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Every once in a blue moon, each of us here has to stay up (at work) for 24 hours on a weekend--took my turn this time so I wouldn't have to on Memorial Day weekend coming up. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Shouldn't have to do this for at least another 3 to 4 months https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
[This message has been edited by bistro (edited 05-21-2001).]
Hmm - and I thought I had found a match with respect to staying up late...voluntarily.
I fully agree that a thread with no information is useless, but OD is certainly not to be considered one of those. But I still think some "advertising" is needed to pull the "customers" in from the street. I just modified my signature a bit - somewhat crude, but maybe....
I believe there are a lot of people out there who would like to fumble around the inside of their PCs, but they just don't trust themselves to do it and are afraid they might do some damage. Of course they have a good reson for that since that's delicate stuff hiding in there. Respect but not reverence...
Once they realise other ordinary people can do it, I think they'll eventually come around - they just need some good, sound, detailed advice (including warnings) and encouragement, it worked for me.
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Karl,
Denmark
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"..and may The Force be with you too..."
>> Be sure to check out the Operation Delta ## threads (General Hardware) on building and upgrading your system <<
Bistro, Been there - done it. Here's some easy reading for you and others on general computer maintenence and how tos. A good review. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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GG1,
I haven't participated in this thread, but have popped in to see what was happening from time to time. Here's my take from what I've seen, for what is worth. Let me say up front that I'm not intending to knock these threads. But I do see some definite problems.
Initially (when QOH was building) the bulk of the info was indeed related to what you intended the thread(s) to be about. But once that project was over things changed. From time to time there has been the odd question posted that seemed relevant (to hardware, building, etc). But for some time now OD has really read more like a chat room than anything else. If one were to search through everything looking for info to build/mod/etc the amount of useful information compared to chat is quite small. The bulk of the topical stuff is in the early postings. Of late… What has happened is that while waiting for someone to come in to the thread with a question/issue you guys chat. And that's fine, except business has been pretty lean in the thread, so there's been a ton off chatting. The result: an awful lot of off-topic stuff has accumulated that a user has to weed through looking for some pertinent info. Hell, I myself have weeded through many a post looking to see if something interesting might have happened, only to find out that someone's truck is on the fritz (just an example https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ ). And I know this is billed as an open thread (project), not exclusive. I believe it is. But if a newcomer reads through the threads (especially he later ones) it is easy quite quickly to see that a comradery amongst a few has built up. And based on the initial days of the thread, and working with QOH, its natural that it would have. But in looking through the postings over time I can see where someone coming in would get the impression that it is an exclusive club, or a hang out for some friends. Again, it's the chat, the references to all the back and forth emailing, the conversations on things of a more personal nature. So, my first suggestion would be take the chat to another thread, and keep OD as close to business as usual. Instead of the regulars coming in to see what's going on (hardware wise), finding nothing, and putting up a personal type post, don't. I just believe for OD to have use it has to stick to topic (of course there's always going to be some off-topic stuff).
Another problem I see with OD is that it seems quite difficult to have one thread (or set of threads) on the topic you intend. If one person has a project (like QOH did initially) then it works. But if you get several people at one time it could quickly become unmanageable. If I, as an individual, wanted to do something or was having a problem I would tend to want to not to work within a thread where 5 others were being dealt with at the same time. What's the incentive for me to not just start my own thread? Now, if the thread got devoted to my problem for a while (as it did with QOH0 then that would be one thing. But… I'm not sure how this problem can be dealt with. It would be against (what seems to be) the intent of OD to say "OK, come here with your problems and we'll tackle them, but only one at a time". Like I said, I don't have a solution, but I do see it as a problem. If people have a problem it just seems like they will get the most concise and personal attention from starting their own posts.
Another problem with the OD threads and concept may be in the way it is billed (or seems to be). It is billed (from what I see) as the place to go for general building/moding/etc. Why? Why more so than the hardware forum in general? Is there some expertise in OD that doesn't exist outside? No. Is there info here that isn't elsewhere? No (or little). And (I may be wrong, but) a lot of information contained in the posts seems largely specific to one project (QOH's), not really that broad based in terms of the hardware and things it covers. Now, granted, that may be because of the nature of the questions/issues/projects that have (or haven't ) come in to the thread(s), but… There is useful info to be found, but it can be scattered over quite a few threads, difficult to find. Even after you went to the effort of coming up with the list of past thread links. Also, to a certain extent it seems like there's a fair amount of repetition (hardware, links). I may be wrong on this though. One thing for sure though, if OD is to be truly useful it can't be a place where the same (or very similar) solution gets offered to everyone. To be "general", to attract and be useful to the general person it has to be capable and willing to deal with a broad range and the info available has to be wide ranging.. I'm not saying it can't or won't. I'm just not sure it has been demonstated (or more so then the forums in general).
Beleive me when I say it was not my intention here to just beat on OD. Or that I don't appreciate its intent or potential value. I really am just trying to be helpful. I just don't know how viable it is to accomplish what you want in a thread (or series). But if it is then you've got to at least stick to topic, weed out the other stuff. As for attracting people in, I'm not sure how to do that. I think its gonna be tough to get people to use a thread used by others when they can create their own. Like I said earlier, why not just post a thread of their own in the hardware (or other) forum? OD people will see and address them there, as will others.
OD was started and expanded with good intention. I don't know, but maybe it is trying to be something it (or any single thread) can't. Maybe only a "forum" can be that. Just my 2 cents…
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DrMDJ, Thanks very much for your input and some very valid points. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
One other thing that has happened is this hardware forum now has more life to it and has grown. It used to be in the celler.
There are many active people here who are trying to make VirDr better and I'm glad you are interested enough to join in the effort.
Thanks again.
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[This message has been edited by greengoose1 (edited 05-21-2001).]
GG1,
As I said, just trying to help (honest). A lot of work and good intent has been put in to OD. I just think there's some difficult issues to overcome (even if the non-topic stuff got weeded out). Don't give up yet though (I'm sure you won't).
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DrMDJ. I edited my reply to you. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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Bistro, do you ever sleep???????>LOL
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Please remember to let us know if it worked or not...JJ
Dodge
Duty calls
So, you did not luck out. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
Greengoose
Liked the link.Should have been in oneGuess better late than never https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
DrMDJ
Points taken
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[This message has been edited by Train (edited 05-21-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Train (edited 05-26-2001).]
DrMDJ: You made some solid, valid points there....OK, that said--ON TO THE CHAT!!!
(Just kidding) https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
The intent has been good, but you're right that it needs revamping or something. I'm at a loss at the moment as to how (still tired from last night... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/). It would be difficult for us to guide 2 or 3 people at once in building. (Actually, I had thought of that possibility from time time and it scared the be-jeebers out of me.... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Not impossible, but would be daunting). I think it boiled down to us waiting for folks to join in with questions, etc. (resulting in "chat"), but there've been little to no "takers" for the reasons you gave. One possibility, however remote, would propose a new forum to the admins. However, VDr is primarily a software forum, so I don't believe that idea would go over.
This one I think we're going to have to mull over for a little while. Thanks for your honesty and believe me, it is well taken.
Bisto and Train - Mail Call. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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Got it, "007".... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
read yours https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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Bistro, How much room is needed to store this would you say?
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No problem; I'll just file that sucker into that 60 terabyte mainframe I built in the basement out of PVC pipe...