I have been using the new Facebook Timeline for a couple of weeks and thought I’d share my viewpoints. Remember, I am an optimist, who strives to simplify. And I am a very visual person, so glitter does tend to distract me. Here is my new profile:

Rather than right a long post, I am going to address why I like this format. First, your FB profile picture is amplified with a “cover picture”. Yes, this speaks to the artist in me but causes some friends some grief because they “have to” figure out what to use as a cover. Sigh… really?

Notice that the posts are spread out like a newspaper with two columns. I think they call it a scrapbook format. I find it easier to scan and catch up with my friends this way. There are rumors this is not a good experience on a mobile device and that the page loads much slower for those with antique computers.

Finally, and this is a big work item, there is a life timeline that is way too intimidating a work item. However, you don’t have to address it immediately if ever and parts of the timeline are auto-populated with the data you provided, like birthday, high school graduation, marriage and the like.

I have started working on my timeline and the associated map of where I’ve been by editing key pictures in my collection. I should note that I have a relatively small group of friend (I try to keep it below 200 at any given time) and no lurkers who I don’t know. I’ve ratcheted down the security so that very little is public.

YMMV but today I am happy with the resulting profile. I expect to discover other aspects as I progress, but I do find that the people adopting the new Facebook Timeline seem to be my kind of people; writers, artists, and lovers.