Sorry, Bergie, but the new forum just SUCKS!!

[boxcar_jim]

The main problem with the new forum is the loss of tool bars and the ability to paste in images, and the quirky faults at login. Other than that, sure it works a bit different from the older one, but this is just *different* not necessarily worse.

For those who say they can post images using the [*img] ... [/img] tags I say good luck to you, but it doesn't work for me (and NO I don't use a Mac, but that shouldn't matter either). Its a fault and it needs to be fixed, but I wouldn't stop posting over it.

[Medina1128]

Mr. White, please allow me to add my to the fray. I had some problems with the new forum, as well. But, I realize that with anything new comes glitches and the learning curve. We were all comfortable with the old forum, and change takes us out of our comfort zone. I would ask you to give it a little time If not, that's your prerogative, and as you can see, you WILL be missed.

[ARTHILL]

Don't leave Tom, I never would have built the bridge or the canyon without your encouragement. You have done the same for others.

 

I do wish you could get your pics posted, that is a big part of the fun.

 

As for the wrangeling, I am trying to learn to live with that, but I was disappointed that over 1/2 the posts on the huge bridge pic posting had nothing to do with pics of bridges. I do hope you can get a few of your great bridges to show.

 

Thanks again for last year.

 

 

[Pathfinder]

Perhaps some savy guy could start a good thread.on posting pics, Then burgie could slap a stickey on it...John

Like this one?:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/854434/ShowPost.aspx

or this one?:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/859883/ShowPost.aspx

It has been suggested that this be as sticky but it has not happened.  Does Bergie even look at these?

[CNJ831]

I think that in Tom's post you are seeing the feelings of many older, longtime hobbyists, those not intimately familiar with computers and new forum systems...just like myself. As I alluded to in another thread, I whole heartedly believe that the dramatic drop in postings since the forum change over (as well as in forum subscriber numbers) are the result of older hobbyists - the guys who are not computer geeks but really know their modeling - throwing up their hands in frustration and walking away and not to any degree just the usual summer slump. I don't expect to see the situation change come September...in fact, it may decline further as the kiddies go back to school.

More and more, this is becoming a forum composed almost exclusively of newbies, most of the experienced modelers having packed their bags and moved on. The old forum was reasonably servicable and far simpler for most of us non-computer types to get around. Like Tom, I find the new forum a distinct step backwards, in every way.

CNJ831  

[river_eagle]

pathfinder.....this is what happens if i reply with quote or try to post a pic, it's more than a how to it's a what wrong!!!!......................................................................................................................................................................................................<BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/trccs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>Pathfinder wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4"><BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/trccs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>jwar wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4">
<p>Perhaps some savy guy could start a good thread.on posting pics, Then burgie could slap a stickey on it...John</p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE><br><br>Like this one?: <br><br><a HREF="/trccs/forums/854434/ShowPost.aspx">http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/854434/ShowPost.aspx</a><br><br>or this one?:<br><br><a HREF="/trccs/forums/859883/ShowPost.aspx">http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/859883/ShowPost.aspx</a><br><br>It has been suggested that this be as sticky but it has not happened.  Does Bergie even look at these?<br></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................It's very frustrating, see what happens to your post if I reply with quotes. all the hyperlinks are broken yors or mine.

[Anonymous]

Some people never listen. I told you a couple days before the old forum shut down to lay in a supply of CHEESE!

So here we are... too much WhINE too little cheese.

[Pathfinder]

pathfinder.....this is what happens if i reply with quote or try to post a pic, it's more than a how to it's a what wrong!!!!......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Perhaps some savy guy could start a good thread.on posting pics, Then burgie could slap a stickey on it...John

Like this one?:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/854434/ShowPost.aspx

or this one?:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/859883/ShowPost.aspx

It has been suggested that this be as sticky but it has not happened.  Does Bergie even look at these?

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................It's very frustrating, see what happens to your post if I reply with quotes. all the hyperlinks are broken yors or mine.

Wow!  What a mess.  Yet when I quote your quote of me, all is back to normal.  What gives with that?

[howmus]

Bob Boudreau wrote: ""Everyone is out of step except me!" "So I'm leaving!" he says. Seems to work for hundreds of others, photos and all. Maybe, just maybe, you're not doing something right?" He's not the only one. I'm having exactly the same problems as Tom described. "Are you using a MAC?" Don't know about Tom, but I am. So what? Mark.

LOL!  Good reply.....  Yep I use the Mac also,  I have had no problems with the site since about day 2 when they fixed a couple of the bugs.  I really don't think the forum is either better or worse, it is just different.  I have been here with both Safari and Firefox, and find they both work.  If you are having problems with the forum, one option is to try a different browser.  I highly recommend Firefox, and its a free download.  As has been said before, give it some time and chances are the bugs will be worked out and you will get used to the new look and feel of the forum.

[river_eagle]

I wish I knew, if i look at it in preview, all's well everything works, but hit the post button and lookout.

[twhite]

"Everyone is out of step except me!"   "So I'm leaving!" he says.   Seems to work for hundreds of others, photos and all.   Maybe, just maybe, you're not doing something right?  Are you using a MAC?

Bob Boudreau

Bob, it's not like that.  I'm a pretty level-headed guy and I've got a lot of patience (I have to, I'm a high-school music teacher, LOL!).  And I'm approaching the forum just like I did the old forum, which INCLUDES using the same forumula for posting photos that I've always used and have been told by other members is still supposed to work.  Now I know that most of the fellows on here use PhotoBucket, and I use PictureTrail.  I have no idea if that makes any difference, but it just doesn't work for me. 

Now I'm not leaving just because I can't post my photos--that would be childish, and make me a perfect example of your quote--which I think you know from our postings over the years, I'm most definitely not.  I'm simply leaving because the new Forum is just too tricky and complex for my non-computer mind to handle.  And no, I don't have a Mac (I understand some Mac users are having quite a bit of difficulty with the forum, also), I've got my same old PC.   I have a feeling that MR bought this software package without really testing it out.  The same thing happened at my high school for a grading program--it was bought untested because it was a good bargain.  The teachers ended up having to hand-write their grades at the end of the semester and turning them into Administration because the program had this little tiny glitch--It couldn't SEND.  And nobody could fix it.  So several thousands of dollars later and one dead program, we got one that works--to a degree.  Glitches happen.  But even though I'm patient, I only have so MUCH patience.  And then I just have to throw my hands up and say "Oh, Well." 

Tom  

[electrolove]

Bob Boudreau,

It's a fact that this forum is not as good as it used to be. I'm a Mac user but the strange thing is:

On the old forum I could do anything. And I continued to do exactly the same thing on this forum with exactly the same hardware and software on my Mac, and it gives me a lot of problems. I can't post a picture with Safari (standard browser on the Mac platform), I can't quote, I can't use smilies...

So it's not hard to understand that it's the forum that has changed, not the users way of doing things. Most of the users can post without problems on the new forum, but that does not mean that the other users do something wrong.

[brothaslide]

I'm a pretty level-headed guy and I've got a lot of patience (I have to, I'm a high-school music teacher, LOL!).

Tom, Your problem is that the high school you teach at probably marches corps style with your high school marching band.  You corps guys are all close minded and don't accept change well.  You need to sit down, loosen up and watch the movie, "Drum Line" and learn how a real marching band puts on a show.  That corps stuff is boring!  (All the model railroaders just went huh?!?!?!?  What is this guy talking about - it's a band director thing.)

One more thing, if you really wanted to leave, you wouldn't have been around to read Bob Boudreau's response.  I know you are frustrated, but hang in there.  We need all the folks we can get on this forum.

Peace,
Sean
ps dump corps style - it's boring!

[simon1966]

Well I am another that has virtually stopped using the forum.  I have been in the MRR doldrums for a while anyway and just have not clicked with the new forum.  My big complaint with the old forum was the terrible search engine.  If anything I think the search is worse on this one.  This forum is also more impersonal.  I liked the ability to see who else was reading the same threads.  I have not tried the picture posting so here goes

Well, it seems that posting images is not an issue.  I use picturetrail and just took the forum link URL provided and it evidently works fine. I'm not going to leave, I just hope I get motivated with the MRR again and get more active.

[dave9999]

I have only posted twice since the new forum opened... it's only because I am sort of in limbo with my modeling right now and haven't had much to add. I do come on at least once a day and check in and see what everyone is doing. And a lot of you are doing a lot of complaining about the new format. I haven't tried posting pictures yet (except in my sig), so I'm going to try one now:

Okay... no paste option when I right click. It's as if the browser doesn't know that I am in a text field. Normally, any time that a cursor is in a text field box the paste option should be available. This is a major inconvenience. I don't mind typing the IMG tags, but to have to type the entire photo url is pretty silly in the computer age! That is a VERY basic command and it is there for a reason. Without the option to paste into our replies, we are taking a step backwards. Computers run the world these days and this forum doesn't let one paste? Wow!

That was with Netscape 7.0. I am now going to switch to IE and see if I can paste using that browser.
Dave

EDIT:

Okay... It's a Netscape thing. I have the paste option with IE. Here's the picture(I hope)

Seems to work. I guess that Netscape isn't completely supported in the new forum software. Bummer, because I prefer Netscape. Dave

[skiloff]

Tom, assuming you are using Internet Explorer, what version are you using (you can get the version by clicking on Help at the top and clicking About Internet Explorer)?  What version of Windows are you using?  It appears to me that these pages are written in .NET which runs a whole lot better under Internet Explorer 6 than it does under the older 5 and 5.5 versions.  I now if you aren't computer savvy, you may not want to do an upgrade (if indeed you are running an older browser), but upgrading also secures your internet connection overall.  There are a lot of security patches with version 6 that help to secure your PC from the latest crap floating around out there.  Of course, if you are running Windows 98, well you could have issues with IE6. 

[river_eagle]

one last try, my home unit, wiith XP and IE 7, won't work, so I am now at work trying  with 98 and IE 5, so here goes.

 

[river_eagle]

one last try, my home unit, wiith XP and IE 7, won't work, so I am now at work trying  with 98 and IE 5, so here goes.

 

so that works, must be a conflict with IE 7, maybe in security, or cookies?

[skiloff]

Looks good at the office, river.  But IE7 is a beta, right?  There are a whole lot of bugs in IE7 and that could very well be your problem.  What service pack are you running with XP?

[Pathfinder]

Looks good at the office, river.  But IE7 is a beta, right?  There are a whole lot of bugs in IE7 and that could very well be your problem.  What service pack are you running with XP?

Lots of talk about photo posting in the couple of threads specific to that topic, and IE 7 has been ID'd as an issue, probably due to the higher security measures.  When going with anything beta, there is always a risk.  Load up Firefox or one of the other browsers at home and see what happens.

[GearDrivenSteam]

Dam. Yall sure are quick to write off Mr. White. It sounds to me like he's describing a valid issue...at least for him. Maybe it works good for most of us, but there are several people having trouble. I hope you continue to try to work out the trouble, Mr. White. I'll be glad to help you any way I can if you'll send me an email. I can't promise anything, but I'll try. I also wish you would consider my previous offers I emailed you as well.

[donhalshanks]

Lets all get back to model railroading! It is possible to post a problem and a question on the new forum software. It is possible for someone with knowledge about the problem, to post a reply. It is possible to read all of the replys made to the original problem. The result is new knowledge to the frustrated modeler.

Please, those with a lot of experience, don't leave because some of the bells and whistles aren't there yet. Stay a part of a great community to share our common needs.

Hal

[river_eagle]

Looks good at the office, river.  But IE7 is a beta, right?  There are a whole lot of bugs in IE7 and that could very well be your problem.  What service pack are you running with XP?

Lots of talk about photo posting in the couple of threads specific to that topic, and IE 7 has been ID'd as an issue, probably due to the higher security measures.  When going with anything beta, there is always a risk.  Load up Firefox or one of the other browsers at home and see what happens.

XP Service Pack 2 completly up to date, this is the only forum site {or any site for that matter}that has given me any trouble , and only since the switch last month.

[CNJ831]

Lets all get back to model railroading! It is possible to post a problem and a question on the new forum software. It is possible for someone with knowledge about the problem, to post a reply. It is possible to read all of the replys made to the original problem. The result is new knowledge to the frustrated modeler. Please, those with a lot of experience, don't leave because some of the bells and whistles aren't there yet. Stay a part of a great community to share our common needs. Hal

Hal - It should not be up to the subscribers to wade through all the inadequecies of this new forum attempting to get it universally operable. I certainly don't blame Tom for leaving. It seems many others have as well. Not a word has been heard from Bergie, posts have dropped off big time (and note, almost no photo contributions this weekend too...think there are no wide problems?), and a lot of the real modelers are leaving, or already have left, this forum. In my book, it's time for the powers that be to wake up and deal with the situation.

CNJ831  

 

[skiloff]

Looks good at the office, river.  But IE7 is a beta, right?  There are a whole lot of bugs in IE7 and that could very well be your problem.  What service pack are you running with XP?

Lots of talk about photo posting in the couple of threads specific to that topic, and IE 7 has been ID'd as an issue, probably due to the higher security measures.  When going with anything beta, there is always a risk.  Load up Firefox or one of the other browsers at home and see what happens.

XP Service Pack 2 completly up to date, this is the only forum site {or any site for that matter}that has given me any trouble , and only since the switch last month.

But you are using IE7 and all its bugs.  I'd bet IE6 or Firefox would give you no problems.

[skiloff]

Lets all get back to model railroading! It is possible to post a problem and a question on the new forum software. It is possible for someone with knowledge about the problem, to post a reply. It is possible to read all of the replys made to the original problem. The result is new knowledge to the frustrated modeler. Please, those with a lot of experience, don't leave because some of the bells and whistles aren't there yet. Stay a part of a great community to share our common needs. Hal

Hal - It should not be up to the subscribers to wade through all the inadequecies of this new forum attempting to get it universally operable. I certainly don't blame Tom for leaving. It seems many others have as well. Not a word has been heard from Bergie, posts have dropped off big time (and note, almost no photo contributions this weekend too...think there are no wide problems?), and a lot of the real modelers are leaving, or already have left, this forum. In my book, it's time for the powers that be to wake up and deal with the situation.

CNJ831  

 

So most of the people posting aren't real modelers?  What are you trying to say?  Seems like a bit of an elitist comment to me.

[NS2591]

I like something about this forum better and the old forum better, Such as the Private Message thing, I like that. But the old foum was alot easier to get around on. I also think that the Subscriber only thing is crap! I'm more of a modeler than a railfan. But if don't get the trains newsletter I don't know crap about current day stuff. I don't really like Trains Mag that much, I pick it up if it has something to do with NS or a Predessor but otherwise I don't bother. I also really like the Avatar feature. I wish we could get some kind of a Cross between the old forum and the new forum. Using the features everyone likes from both

[selector]

Looks good at the office, river.  But IE7 is a beta, right?  There are a whole lot of bugs in IE7 and that could very well be your problem.  What service pack are you running with XP?

Lots of talk about photo posting in the couple of threads specific to that topic, and IE 7 has been ID'd as an issue, probably due to the higher security measures.  When going with anything beta, there is always a risk.  Load up Firefox or one of the other browsers at home and see what happens.

XP Service Pack 2 completly up to date, this is the only forum site {or any site for that matter}that has given me any trouble , and only since the switch last month.

But you are using IE7 and all its bugs.  I'd bet IE6 or Firefox would give you no problems.

 

I can't seem to post pictures using XP and IE 6.  Previously, all I needed were the bracket IMG prefix and suffix and my image URL from railimages.  Something has changed.

[andrechapelon]

Lets all get back to model railroading! It is possible to post a problem and a question on the new forum software. It is possible for someone with knowledge about the problem, to post a reply. It is possible to read all of the replys made to the original problem. The result is new knowledge to the frustrated modeler. Please, those with a lot of experience, don't leave because some of the bells and whistles aren't there yet. Stay a part of a great community to share our common needs. Hal

Hal - It should not be up to the subscribers to wade through all the inadequecies of this new forum attempting to get it universally operable. I certainly don't blame Tom for leaving. It seems many others have as well. Not a word has been heard from Bergie, posts have dropped off big time (and note, almost no photo contributions this weekend too...think there are no wide problems?), and a lot of the real modelers are leaving, or already have left, this forum. In my book, it's time for the powers that be to wake up and deal with the situation.

CNJ831  

 

So most of the people posting aren't real modelers?  What are you trying to say?  Seems like a bit of an elitist comment to me.

What's the big deal with pictures? Am I just lucky with the below?

Disclaimer: I'm not a real modeler, I just wanted to get an idea what a Spectrum USRA light 4-8-2 might look like if it were given some SP style details. The locomotive has not been worked on since the photo was taken.

The only complaint I have with the forum is the time it takes to do a quote of somebody's previous post.

Andre

[river_eagle]

Yes IE7 is a beta {version three} and is the version that will be on the new vista operating system.
I have had no"bugs" with IE7 on any sites including this one untill the change last month.
I am not going to load a new "different" browser just to use this one site correctly.
it would better serve (>>telligent systems) the software licence provider to make it's product compatable with IE7 before it hits the streets in widespread use later this year with vista.