Craig Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Windows Forum Summer 2004Behind the scenes I have been planning major changes to the Windows Forum “brand” as a whole.(For those of you who may not know, I also registered two other domains last year, but I will come to mention those in coming months).To being with, today I placed an order with our current host for a dedicated server. This shall be up and running within the next seven days.My host has advised me that the transfer from this server to the new one will be straight forward, and will take around 20 – 30 minutes at which point the forum will be unavailable. (I will try and notify you of an estimated down time, but it’s more likely that I shall return from work one afternoon to find it has been transferred :rolleyes: ).The server change is a big jump for the site and hopefully you will see the benefits straight away.The second change will follow in approximately 4–6 weeks time when we will have our own professional custom made “Windows Forum” forum skin which will be launched at the same time the forum is upgraded from version 1.3 to 2.0. Again, at the time of the upgrade you will instantly notice the design change and also many new features within the forum.After the forum upgrade I will focus on the finishing touches for Windows Forum. This will include online documentation which will help members use the forum and complement other resources here at Windows Forum.At the point the documentation is completed and online, I will then look into what can be added to Windows Forum to make it an even better support forum.Hopefully all the above will help this site grow and become as good as other main stream sites that can be found on the net.If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post below or PM me.Craig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Sounds good :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Excellent news to hear Craig. It looks like an interesting year ahead, looking forward to it. Good luck and best wishes with the changes. :) PS: I'd better get another cheque off soon. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent Smith Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Hopefully all the above will help this site grow and become as good as other main stream sites that can be found on the net.Craig.Craig, I know I may be deemed to be biased, but I would like to say, this site is already as good, if not better than "other main stream sites".If anybody who has a problem posts here, we all do our best to help solve it. OK we may not hit the solution as quick as some, although that is always changing for the better. But I guarantee, anybody who uses this Forum has a better general experience than anywhere else on the net.This Forum has developed, as far as I am concerned, into more than just a quick "help, how do I fix this" site, into a full blown International community.I am sure that there are other sites on the internet who will claim the same, but at the end of the day, this Forum has a vast wealth of knowledge, in the form of our growing members, to draw from who between them (OK, a couple of areas lacking at the moment, but we get there eventually) can both solve most peoples issues and make them laugh at the same time.I remember when this Forum was in its infancy, and only had 20 odd members (prior to the first problem I was member No 16), at the time I thought it had great potential. I have stuck with it, albeit with a recent gap due to personal commitments, and seen it grow and develop. Yes, it has had its problems and issues, but has emerged better for them. I hope this Forum will continue to grow from strength to strength, and I for one will continue to support it as much as I am able.For anybody who takes the time to read this, particularly new members, I would like to point out that a Forum such as this, depends upon the input of its users. So if you find yourself here because you need to solve a problem, and this Forum helps in your issue (or even if it cannot), then please do not simply disappear into the ethernet until the next time you have a problem, but continue to visit and check on the posts. You will either find that you will be able to assist somebody else with an issue, or that you will continue to learn valuable things, that possibly in the future, will mean you do not have to resort to asking questions in a Forum, or trawling the internet for an answer, when suddenly you develop a problem. Trust me, there is a great feeling when you post a reply to a question, and the postee responds with a big thank you because it has solved his problem, no matter how trivial you may deem it.Regards. Mr. Mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 It's a shame that more members don't post. It's the only way to get to know the (helpful) people on here.Some of us may appear to be a bit lightweight but that's only because we don't have any proplems that need to be solved at the minute.It's nice to come in for a chat - or a more serious 'discussion'. :rolleyes: We all know that there's help here when we need it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 It's already a nicely balanced forum. It has it's serious help side, which I have been very grateful for an one or two occasions, a debating side, and a light hearted joke side. Good luck Craig with the changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't ask Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 I too like the balance of the forum - and I feel comfortable that I am a lowly Win98SE user AND use dial-up - yet no-one taunts me :D (Yes .. I am jealous but I have to live with what I've got :ph34r: )At the moment I can't think of anything needed for my lowly requirements - I think it is perfect.I know you will look after the needs of everyone Craig. Your plans sound great ! Thanks for caring so much :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 In agreeing with all of the above, and complimenting Craig on his ambition, I have to add that this place is distinctive by its lack of commercialism. Peeps hate advertising and many sites have tried to remain ad-free and failed. Should this site continue to grow, improve and yet still remain ad-free it will become something of an example Netwide. I doubt that Craig is a well-laden philanthropist and so I suggest that , before finance becomes an insurmountable problem, that we get our heads together and develop some means to make the site self-sufficient. A quick whip-round will not cut it in the long run but there is a lot of talent here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 we get our heads together and develop some means to make the site self-sufficient.Suggestions needed? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 In agreeing with all of the above, and complimenting Craig on his ambition, I have to add that this place is distinctive by its lack of commercialism. Peeps hate advertising and many sites have tried to remain ad-free and failed. Should this site continue to grow, improve and yet still remain ad-free it will become something of an example Netwide. I doubt that Craig is a well-laden philanthropist and so I suggest that , before finance becomes an insurmountable problem, that we get our heads together and develop some means to make the site self-sufficient. A quick whip-round will not cut it in the long run but there is a lot of talent here.Should the site have to eventually accept adverts, I would make only one plea, lets keep them at the top or bottom of the page and NO POP UPS. They are so irritating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 we get our heads together and develop some means to make the site self-sufficient.Suggestions needed? :) Free beer after 8pm on Fridays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted March 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 I suggest that , before finance becomes an insurmountable problem, that we get our heads together and develop some means to make the site self-sufficient. A quick whip-round will not cut it in the long run but there is a lot of talent here.Indeed, the changes will be costing a lot of money. I have had talks with other admins and mods with regards to ways we could try and raise money, but to be honest the ideas we came up with we felt would fail.What I didn’t mention in my first post in this topic is that a Windows Forum Hosting site is in development, and hopefully if that succeeds, any profit I make from that will be used to pay the costs involved here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Should the site have to eventually accept adverts, I would make only one plea, lets keep them at the top or bottom of the page and NO POP UPS.As most users have popup blockers these days, popup ads are a thing of the past for raising advertising revenue.If it does come to having to use advertising on this site, you couldn't do better than the style of the Crucial ad that graced the pages of PCA some time ago. It was there plain to see at the top of the page so everyone would notice it but it was not at all intrusive and a quick click took you to the Crucial site.I agree with the positive things that have been said. I like the mix of pages to make everone happy. Personally, I'm not interested in the Jokes section so I don't go there very often. I would never suggest, though, that it (or any other section) should not be there.I like it here. Far better than the po-faced attitudes shown in some other sites. :) :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Should the site have to eventually accept adverts, I would make only one plea, lets keep them at the top or bottom of the page and NO POP UPS.As most users have popup blockers these days, popup ads are a thing of the past for raising advertising revenue.If it does come to having to use advertising on this site, you couldn't do better than the style of the Crucial ad that graced the pages of PCA some time ago. It was there plain to see at the top of the page so everyone would notice it but it was not at all intrusive and a quick click took you to the Crucial site.I agree with the positive things that have been said. I like the mix of pages to make everone happy. Personally, I'm not interested in the Jokes section so I don't go there very often. I would never suggest, though, that it (or any other section) should not be there.I like it here. Far better than the po-faced attitudes shown in some other sites. :) :) Point taken about pop ups, they never bother me as Norton stops them. Some people don't like installing bits and bobs however, and pop ups are a pain in the jacksy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 A short time back I met a clever lad ( a member here) who was just getting to grips with graphics packages and web-building. As soon as he felt confident enough he popped an ad. in a local paper and offered himself as a graphic designer. He pulled in four grands worth of work in the first week. Should this site offer some service as a business sideline it could draw upon the talents of its members. Contributing a skill for free is frequently a lot easier to do than raiding the piggy bank, as any WI member will tell you. At length. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Excellent idea moon. Also I think we should have a section for members to pass on hardware/software free of charge to other members with the provision that the buyer pays a small sum to the forum. :unsure:I have several bits of software that I'm sure other members would make use of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Good for you, Djohn. Wasn't there another useful post here a bit earlier ? :blink: I'm not sure what I could contribute but it won't take long to figure something out. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-2004 Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 is this "custom skin" going to be designed by yourself Craig?If so or if not what can we expect from it and this server buisnes...does this mean the forum will be faster sorry to sound soo amateur but... :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Contributing a skill for free .......as any WI member will tell you. :D:o moon !WI member ? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Contributing a skill for free .......as any WI member will tell you. :D:o moon !WI member ? :lol: Are you casting aspersions on his manhood?? :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 LOL ! The WI sometimes hire a gallery lounge for meetings. As I understood it, last time I looked in, they were still reading the Minutes from 1998. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 I have several bits of software that I'm sure other members would make use of.AHEM! Sounds good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-2004 Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 is this "custom skin" going to be designed by yourself Craig?If so or if not what can we expect from it and this server buisnes...does this mean the forum will be faster sorry to sound soo amateur but... :blush:well...since No one loves me I'm going to answer this myselfThe forum does seem faster doesn't it...especially tonight :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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