Isn't this thread a good one after all? You can bet your bottom dollar that Bergie is highly tuned to what we are saying in this thread, and I am positive he and his IT staff will do all they can to make the system as user-friendly as it permits. Let us give him a week or three to get the bugs out.
Until then, yippee...the stars are history, the forum so far loads much faster than the other (it would often stall for many seconds, and sometimes time out). Happily, it seems that the vast majority of our usual contributors have taken the time to convert their registrations and are back in business. We even have some newcomers.
Unlax, folks.
Hi Bruce,
You wrote: "I don’t have the right to expect anything from them!" There is where we differ.
I do not expect the world of them. Just that the spot that they created to exchange views with fellow modellers and find out information is relatively functional. Perhaps we get spoiled and look for more than what is a fair thing.
I acknowledge that the forum works reasonably well. The small gripe is that I don't think it is any better than the one it replaced, so why change if it is not to achieve something better?
Enjoy your modelling. I find myself using spare time to argue the toss over small stuff instead of running some trains or making some models. Just shows I am a dummy!
bush9245 wrote: I disagree because I do not consider the forum free. We have to read the advertising and I admit that I have bought a few Kalmbach publications that I most likely would not have bought if I had not been playing around with the forums.
I disagree because I do not consider the forum free. We have to read the advertising and I admit that I have bought a few Kalmbach publications that I most likely would not have bought if I had not been playing around with the forums.
Why do you say that we have to read the advertising? I don't. My pop-up blocker takes care of any pop-up ads and I don't pay any attention to any other ad banners. Also, the fact that you bought Kalmbach publications is a choice you made. It's not like Kalmbach held a gun to your head and forced you to buy anything. They may have enticed you, but certainly not forced.
Fundamentally I believe companies like Kalmbach do not exist to give away free services. Somebody who makes decisions in the company believes the site will turn a penny through advertising revenue and sales of publications.
True. But that's the way most things work on the internet. Sort of like TV. Company's pay for free services/content and hope that you will read their ads and consider purchasing their products. But the moment they require you to do this in order to access the content is when I think most people will bug out.
From the proprietor's viewpoint the site and its forums has to work effectively to give users a good impression of the organisation. So there is a self interest in making this site as good as they can within the limits of resources.
True, but that is subjective. They have to balance their investment in free services against the return they hope to acheive. Their current offering seems fine to me, and I don't see people bailing on this site in droves (at least not yet). If this does occur, then I'm sure they will take action to improve their free offerings.
From the users' viewpoint we have a right to expect professional service because it is a comercial site and we are the customers.
I consider myself a potential customer that is basically schlepping off Kalmbach by using their forum to enhance my knowledge of this hobby. I don’t have the right to expect anything from them! In fact, I’d be surprised if my account is still active by the end of today…
Bruce,
A number of people seem to have the same opinion that you expressed. The forum is free, so we should accept it and not look a gift horse in the mouth.
I disagree because I do not consider the forum free. We have to read the advertising and I admit that I have bought a few Kalmbach publications that I most likely would not have bought if I had not been playing around with the forums. Fundamentally I believe companies like Kalmbach do not exist to give away free services. Somebody who makes decisions in the company believes the site will turn a penny through advertising revenue and sales of publications.
In fact the new site works reasonably well and the complaints are predominantly a few teething problems. Nevertheless, the search engine leaves a lot to be desired, and some of the features enjoyed in the old site have been lost without evidence (to my mind) of any improvements.
Hope Bergie saved some money for his masters. No offence intended. They have to make money.
You get what you pay for...
Oh wait, this is FREE - right?
I agree it's not perfect, but why expect so much from something we don't pay anything for? Besides, aside from some technical shortcomings, a new forum software package won't fix issues with content (which I think has always been the biggest issue).
I only want one thing, one thing only....and image icon on the reply toolbar? Is it SOOOO hard to add one? Will the entire program self destruct if its added?
All I want is the image icon reinserted I really really resent the giant step backwords having to hand type code in to do something when we previously had a one click option previously.
I used to post lots of pics for reference or imformation of my work or other sources to help others, now I'm not considering posting anything because trying to hand type image code on several pictures is a tedious PITA and I'm not likely to do it very often from here on out, its a shame because here was where I started the thread describing the building saga of my RRs on the GR forum and I considered my online home. Now I'm going to relocate my focus to another forum where I've also documented the progress, simply because its now easier to work with, I can upload and post images with the image icon with one click, not here anymore, kinda sad and I doubt I'm the only one who feels the decisions for why this format was chosen had little to do with its actual function for the users, Yes I know its free so I really have no rights to gripe, but I've been here since 2001 so i should be able to at least express my opinions publicly to illicite conversation.
What I really dislike is the lack of any feedback at all (this or other issues) from Kalmbach as to whether or not its even an option for future upgrades. I work with PC computer programs that are icon driven, once you get used to using them going back to something lessor like hand typing, is just that - something LESSOR.
Have fun with your trains
bogp40 wrote: Bergie and crew, You did a great job. Could care less about stars, my only concern is the not showing number of pages at top and bottom and in a convenient spot. I used to like the line on each forum and topic of how many guests, members etc were on at the time. We will get used to the new format anyway. The reply/ quote could be confusing to someone new.
Bergie and crew,
You did a great job. Could care less about stars, my only concern is the not showing number of pages at top and bottom and in a convenient spot. I used to like the line on each forum and topic of how many guests, members etc were on at the time. We will get used to the new format anyway. The reply/ quote could be confusing to someone new.
I agree 100% with you Bog. Adding to that I'm sure having a very hard time finding my old topics such as the "Easy Sharpening UP" thread dealing with passenger car interiors. If anyone finds it, please post the URL!
Thank you!
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I agree 100% with you Bog. Adding to that I'm sure having a very hard time finding my old topics such as the "Easy Sharpening UP" thread dealing with passenger car interiors. If anyone finds it,
I agree 100% with you Bog. Adding to that I'm sure having a very hard time finding my old topics such as the "Easy Sharpening UP" thread dealing with passenger car interiors. If anyone finds
I agree 100% with you Bog. Adding to that I'm sure having a very hard time finding my old topics such as the "Easy Sharpening UP" thread dealing with passenger car interiors. If anyone
I agree 100% with you Bog. Adding to that I'm sure having a very hard time finding my old topics such as the "Easy Sharpening UP" thread dealing with passenger car interiors. If
tsasala wrote:Like Joe, I'm not usually one to complain about FREE sites that provide tremendous value for FREE. Can I say that enough - FREE FREE FREE.That said, there are tons of BB software packages out there that are leaps about bounds ahead of this one. I applaud Bergie and the team for the effort, but their choice of packages is, well, poor.All I want to know is how I can see all the posts that have been added to this forum since my last visit. The show me the lastest link on the main page shows me *all* the posts in *every* forum since my last visit, with no obvious order (probably date of post, rather than grouped by forum like the old forum). I tried the MR filter from the results list, but it returned a page that said "no new posts". Interesting.This is the only ONLY feature I'm broken up about and it is one that will PREVENT me from posting here often. I don't get a lot of time to fart around for personal use these days and anything that takes up more time than necessary is off the list. 0.02.-Tom
Ditto to the above !!! And I also miss the Watched Topics list.
Cascade Green Forever ! GET RICH QUICK !! Count your Blessings.
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
I havent been on the new site much, but it seems ok to me. Everything new takes time to get used to. I love the info I get from this site and appreciate it being here with whatever form it may take. This site has a really great bunch of train people contributing to it, and helping other hobbyists. If there are problems, i'm sure they will be taken care of as time goes on.
Mike Rapp
Mike Rapp.
OK, I am a little lost and at this point not happy. I have not been able to find any of my old postings. Guess I will get the hang of it.
I do like the bigger font with my bad eye sight.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Guys, let's give this a chance. I too am a bit frustrated with this as I even tried using keywords in the new search feature but winded up with a lot of "Coffee Shop" hits.
Like the Santa Fe Super Chief......the old forum is gone and many of us will miss it. But let's not trash Kalmbach's efforts and turn this into a "Gripe Thread". Considering that this is still a "Free Forum" allow some time as we all learn the new "nooks and crannies".
Some good points have been mentioned above. Hopefully when Bergie has a chance, he'll chime in and give us some pointers or let is know if some of the issues will be addressed.
Peace and High Greens.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296
Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/
DFORD wrote:My complaint is this: In the old forum, you could easily identify topics that had been posted since your last visit; because they were color coded purple and the "old" posts were color coded yellow. .
Check the faq. I believe that there are different icons for threads one has read vs. not read.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/languages/en-US/docs/faq.aspx#58