YES!! As long as you are logged in, you can turn the ads off. In the upper right of the page, where you see your name/avatar, click on that. In the box that opens, you will see about halfway down a "Preferences". Click on that, then scroll down until you see "Disable Ads". Click on that, and the ads will disappear when you are logged in. If you do not log in, the ads will still be there. hth
The new forum software will take getting used to, as it has in the past, but MOST of the stuff we have always had will still be here....just might take a little longer to find until everyone gets used to it. Tweaks are still being made, so....youse guys(and gals) please be patient!!!