I've noticed that the top 2 nav menus, above and below the top ad, aren't consistent from one site to the next, and somewhat redundant in parts. In the forums the nav bar below the ad is easy to understand, AppleCentral Home-MacTech Magazine-MacNews.com-Apple Expo-MacForge.net-etc, but the the same menu at MacTech and MacNews is entirely different. There is no obvious existence of a MacNews, MacTech, MacForge, Tech Support etc. The only way to get to MacNews is under Apple News in the top nav menu. Also when one does go to MacNews, the Apple News link then takes you to Macsimumnews instead.

Also there is no obvious AppleCentral link outside of the forums, and in the forums there are two, one to the left of the top ad, and one in the lower nav menu on the left.

I think I understand some of the why on the top menu, such as Open Source goes to MacForge.net and you want to advertise that open source is one of the AppleCentral offerings, but it is also in the nav bar below the ad as MacForge.net. Maybe something more like consolidating redundant links, for example a MacForge.net button, and below the MacForge text in the button Open Source, or vice versa, Open Source the main text and MacForge below it.

MacForge.net
 Open Source

Keep two nav bars, you have enough links to justify that, but organize what is in each one differently, such as links for outside sites all in the same bar, links for the AppleCentral sites all in the same, etc. I just feel they need to be re-worked and made consistent. I like the look of two different menus, but they need to be organized better, and consolidated, in my opinion.

Or maybe I don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about. I should be working on my site anyway, right steve?

I hadn't really noticed that, but navigation should be the same throughout the site(s).

I've noticed it from the start and thought it would be tweaked eventually, but I figured now with the speed taken care of that Neil has been given some room to breath, so we might as well fill the gaps back in.

I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of having AppleCentral which serves no purpose other than to point you to other sites, then having MacNews and MacTech which are for all intents and purposes the same site - with only a minor amount of content difference.

I would think it best just to fold all the sites under the AppleCentral name (have the other domains forward to it, and just create sections on the AppleCentral site for MacNews, MacTech, etc...

But yeah, the nav should probably at least match.

I see, the only difference is the ****News at the top.

I do understand the AppleCentral concept though, I think. One main tech site with different avenues. Maybe they're trying to keep the original format for the acquired sites, for a while at least? But if AppleCentral is the main theme it needs to be on every page. The AppleCentral home page is a bit plain though.