to replace it!!!!