What I don't like about this forum

[BigJim]

What I don't like about this forum;

When it first appears, all you see is logos. You have to scroll down to see the postings.

Few postings are listed making for more page changes.

Slow loading of site and posts.

Does not support HP photos.

It may be free, but, it still has a loooong way to go to be a top notch forum!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well, at least these are all technical isues. I'm very pleased to see that you have not taken issue with the content.

I actually agree with you that some of these things are kind of annoying. It is often difficult to adjust to change, especially if you are used to things being a partcular way for a long time.

Personally, I had become so used to things here, that I found it difficult to use the OGR forum. I had just gotten started, when the word came of the charge.

[goodness]

BigJim, I think these are valid constructive areas for improvement. I hope they are taken as positive input to make this forum even better than it is now. I do not see them as a "slam". Unfortunately your subject header sounds somewhat negative, but you have some valid points. Resolving these issues will probably be a lot harder to implement than to point out....I assume the management is working on them.

What I like about this forum is the fact it is here, that CTT supports it, and that the people who post on it are great people who share their joy and knowlege of trains. It is a wonderful place for fellow hobbiests to communicate.

Paul Goodness

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim


When it first appears, all you see is logos. You have to scroll down to see the postings.
Slow loading of site and posts.

Hitting the F11 key enables one to see more on any web page. This may help if you are using IE.

I am fortunate that I live in an area of the country where high-speed Internet service is available from more than one company. I am using a high-speed cable service, Road Runner with a firewall, Zone Alarm that blocks the pop up ads. My computer has over 300 Megs of memory, most of it salvaged from computers I trashed (computer kitbashing [:)] ) , and a graphics card with a 15" monitor that's junk. (I wish it would die so I would have a valid reason to get plasma.) This forum appears on the screen very quickly. There is not a noticeable difference between loading of this forum and loading OGR on my system. They both show up very quickly. If Jim is on a high-speed connection, he is being ripped off.

In the near future, those who are using dial up services will almost be shut out in seeing sophisticated web pages due to the enormous amount of graphics, animation, music and video that are now being used on web sites. In fact, I have seen CDs with graphics and music that will work fine in my computer, but when they are installed in a computer that is 5-8 years old, they can hardly run.

Although I have an HP camera, CNET and PC Magazine give their camera's very low ratings. (My daughter has a NIKON..Wow, what a camera!) When one of these organizations rated photo-hosting sites, HP doesn't even make the list of sites. Shutterfly was given an Editor's Choice for photo hosting and I can see why the Chief really likes it with all of its photo enhancement features, i.e. red eye reduction. I have seen a site, Photo Fun that appears to be a site that many people use for photos. It includes free web space. Of course, they want you to use their photo print service.

What all forums really need are spell checkers and grammar checkers.

And this posting is probably slow to load, because of my glamour shot below.[:D][:D][:D]

[nitroboy]

Thanks for the tip about F11 Buckeye!!

I have noticed that the pages are a little slower to load here, but hey, its a hobby. I have time for it.

Dave

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dave,
I'm glad it helped. It is a real simple thing, but it is not very well publized.

[ChiefEagles]

See, I came straight to CTT. I have Road Runner too and it seems pretty good compared to other forums. I was a Shutterfly user from the fishing forums so I never got into the HP. I do use Adaware Popup Blocker so it will slow things a little on here. A spell checker would be nice since I have no spelling skills since computers came out with spell check. Lazy. Maybe the comments will be taken to the "powers to be" and they will add a few improvements. Right now, I'm glad I found this place.

[spankybird]

HI Guys,

We will also put in our 2 cents [2c] . I have to agree with Buckeye. I have a very fast computer at work and a T2 internet line. Because of the programming and engineering work I do, this is need. At home I use the old dial up. For example, my web page will load in seconds at work and about 30 to 40 seconds at home. I also have an option of DSL or high speed cable, I just don’t like the price and also that would mean that my wife would be buying more on the internet because she could see more faster.

Two very good things I will say about CTT forum is

1. I can always get to its web page. Many time when I go to OGR forum, I receive an error of can’t display page. This happens both at work and home.

2. The people here are very nice and knowledgeable here. Some even have a sense of humor.

As for the spelling check, it would be great. I type my posting in Word, and do my editing their. Then I cut and past it to the form.

tom

[brianel027]

Well gang, times are tough in NYS... I'm using dial up (which I hate) but I find this Forum opens way way faster than the OGR one does for me. Even at the library where they have Road Runner, this opens much faster than the OGR Forum.

If not having tons of photos here makes it faster, than I'm all for leaving it alone. Folks are certainly free to post a address or attach a link to their photo pages.

The points Big Jim made are certainly constructive. But I think a Forum is more than just "hardware, convenience and control"... it is attitude, people and a level of respect and decency.. In that sense I think this is already a "top notch" Forum.

Just as our trains are more than just "hardware, convenience and control." And I like the fact that things are a little bit more accepting here than on other forums. Just because you don't run scale-size or run with digital control doesn't mean you don't "run" trains.

Just because this Forum doesn't have all the bells and whistles, doesn't mean it isn't a good place or top notch. I do once in a while check out the OGR Forum... but my preference is to post here, so it's already pretty darn good slice of apple pie in my book.

Any improvements made by Kalmbach would just be like ice cream on top.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye's 'glamour' picture is a reminder that on 'the other' forum, such jollity except for portraits, is now expressly forbidden. Perhaps there is a good reason, but it comes across as another petty intrusion by the powers that be.
Hopefully that kind of thing won't appear here.
Thats what I don't like about 'that' forum!
What I don't like about this forum? I wi***hey remember my ID!

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRIAN W

Buckeye's ‘glamour’ picture is a reminder that on 'the other' forum, such jollity except for portraits, is now expressly forbidden.

Whoa there partner!!! [:O][:O] Are you saying that my portrait would be forbidden! [censored][censored] I guarantee this photo was taken of me, circa 1955 with my first electric train. We are working on something to show you my new photo some 60, 50, 40 .... Let’s just say several years later. [8D][8D][8D]

QUOTE: What I don't like about this forum? I wi***hey remember my ID!

Try this. (I works with MS XP, I don't know if it will work with anything else.)
Double click the username box. If your username appears, select your username and the password should show up in the next box. Click on login and your in.

SInce there are several different screens where one can log in, you will need to provide your username there once and it is supposed to remember it.

[Anonymous]

i widh we had different categories to post in thats so we don't have posts being bumped all the time[2c]

[cwburfle]

I think the actual posted are nested too deep from the sites entry.

[Anonymous]

Hey let's not complain. Kalmbach has given all of us a FREE place to assemble share our ideas, thoughts and opinions on Model Railroading. There are so many nice folks here. Quite honestly I could not find anything negative about it. If you dislike this forum just don't go to this URL.. However, if you do you'll pay $18 and get the same exact thing on the OTHER forum.

[Anonymous]

Dlagrua is right on target.
Bill
http://www.modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB2/

[spodwo]

Actually, I don't think dlagrua is quite right as the new rules at OgaugeRR forum haven't taken affect yet [June 1]...plus apperently the $18.00 fee and the amount of percs associated with it have yet to be decided based on a recent post stating that

"we have listened to what you folks have said about fees and features and are working on a solution. I think what we have in mind will be a pleasant surprise for everyone. - Rich Melvin"

In short - you don't know what the $18.00 will entail yet there. If you just want to post and get responses well trains.com does it as does several other sites [I personally like the Trainjournal format better - this is an extremely "busy" looking site ]. Plus all the threads get run together. The search function seems to work well. There is some juice behind this server also...

I do't see a speed issue here or at OGaugeRR. Being on Cable helps. I don't know if I would want to be on dialup with this site though...

So conjecture and opinions are just that. I haven't paid yet and won't until it gets closer to June 1 to see what it entails. I alread made several suggestions based on what I consider to be the best overall model train site for Large Scale [www.mylargescale.com]. The fees there are not mandated and the percs you get FAR exceed the $20.00 a year you pay...the large scale site here offers much less than the "free" version site of mylargescale.com.

[BigJim]

Don't read into my remarks more than what is actually there. I did not slam this forum or it's contents nor anyone posting here. What I was trying to convey is that there is room for improvement.

[Anonymous]

If you ask me, there's always room for Jell-, ... er,... improvement!

Yeah, that's it, Improvement!

[:D][;)]

Seriously, there are things about this forum that are minor irritants, like how if you use the Quick Reply & click on the "Back" button, you end up back where you started. I find I have to click on "Toy Train Collecting and Operating" link in the forum "Tree" at the top of the page to get back to the list of topics after posting a reply.

Tony

[FJ and G]

On a positive note, I find that this forum doesn't crash as much as the other one.
dav

[Anonymous]

any Sienfeld fans in here?
is this the "airing of grievences" during festivus?