Changes announcement

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by greenwing

Would that have been a couple of years ago when the DCMag site was replaced by this one, with similar user experience?

Yep I guess so although I was fairly new then and probably didn't get anywhere near as much grief as others.

[donoreo]

It seems the only forum that Future has that is done well is the Linux Format one! I would guess that is because the magazine staff maintain themselves (and are very active in the forums).

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by donoreo

It seems the only forum that Future has that is done well is the Linux Format one! I would guess that is because the magazine staff maintain themselves (and are very active in the forums).

With all due respect anyone that is actively involved with a Linux magazine is going to be pretty tech savvy

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by wavemachine

With all due respect anyone that is actively involved with a Linux magazine is going to be pretty tech savvy

Not only that, but there are many of the magazine staff that post daily.

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by donoreo

Not only that, but there are many of the magazine staff that post daily.

Well that is what disappoints me most of all TBH you want to feel a forum is a place where you can interact with the staff also I accept they are busy, quite often I also see posts from the forum in the mags and it has got a couple of posts from staff and usually the only post they have made that month.

The most activity I have seen was the chap complaining about the Sony review in DCM.

I really hope if they put us through these changes it is for the better all round.

[SieSmith]

Originally Posted by wavemachine

I really hope if they put us through these changes it is for the better all round.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you. Sorry to sound cynical but when the change was made from DCM to Photoradar it took best part of a year, as i recall. Knowledgeable people who did the beta testing weren't listened to and items for improvement have been "on a list" for nearly 2 years now. Take a look back at all the early posts (if they are still there and not been deleted like some of the ones that were around at the time of the changeover).

So with that, what guarantee have we users got that it will be any better in the future (sorry for the advertising there), whenever that may be? (Note there are no timescales within the announcement).

Anyway, here's hoping that they listen to the likes of Lurkalot, Donoreo, AP4A, and others, before it really is time to say goodbye.

Living in hope, Sie

[kerbside]

I have been involved with 2 forum changeovers in my time (obviously not related to here) so am i presuming correctly that the old forum will stay live and the new forum will run in the background until it is proven, then basically the changeover, once everyone is happy with the new build can be carried out painlessly.

Basically there is no need to be without a forum for any great period of time, well this is how we have changed 2 forums over anyway.

[sanderton]

OK, a few questions over the weekend!

An interesting point about pictures hosted in the existing galleries; I don't know the answer to that, I'll find out how they are served.

You shouldn't literally hold your breath on the timing of changes, but people are working on them right now, so it shouldn't take long.

While this forum will get a new name, a bit of a revamp and a new URL, those changes will not involve making people re-register or lose any posts. It's a revamp, not a start from scratch. We're not touching the database.

Interesting that Linux Format is given as an example, as I also run that and Publishing Director. The last time Linux Format changed its forum software it did in fact dump all the users and start from scratch. I also used to be involved with PC Format, and it didn't - it moved them to a new system and retained most posts. It did change the login details for users. Interesting that the perceptions on that are backwards.

You are right that team involvement is key, and we certainly intend to improve that.

However what you won't find is team members getting involved with debates around complaints - those are best handled in private, and we'll continue to do it that way.

Stuart

[karenoliver]

I am probably in the minority but I have no problems with the current format and I was a bit bemused at the RIP thread to be honest. The only improvement I would like is easier iPhone access. I am connecting from college on my iPhone now and it's tricky. Maybe a mobile site?
I am always wary of change, you never know what you're going to get. Hope the changes the more vocal of the forum have campaigned for are for the better and not to the detriment,

Karen

[spin498]

Names and software updates aside, there was an 'atmosphere' to DCM that was never duplicated here.

""However what you won't find is team members getting involved with debates around complaints - those are best handled in private, and we'll continue to do it that way.""

If by that you mean the complaints will be ignored and the complainers threatened like the last debacle then Future's future doesn't bode well IMHO.