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ScottRSullivan Special user 874 Posts |
Other forum softwares (like vBulletin) have had numerous features for a decade that have been lacking here on the Café.
Things that I would REALLY like to see added to bring the Café into modern times: New Posts The option to just see new comments or posts since your last sign-in. This is much easier to go jumping around from thread to thread trying to remember where you posted last. RSS Feeds Practically all modern forums have RSS feeds. This way I can get updates a little easier, especially when on the road and checking from a mobile device, which is becoming the norm form MANY people. Speaking of mobile devices... A Mobile Friendly Version Having a forum optimized for a mobile device's screen makes using the forum a much nicer experience. As it is, it's actually painful to use this forum on a mobile device. Thread Subscriptions Again, this has been around for a DECADE on other forums. Let's bring the Café into the 21st century, please. Customized Colors I've read your comment about the green/yello combination of colors but I personally find them hideous and hurts my eyes after reading for a few minutes. It gives me a really nasty after image and I start seeing purple mixed in with it. Green and Yellow just hurt the eyes when seen together. Please let us change the color layout. I doubt any of these requests will ever be enacted. After all, I've PM'ed Steve numerous times over the years reqeusting this and got crickets back. By posting this publicly, maybe some others will agree and he'll actually hear what the community wants. Hoping for the best, Scott |
Steven Steele Chief of Staff 1868 Posts |
Scott,
Many of these topics have been discussed in the past. While I can certainly agree on some of the points, here are some of the reasons you won't see it very soon, if at all. First, the initial software program has been customized to meet other requests so much that it is simply not possible to upgrade to another software version without losing much of what members have come to enjoy and take for granted. Secondly, the Café's main goal is to provide a FREE forum for all who wish to participate. To that extent, the Café didn't even have banners for the first few years. Later, banners became available only to offset the ever increasing costs. Today, the Café and staff simply do not have enough resources to implement any of the ideas that you have suggested. They can't even implement the ones I would like. Hope this answers your question, not favorably I'm sure, but maybe enough to appreciate our situation. Every business, save the governments of the world, have to weigh costs and anticipated revenues and make painful decisions as a result.
Coram Deo
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Your description of the Café software customizations makes me think of an older car with home-brew repairs. Evnetually something's going to give way under all the usage and nothing home-brew will fix it.
Has the Café staff made any projections into the future: How much longer can the Café software last in this configuration? What will need to be done to save it? Is it possible to migrate the threads into a format compatible with other software? If so, what's the cost associated with it? If not, what does the future look like for the Café? If yes, but at too great a cost, do you think Café members might be willing to make donations for a period of time to offset the costs? Ed |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Ed, with very few exceptions, the Café has lasted 8 years with the present software. The Café does what it was intended to do and will continue to do so. Members are always welcome to make donations to the Café but no changes are expected in the forseeable future. The ides that have been suggested may make life easier for a few members but overall, the Café is working just fine
Where the magic begins
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Steve Brooks Founder / Manager Northern California - United States 3780 Posts |
Scott and Ed,
I very much appreciate your input and concerns in regards to the Café and Its various functions. While Steve and Dave also make some valid points and observations, you should also know that we are always working on new ideas and functions for the Café and will no doubt make numerous changes / upgrades as time goes by. Again, I appreciate all the suggestions and hope you will be patient as we move from day to day in this constant changing tech world we are a part of.
"Always be you because nobody else can" - Steve Brooks
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