Speed is my #1 criteria. Speed of finding answers, getting answers, posting questions, and just general page loading.
I view these forums almost exclusively from my daytime job. I can't be see as continually web surfing. I need to get an answer to particular questions quickly. So page load speed is important.
This is why the current forum is so great- just text, hardly any css, no javascripts, no images, no avatars, no advertising, no Flash/flash. I also need a way to see as much as possible of each topic on screen at once. Currently I can see almost all current topics without scrolling my page. I can see if my post is answered, or new posts are there, etc. Having to scroll 3 pages with lots of wasted space time consuming. Having only 1 page worth of topics, but with tons of fancy frames and wasted space and such so I only see, say 15 topics per page, will kill me. I'd rather see 50 or 100 topics listed on one page than need to load multiple pages. Perhaps a pref to show XX items per page if need be.
I am against avatars, long signatures, javascripts, and wasted vertical space, and Flash.
I also HATE grey text. All text should be BLACK. Unless it is grey for a real reason, like a legal disclaimer or something.
I would like to be able to upload screenshots to be able to clarify problems, that is one thing I will accept if it's a tiny bit slower.
Sorry to sound like a rant but in order to do my job I need these forums to get answers. Having them crash n burn like the last time would be a big problem.
Thanks,
Chris