Problems with the new board- constructive criticism.

[Dave Gibson]

Let's not get into a "it just sucks" debate here, but rather let's give CW some constructive criticism on how to make this board better. Like anything new, it's going to take some debugging to sort out.

I just ran into a problem viewing the project day thread. Tim posted a photo at 800x600 pixels. My display at work is 800x600 pixels, a standard setting for CRTs (LCDs generally are set at 1024x768 or higher). About 25% of the displayed posts is taken up by the poster's name and only 75% or so is available for the text and photo of the post. So in order to read any post, I need to scroll left and right to do so. This needs to be fixed so that any posted photo is automatically displayed in the space available.

As a test, here is the photo I posted on the old board. It's only 700 pixels wide and fit nicely.

http://www.fultoncomputer.com/cwbb/DaveGibson_TVBay.jpg

[Tim]

Aah, Dave...

I hear they have real nice flat screen monitors that go all the way up to 1600x1200 resolution. And a fella who knew a fella who owned a computer store might just think it silly that a fella who owned a computer store was doing 800x600 screen resolution.

GET A NEW MONITOR, DAVE! :roll:

[Dave Gibson]

But on my desk I'm still using a CRT, just like most of the rest of the world.

[Ken R.]

Take them down to something that presents well in this format - is this really something that is so bad?

[Tim]

But on my desk I'm still using a CRT, just like most of the rest of the world.

As am I Dave, but a nice 21" crt monitor with 1600x1200 resolution works much nicer than 800x600.

Just think of the nature sites you visit and the wonderfully huge display of beauty you're missing.

[Jeremy McGeary]

Okay, I'm having the same problem which can be fixed in one of two ways:
The admin folk (and that ain't me) can adjust the screen settings or whatever ... or ... my employer can furnish me with a new desktop that will display everything the way it's supposed to be . . .heh heh.
I'll contact admin.
Jeremy

[steve p]

CW you suck. You never did deserve the people who populated your board.

So go ahead 86 me cause all I'm ever gonna do in this format is abuse you and the format.

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

http://www.greatsoftware.net/sailing/Sannyasin7M.jpg
Sannyasin sailing on the Hudson

[Tom Young]

This could be Mac related, I have had that problem as this machine is old. Any suggestions?

[sded]

Have others noted that the posting time is screwed up? I am in SD, GMT-8, (-7 hours with DST), and need to enter GMT-6 to make the time come out right. Is the board moving in the wrong direction for DST or is it some other error?

[Jim/Sonrisa]

I note when I registered that I simply entered my name and desired password. Other boards I use will generate a password and e-mail it to the address provided.

If the intent is to better control the postings on the board, it seems to me better to have the e-mail approach to validate the person is registering with a valid e-mail address.

[CharlieStillmanSttlMalo41]

I'm in Seattle. According to my calcs we are GMT -7 hours here factoring in daylight saving time. Is SD mountain time? I think GMT -6 is right.

I hope you found this reply to your request for information without the benefit of threading. I see no hope of following a line of ideas in this format.

I can deal with all kinds of quirks in software, but unless they throw the switch to turn on threading, I don't see much point in discussing the other details which are trivial by comparison IMHO.

[CharlieStillmanSttlMalo41]

I had to change my offset to -6 hours. Looks like I have hijacked this topic if I just keep posting... Kinda makes it like a threaded board {grin}.

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

A Small Bird just pointed me to the Cape Dory board that appears to be running the same software in a somewhat threaded mode (you see the topics and a bulleted list of replies, though I didn't see any reply to another reply).

A format like that here would probably get me a lot closer to enjoying this board the way we enjoyed the other one... I'm sure that there are some new things that this software has that we'll find enjoyable too...


http://www.capedory.org/board/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=7a24d38ebbec89f25b7f170177741b3d

[Jeff Johnson]

I can't seem to get pictures to post. It works on other boards, but not this one.

Here is a link to what I tried to post:

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/seaward/index.cgi/read/20402

I can go along with some change, but it has to be easy to do the basics.

Regards,
Jeff

[sded]

SD is also PDT, so you have the same problem.

[Fred]

You can go to the new, new Crusing Sailors BB at

http://www.cs-bb.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi/#12001

[Peggie Hall]

Fwiw, US eastern time zone is GMT + 5...Central is +6...Mountain is +7, Pacific is +8...after that you'll have to figure it out for yourself. :)

I'm not deleting my bookmark for the old board yet. :) This big drawback to this format, and what I already miss--what I think everyone misses--in this format is that I can no longer just scroll through ALL the posts since my last log on...Some of the best stuff on the old board was in the replies, and prob'ly here too...but I'll never see most of 'em any more 'cuz I'm not gonna take the time to read all the replies to every thread. And I don't think anyone else will either.

The CWBB was unique...a virtual dockside pub. Changing it to this format is like tearing down a favorite crab house like Marmaduke's in Annapolis to build a Ruth's Chris steak house--which happened! This board will have a good "clientele," but the crowd who hung out at the CWBB won't all find the same new home...they'll disperse to a bunch of new "pubs"...and something that was special will be only a memory.

The CWBB didn't need replacing or higher security software...it just needed a "janitor" to sweep out the occasional spam. And there at least a dozen CWBB "denizens" who'd taken on that job in a heartbeat. Still would, if asked to....and the board is still up. Which is why I'm not deleting the bookmark just yet.

[Jon D]

You can easily see all posts since last visit it's on the upper right on the main forum index page

[Doug]

I definately agree with Dave that we should, at the very least, try to avoid the "this just sucks" approach.

I pledge to do just that.

Nonetheless, it seems to me this new software fixes a problem that did not exist. The "Hi, it's me" issue would have died a natural death had people just ignored it. Was scrolling down a dozen or so lines that big a deal?

I am a really old dog, and new tricks are not my long suit. I will, however,
approach this in a positive way. Some of the issues raised such as pixel
density on crts, the threaded format, and archival issues from old board would make this transition a whole bunch easier to swallow.

I'll give up the emoticons for threads!!

[Peggie Hall]

You can view only threads with new posts, but you still have to click on each thread that has any and scroll through it to read the new posts.

[You Dont Care]

Fwiw, US eastern time zone is GMT + 5...Central is +6...Mountain is +7, Pacific is +8...after that you'll have to figure it out for yourself. :)

I'm not deleting my bookmark for the old board yet. :) This big drawback to this format, and what I already miss--what I think everyone misses--in this format is that I can no longer just scroll through ALL the posts since my last log on...Some of the best stuff on the old board was in the replies, and prob'ly here too...but I'll never see most of 'em any more 'cuz I'm not gonna take the time to read all the replies to every thread. And I don't think anyone else will either.

The CWBB was unique...a virtual dockside pub. Changing it to this format is like tearing down a favorite crab house like Marmaduke's in Annapolis to build a Ruth's Chris steak house--which happened! This board will have a good "clientele," but the crowd who hung out at the CWBB won't all find the same new home...they'll disperse to a bunch of new "pubs"...and something that was special will be only a memory.

The CWBB didn't need replacing or higher security software...it just needed a "janitor" to sweep out the occasional spam. And there at least a dozen CWBB "denizens" who'd taken on that job in a heartbeat. Still would, if asked to....and the board is still up. Which is why I'm not deleting the bookmark just yet.

God Peggie ! Cruising World won't do that !!

It makes too much sense ! :evil:

What they've done is stupid unless there was an ulterior motive to disperse the nature of people opinions in the old format

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

... and tell me if it works any better for you than what they've set up here... it appears to be the same software, but with at least a semi-threaded mode.... it looks to me like it might be a lot better than this particular format....

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=7a24d38ebbec89f25b7f170177741b3d

[Fred]

You can go to the properly threaded (just like the old CWBB) Crusing Sailors BB at

http://www.cs-bb.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi/#12001

IT'S WHERE IT'S AT! In fact it's where just about everyone is AT!

[Symmetri]

Despite his commitment to preserve the board, Herb still doesn't "get it". I think his heart is in the right place but this is just a repeat of what happened the last time. Last time it was "embrace change" this time it's "improve security".

I stuck with CWBBS for the people (too many to name) including certain "gasbags" who I enjoy and have learned from.

It's unfortunate, but I think you'll be seeing more of me on the CS-BBS than here. http://www.cs-bb.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi

This format is great for a moderated support BBS, but the ability to stop into the neighborhood and see "what's new" kept me coming back to the old threaded style. This format doesn't let people post replies to the intermediate posts. Any idiot without a valid email address can still register and post to this board, so it's no more "secure" than the prior (threaded) version. Nothing positive has been accomplished. Dave Gibson can "keep it positive" all he wants, but this just doesn't cut it.

Sorry Herb, but I view this as yet another failure on your part to keep your commitment to the CWBBS community spirit, despite having your heart in the right place. Stop listing to your IT folks. They don't know ****************, and you didn't do your homework before you approved a cut-over to this.

[Procyon]

I hope you carry photo day over to the CSBB as well.

http://www.cs-bb.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi/#12001

[Dave-Gibson]

It must have something to do with the fact that you're not linking to an image file, like a jpg, bmp, or a gif. You're linking to a Snapfish file that points to the photo or something strange like that.

Your ISP may include some server space with your account. It's a relatively easy matter to FTP files from your computer to this space using a utility like WS-FTP. There is even a free version of this software.

All of my photos are done this way.

http://www.fultoncomputer.com/cwbb/HotspurSecret.jpg