Message board expansion
Sunday, December 1, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Many tech sites have sprung up over the past couple of years.
And some of them have excellent message boards which I enjoy participating in. But at the same time, they always seem to attract a certain demographic of user that may not appeal to all people.
What I was wondering is, would there be any interest here in expanding the WinCustomize message boards to be much more useful as a larger discussion venue?
Or would you prefer to keep it the way it is where it's more of a smaller venue?
Either way is fine. The reason I ask is purely from personal experience, I like to be able to talk about software and technology based on merits and not whether it's free or cheap (example: I use Photoshop and Corel Draw, I don't like being yelled at for not going with a free solution or with PSP. I see that tendancy quite regularly where if it's not free, it's evil and I tend to value time over monetary cost).
I wrote an article on this actually:
https://www.joeuser.com/Articles/Timevs.Money.html
And some of them have excellent message boards which I enjoy participating in. But at the same time, they always seem to attract a certain demographic of user that may not appeal to all people.
What I was wondering is, would there be any interest here in expanding the WinCustomize message boards to be much more useful as a larger discussion venue?
Or would you prefer to keep it the way it is where it's more of a smaller venue?
Either way is fine. The reason I ask is purely from personal experience, I like to be able to talk about software and technology based on merits and not whether it's free or cheap (example: I use Photoshop and Corel Draw, I don't like being yelled at for not going with a free solution or with PSP. I see that tendancy quite regularly where if it's not free, it's evil and I tend to value time over monetary cost).
I wrote an article on this actually:
https://www.joeuser.com/Articles/Timevs.Money.html
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Doreen
Reply #42 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:14 AM
Reply #42 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:14 AM
hehe kitty kat 
well hopefully if you divide the board up (like everywhere else) just make a chit chat section or I'll be lost for sures (but I still think it's perfect the way it is)
well hopefully if you divide the board up (like everywhere else) just make a chit chat section or I'll be lost for sures (but I still think it's perfect the way it is)
feline
Reply #43 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:23 AM
Reply #43 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:23 AM
feline was tempted to suggest a "chocolate" section 
personally a "i just want to talk" section sounds ideal to me, but i do appreciate the point about getting lost in to many sections.
just so long as there is a "show me everything" view easily available, everyone should be happy
*dracoform* wonders. if Doreen was totally lost, would this mean she wouldn't be able to leave?
*dracoform* thinks seeing more of Doreen around here would be good
personally a "i just want to talk" section sounds ideal to me, but i do appreciate the point about getting lost in to many sections.
just so long as there is a "show me everything" view easily available, everyone should be happy
*dracoform* wonders. if Doreen was totally lost, would this mean she wouldn't be able to leave?
*dracoform* thinks seeing more of Doreen around here would be good
Doreen
Reply #44 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:32 AM
Reply #44 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:32 AM
see now we already have several sections! chit chat, tech talk, help me's, and chocolate... for sure I'll get lost
I've always liked msg boards like this one better (hate when you have to dive and seek all over the place to find stuff) the way it is now you can see everything right in front of your face, but everywhere you go it seems they are catagorizing the threads.
But I probably need to stop being such a creature of habit and get used to the changes
I've always liked msg boards like this one better (hate when you have to dive and seek all over the place to find stuff) the way it is now you can see everything right in front of your face, but everywhere you go it seems they are catagorizing the threads.
But I probably need to stop being such a creature of habit and get used to the changes
feline
Reply #45 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:43 AM
Reply #45 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:43 AM
Doreen, they are talking about having a "see everything" view, just like it is now!
that way, no groups, so no getting lost
that way, no groups, so no getting lost
Doreen
Reply #46 Monday, December 2, 2002 10:05 AM
Reply #46 Monday, December 2, 2002 10:05 AM
Yea, basically you'd have different categories like some of the other sites already have:
[General Discussion]
[Customization Software]
[Skins, Themes, & Icon Discussion]
[Skin/Theme Design]
[Hardware]
[Technolo
by Vagrant Frogboy - 12/1/2002 1:30:38 AM
sorry feline me only read as far as that and thought "Oh no here it comes" hehe
[General Discussion]
[Customization Software]
[Skins, Themes, & Icon Discussion]
[Skin/Theme Design]
[Hardware]
[Technolo
by Vagrant Frogboy - 12/1/2002 1:30:38 AM
sorry feline me only read as far as that and thought "Oh no here it comes" hehe
Aqua.
Reply #47 Monday, December 2, 2002 11:30 AM
Reply #47 Monday, December 2, 2002 11:30 AM
Grrr, I hate it when board topics get too specific, it drives down traffic something fierce.
KISS !!!
* General
* Help
KISS !!!
* General
* Help
c242
Reply #48 Monday, December 2, 2002 12:26 PM
Reply #48 Monday, December 2, 2002 12:26 PM
Hit me, but I like Neowin's structure. WC has not to be so specific as NW is, but the categories mentionted above would really be nice. *ducks*
feline
Reply #50 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:02 PM
Reply #50 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:02 PM
personally i think a FEW well chosen categories would make this place easier to live in.
however, any more than say 5 (at most) and you are likely to get overlap and confusion.
so long as they are clear, and there is a "general, anything goes" place this should be fine.
also, a "show me everything" view for just roaming means everyone can be happy!!!
feline decides not to hit c242
would you settle for a tickle instead?
however, any more than say 5 (at most) and you are likely to get overlap and confusion.
so long as they are clear, and there is a "general, anything goes" place this should be fine.
also, a "show me everything" view for just roaming means everyone can be happy!!!
feline decides not to hit c242
would you settle for a tickle instead?
WOM
Reply #51 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:09 PM
Reply #51 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:09 PM
I vote for no more that 2. 1 for general and 1 for tech., with the ability to view all.
Chris
Reply #52 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:17 PM
Reply #52 Monday, December 2, 2002 1:17 PM
I think 2 is too limiting. You might as well not do it. I prefer something along the lines of Frogboy's 6 or so categories and no more than that.
Aqua.
Reply #53 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:28 PM
Reply #53 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:28 PM
Chris, usability guidelines show no penalty for 3 options, some penalty for 5 options, and serious penalty for 7+ options.
I think those numbers come from Neilson, I forget exactly where.
(read penalty as increased difficulty which results in less traffic, which lowers the interest in the messageboard.)
I think those numbers come from Neilson, I forget exactly where.
(read penalty as increased difficulty which results in less traffic, which lowers the interest in the messageboard.)
WOM
Reply #54 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:44 PM
Reply #54 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:44 PM
Don't know if those stats are correct Job., but I'll agree with ya anyway.If there are to many, I won't be looking at most of them if that matters or not.
JamMeister33
Reply #55 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:48 PM
Reply #55 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:48 PM
Let's keep it as simple as possible, too many categories become too confusing to the uninitiated...
craeonics
Reply #56 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:54 PM
Reply #56 Monday, December 2, 2002 2:54 PM
I can see the crossposters spamming each section already...
Chef Garry
Reply #57 Monday, December 2, 2002 7:12 PM
Reply #57 Monday, December 2, 2002 7:12 PM
About the only thing I would get excited about is being able to view a thread from the last message read. That is, if I'm following a thread (not the marathon - I don't have the nerve to go there), I would like to jump straight to the last message I've read in that thread.
Personally, I find personal icons distracting at best and often annoying, especially the active ones. Other than that, have at it.
Personally, I find personal icons distracting at best and often annoying, especially the active ones. Other than that, have at it.
Doreen
Reply #58 Monday, December 2, 2002 7:53 PM
Reply #58 Monday, December 2, 2002 7:53 PM
personal icons? 
nah you don't want to add those here cuz I can be very annoying w/ bouncy coffee cups and all that stuff... hehe
nah you don't want to add those here cuz I can be very annoying w/ bouncy coffee cups and all that stuff... hehe
goodmorphing
Reply #60 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 1:34 AM
hmmmm The way we expanded our boards was more as needed. Suddenly we found ourselves with many, many of a certain kind of post and so we made a board for that. Months later, we had swarms of another kind of things and so we made a board for that. That also gave our members time to get used to the new format.
Graphic intensive html friendly boards can be fast if you work them right. The thing to consider is that you need to figure how someone is going to be "charged" for the uploads. In MSN it was ok since initially hotmail accounts all included 30 mbs space. Essentially, once people start uploading you will be hit with a big "bill" unless you find a way to cap it and make folks accountable for the uploads.
Moderation of porn uploads is something that got out of hand. I wish I had never, ever seen some of the things I have. I think accountability would not only help contain the storage problems, but would also curtail much of that. Lately it has not been such a problem.
Our boards display the original and 15 posts at a time. You page back 15 at a time or can go to the initial response ad page forward 15 at a time. That significantly decreased the download time allowing more use of graphics.
Reply #60 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 1:34 AM
hmmmm The way we expanded our boards was more as needed. Suddenly we found ourselves with many, many of a certain kind of post and so we made a board for that. Months later, we had swarms of another kind of things and so we made a board for that. That also gave our members time to get used to the new format. Graphic intensive html friendly boards can be fast if you work them right. The thing to consider is that you need to figure how someone is going to be "charged" for the uploads. In MSN it was ok since initially hotmail accounts all included 30 mbs space. Essentially, once people start uploading you will be hit with a big "bill" unless you find a way to cap it and make folks accountable for the uploads.
Moderation of porn uploads is something that got out of hand. I wish I had never, ever seen some of the things I have. I think accountability would not only help contain the storage problems, but would also curtail much of that. Lately it has not been such a problem.
Our boards display the original and 15 posts at a time. You page back 15 at a time or can go to the initial response ad page forward 15 at a time. That significantly decreased the download time allowing more use of graphics.
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Reply #41 Monday, December 2, 2002 9:13 AM
for *LONG* threads, can we have a way of viewing them a "page" at a time?
i am thinking the same way the libraries display 2000 WB skins, x at a time
this is one of the reasons i dint use the skin browser for the message board. when i need to check the last 100 posts in the marathon thread, i can do this in IE, but last time i checked there is no way of doing this in the SB.
threads that pass 200 posts aren't all that uncommon, and by this point, loading them as a single page in IE starts to get painful.
i am presuming that at a basic level you can say to SQL, give me post numbers 1 to 100 from thread 45678, and then this can be rendered into a page.
obviously the next and previous buttons need to be produced, but i am hoping the underlying structure already supports these ideas.