The plots-alpha mailing list is for a group of volunteers to be involved in designing, testing and providing feedback on the [new Public Lab 2.0 website](/wiki/plots2). 

##Signup

**To join, sign up for the list here:**

<form action="https://groups.google.com/group/plots-alpha/boxsubscribe"><b>Email:</b> <input type=text name=email>   <input type=submit name="sub" value="Subscribe"></form> <br /> <a href="https://groups.google.com/group/plots-alpha">Visit this group</a>

##Tasks

We're specifically asking the more adventuresome and patient of you all to volunteer to join the alpha testing group. We'll be asking folks in this group to:

* subscribe to an ["plots-alpha" Google Group](https://groups.google.com/group/plots-alpha) to be part of ongoing discussion and brainstorming
* respond to occasional requests for input, such as jotting down your thoughts on a new page design or process
* check how specific pages render in specific browsers & devices, and upload screenshots
* try out new interfaces and provide constructive criticism

##Topics

* Look and feel - we're here now
* Finding stuff
* Authoring and editing
* Everyday use
* New and growing users
* Legacy features
* Power users and admins

##Bug reporting

Report bugs on Github (or email web@publiclaboratory.org and we'll enter the bug for you) at:

https://github.com/jywarren/plots2/issues/new

##Switching to the alpha site and back

You can now request (ask web@publiclaboratory.org) to see a small "alpha" button to the upper right of each page, allowing you to easily switch back and forth between the new and old websites. It looks like this:

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreywarren/8185534865/" title="Switch to alpha button by jeferonix, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8185534865_b2be1798c8_m.jpg" width="163" height="120" alt="Switch to alpha button"></a>

Alternatively, you can use the bookmarklet -- just drag this link into your bookmarks bar and click it when you want to toggle:

<a class="button" href="javascript:(function alpha() { if ((window.location+'').split('publiclaboratory')[0] == 'http://' || (window.location+'').split('publiclaboratory')[0] == 'http://www.') { window.location = 'http://alpha.'+(window.location+'').split('://')[1] } else { window.location = 'http://'+(window.location+'').split('://alpha.')[1] }})()">plots2-alpha</a>

##Browser/OS survey##

Stats on the alpha tester group, so we know if we have any blind spots:

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreywarren/8191103264/" title="Alpha tester group stats by jeferonix, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8191103264_0b533df869.jpg" width="500" height="235" alt="Alpha tester group stats"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreywarren/8190020335/" title="Alpha tester group stats by jeferonix, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8190020335_5a3b774f04.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="Alpha tester group stats"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreywarren/8191103230/" title="Alpha tester group stats by jeferonix, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8191103230_501c7a2624.jpg" width="500" height="309" alt="Alpha tester group stats"></a>