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Post by newey on Jun 1, 2013 19:24:46 GMT -5
As advertised, ProBoards has applied the v.5 software to our little corner here. You undoubtedly noticed when you had to input your password. You will have also noticed the altered type face and graphics. sg and I will be working to change the header back to our logo and apply other changes to the default structures as well. Your understanding and patience while we work through these changes is greatly appreciated. One change that has occurred is that there is no longer a "karma" feature. However, we can now "like" things, and we can send "gifts" to other members. One of these gifts is a cookie, another seems to be a flaming turd. However, you have to pay for the "gifts"  |
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Post by JohnH on Jun 1, 2013 20:21:22 GMT -5
great, it seems to work fine!
cheers
J
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Post by b4nj0 on Jun 2, 2013 4:02:31 GMT -5
Took me 3/4 of an hour on another forum deleting cookies and clearing cache before I could even see the forum from a browser search and it was "network error" with no log in option on the Android through the same lan. This meant that I was forced to delete the Android account and could not then find that other forum at all. Then I was able to find the forum in the browser from a Google search and the login "upgrade" via the browser then log in yet again. Then back to the "smart" 'phone and find the forum again and finally log in in the Android app.
Having done that on the other forum, I was straight into this forum, so it would appear that the log in is global across Proboards because I did not need to re-enter my password.
I hope that fellow forumites have enjoyed a more pleasant experience...
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Post by lunaalta on Jun 2, 2013 4:27:48 GMT -5
Apart from password failure (failure was mine  ) all is good. Gonna take a bit to get used to the new layout........... |
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Post by newey on Jun 2, 2013 11:35:57 GMT -5
As far as sumgai and I are concerned, the jury is still out on this new software. Many of the changes seem designed more to make the forums into something like a social-networking site, which is the opposite of the changes we would have appreciated. Please let us know, either here or via PM, your likes and dislikes. However, be aware that some of the prior "look and feel" is gone simply because everything got reset to a default setting, and sg and I have some work to do yet. It took me a couple of hours last night just to figure out how to get the logo to display properly in the header and to resurrect the link to the original G-nutz site. Also note that you may have to visit your profile and re-input your gender and birthday. These items can now be hidden as well, if desired. In the past, some users had complained about an inability to correct one's date of birth if it was mis-entered originally, or if one purposely used the launch date of MS-DOS as a paean to Bill Gates or some such.  |
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Post by JFrankParnell on Jun 2, 2013 16:35:07 GMT -5
There used to be a 'new posts' button, where you could see a list of all threads that had new posts in them. Anyone found that?
Also, I dont see this 'like' feature. I would enjoy 'liking' things as opposed to adding to the thread just to say 'cool' or sth.
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Post by lunaalta on Jun 2, 2013 17:45:53 GMT -5
I just found that on the main forum page, at the bottom on the left within the 'Threads and Posts' section. Recent Posts. Not ideally separated (would be better listing the functions there, I think), and you get a list of the posts, without the rest of the threads. Best use the 'Recent threads' link next to it, which is actually a list of recently updated threads, more useful, I think. Is the blue gonna be a permanent feature, or can I put my shades away?  |
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Post by newey on Jun 2, 2013 19:49:32 GMT -5
I toned it down a bit. Is that better?
I can make it any color we can agree upon, although if we go too dark, I'll have to switch the text to white, or some other color, as well.
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col
format tables
Posts: 474
Likes: 25
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Post by col on Jun 3, 2013 0:49:23 GMT -5
Hi,
I don't care for all the new features, but the greater problem for me is that the forum is slow and clunky on this old and rather underpowered netbook. Still, the netbook usually performs fine, except on JS-laden websites. Looking at the source code, there is a barrel load of JS associated with this forum. Although I did not view the source for the previous version of Proboards forum software, I'd bet a pound to a penny that there was less code slowing up everything.
The thing is, I nearly always use this netbook to visit Guitarnuts. Since I won't be ugprading the netbook any time soon, I expect I will be visiting the forum less from now on. It is frustratingly slow.
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Post by JFrankParnell on Jun 3, 2013 9:47:43 GMT -5
You'll block over half the js and a couple hundred KB with adblockplus.
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col
format tables
Posts: 474
Likes: 25
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Post by col on Jun 3, 2013 10:50:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion, JFP, but Adblock Plus is incompatible with the netbook browser. <Posting from the desktop> |
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 3, 2013 13:31:31 GMT -5
Yeah, AdBlockPlus and NoScript (another good way to block unwanted scripting) work best in Firefox. Firefox can be slow on Netbooks, but a little tweak here and there can speed it up significantly. Six to one - half a dozen.
I didn't have any real issues with the switch. The request for logon and confirmation e-mail came as advertised. The only thing I had to do was allow a few more exceptions in NoScript.
I've got to go with Lunaalta on the blue...it does make me feel like I'm in a bad gas station men's room... Our background is RGB:FFCC9A to keep the black lettering, changing it to either RGB:FFD9B3 or RGB:FFE3C7 should do the trick and be a little easier on the eyes.
I was happy to see all of my PMs still there. I haven't tried it, but hopefully the Search routine works better.
Progress...what are you gonna do.
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by lunaalta on Jun 3, 2013 13:49:06 GMT -5
A much better shade, thanks, though I did like the colours of the old site.  No, I don't think you wanna go with white text on a dark background......  |
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Post by asmith on Jun 3, 2013 14:25:19 GMT -5
Am I the only one getting "No data received" sometimes when I click around the site? Ball-ache.
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 3, 2013 15:02:44 GMT -5
A much better shade, thanks, though I did like the colours of the old site. No, I don't think you wanna go with white text on a dark background...... sorry, should have been more clear...I was suggesting we change the bilious blue with one of the two RGB colors RGB:FFD9B3 or RGB:FFE3C7. I'd have to redo the logo is we changed the background...and I don't know if I still have the old .psd file HTC1 |
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 3, 2013 15:03:50 GMT -5
Am I the only one getting "No data received" sometimes when I click around the site? Ball-ache. That's because your laptop says Fischer-Price on it... HTC1 |
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Post by JFrankParnell on Jun 3, 2013 16:29:10 GMT -5
Am I the only one getting "No data received" Check the holo-deck, Picard. |
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Post by asmith on Jun 3, 2013 17:58:24 GMT -5
That's because your laptop says Fischer-Price on it... It's Mattel, Grandpa. They make higher quality products. |
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Post by ozboomer on Jun 9, 2013 21:05:23 GMT -5
A few thoughts about the new board format, etc:-
- For me, the default font size seems to be smaller... and mostly less distinct.
- The system used to have a "bold" feature that showed where there are new posts in each of the (sub-)boards and that seems to be gone now.
- I can't sort the posts by any of the column headings -- like dates, username, views, etc.
- As someone said, they seem to have looked to make the system a "social networking" dialect... but there are a stack of these sorts of sites... and we don't need to make our site another one of the same.
- The
posting editor doesn't seem to work very well. I used to be able to
place the cursor, hold SHIFT and move the cursor, highlighting all the
way, by using the arrow keys. This doesn't work past (newlines)
anymore... under some undetermined conditions -- it sometimes works, it
sometimes doesn't. Also, if you select all the text and apply a font
size, it sometimes applie sthe font to all that's selected and sometimes
it doesn't. The order of applying a font SIZE before/after a font FACE
seems to be important. It also seems to be some half-baked version of
an editor... there's a lot of other annoyances.. Like a stack of other places, the system seems to be more and more targetted to mouse users (slower but easier for new users) and not to keyboard users (faster when you have the practice) ...and even applying a font size/face doesn't work consistently with bulletted items and normal text (you'll see how the font size in this posting varies -- and I can't fix it)... and the preview doesn't work.. nothing changes after the first time I click Preview... grr... the more I use this editor the more I dislike it... GRRRRRRR... 
More practice required, for sure...
John
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 10, 2013 10:32:13 GMT -5
Actually, I kind of like the ability to edit a post in PREVIEW mode, versus constantly refreshing to catch all my typos.
Like it or not, this is it, as ProBoards will not revert us back.
HTC1
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Post by sumgai on Jun 10, 2013 11:32:35 GMT -5
You guys think you have it bad? You shoulda seen newey's Medication bills, for having to put up with my diatribes the first few days!! In essence, I just about pulled out right then and there. I'm still mad as Hell, but the pills have helped, a lot. But in the meantime, newey awakened me to what's really behind this switcheroo - money. As if you couldn't guess, ozzy has it correct - PB is going after the under-18 game-playing demographic (newey, sorry, but you missed the age bracket by one segment on the chart ), 100% of whom are targeted by The Powers-That-Be as wanting yet more Facebook, more InstyPic, more this, that and the other thing, more, more, more.... Argh! OK, chappies, what're we gonna do? I'm all for getting the Hell outta Dodge. Anybody got an opinion on that prospect, pro or con?  sumgai |
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Post by ux4484 on Jun 10, 2013 12:09:17 GMT -5
phpBB is the most commonly used I've seen (all the way back to my PDABuzz days). I believe ProBoards is a customized version of it, which means a relatively easy migration may be possible with it. My only REAL gripe though... is that it won't remember I want the desktop version on my phone, even when I'm already IN the desktop version on my phone (click any thread... opens in mobile version.
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Post by sumgai on Jun 10, 2013 12:32:45 GMT -5
ux, I've plenty of experience with various BBS/Forum packages, so you're correct in that setting one up for the NutzHouse wouldn't be a big deal. Take a bit of time and some close-eye testing, but it can be done. As to your current problem.... you don't say which phone you have, but for most phone/OS/browser combinations, you can install secondary functionality (plug-ins, browser helper objects, call 'em whatever) that will selectively "enhance" your browsing experience. For this case, you need to modify the Browser Agent string, on the outgoing side of the request for whatever page you want. A look at the code behind the page (use 'view source') will show you what they're doing, and what it'll take to "correct" their behavior. Otherwise, I'll take your reply as a "Yes" vote for finding another place from which to spew our Nutziness out onto the 'web.  HTH, and thanks. sumgai |
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 10, 2013 13:38:25 GMT -5
Honestly, it makes no difference to me which way we go. I'm cool with the consensus, or just some despotic dictate.
I know the current restrictions and admin privilege issues in place since the abdication of our founder will go away. That will allow newey and sumgai some welcome relief and assistance.
Another location may also allow us to implement better gate keeping measures to snipe more spammers.
Come to think about it, it probably does make more sense to leave the kiddie pool and migrate elsewhere.
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by JohnH on Jun 10, 2013 15:32:53 GMT -5
Having used it a few times now, I havent seen problems that affect me significantly, probably due to the herculaean efforts of newey and sumgai on our behalf. Seems to work on my smartphone ok.
However I think the concept of the paid 'gifts' is crap-tastic BS. A nice gift of actual $ to proboards instead, for a few hundred bits of graphics data to the intended recipient.
But happy to move if you so choose, with my full support and assistance if I can.
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Post by newey on Jun 10, 2013 21:44:45 GMT -5
As I expressed to sg during our furious PM exchanges over this, I'm not averse to a change over. My concern is the old "better the devil you know" argument. I assume that all the free BBS systems will follow suit with PB and turn things into a virtual Facebook eventually, no matter who we go with.
If we have to migrate, I'd vote we go it alone and host it ourselves, but I confess to having too little of a technical background in this to know all the pros and cons. So, I'll defer to those who have more knowledge than I.
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 10, 2013 21:52:36 GMT -5
Well, the downside of hosting this ourselves is money. Granted, none of us are paid or otherwise compensated for what we do here, but that's not why we're here in the first place.
If we do decide to host this ourselves there will be expenses...regular monthly expenses, server, software, licensing... Talk about the devil you don't know...
And you make a good point. With everything going in the social media direction we may very well wind up in this same boat again down the road.
A migration will also mean another change for members to get used to...and the PMs that will inevitably flow freely.
Well, just thought I'd stop by and muddy the waters.
Carry on.
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by newey on Jun 10, 2013 21:57:44 GMT -5
Cyn1, you're not getting off that easy. You know this stuff, so if we have to do a change-over, I expect you to tote that barge and lift that bale! (Cue the "Volga Boatmen" riff) |
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Post by JFrankParnell on Jun 11, 2013 7:38:41 GMT -5
I'm curious as to what facebook-like features y'all are so railing against?
The ability to 'like' a post (a feature spoken of but not seen, by me)? That's going to help keep the threads clean of 'thats cool' type posts, where you want to agree with a post, encourage the poster, but not clutter it up with essentially useless posts. Also, if 'likes' are implemented in a smart way, they could serve as an intra-thread bookmark for yourself. If I 'like' a diagram within a 5 page thread, that's helpful to me if I can go to my list of likes.
'Friending'? or 'Following'? Again, totally helpful if I can follow my favorite members, perhaps see a 'newsfeed' of ppl whose posts are interesting to me.
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Post by sumgai on Jun 11, 2013 10:35:42 GMT -5
One of the things that I keep forgetting about PB, and not-so-big a reason most of the time, is that PB does NOT let us Admins have a backup copy of anything, including the membership list. The only way, currently, to communicate with members via the PM mechanism is either all or none - everybody or no one.
What if PB had a major crash (they did, a few years ago), and I wanted to alert the rest of the core group? Couldn't do it.
What if I wanted to track IP address usage? As it stands now, it's done on an individual basis - no way to analyze from the general side, only individual by individual. (Comparisons can be made, yes, but only as they crop up, there's no way to see any sequences, and therefore predict any trends.)
Hosting our own forum would allow all that, and much more.
sumgai
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) all is good.
