Forum "Update"

[David Lindon]

Here's my view:

I think that we'd come out with maybe only adding a few sections. I think that we should delete/condense many, and so by getting rid/condensing those, we'd have room to add more detail sub-forums for topics that are frequented like many have suggested.

So, "yes"...all the way.

Here's a few *suggestions* (some may be repeats) PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR THE POINT OF THIS THREAD -> These are just possible suggestions for if this thread's idea is IMPLEMENTED. Take what you want from following:

(Delete->)General(<-Delete)
(Delete->)Technical(<-Delete)
(Delete->)Webhosting(<-Delete) (replace with the following:->)

Hardware
-> General Harware (all other inquiries)
-> System Building/Upgrading (questions/opinions/advice/etc)
-> Overclocking
-> Cooling
-> Modding
-> Galleries

[Three notes on the above. First off, I think that a sub-forum for system building/upgrading would be AMAZING. Yes, they could easily just be started in "general", but I think that for those who are very good at recommending/putting systems together, it'd be a nice sub-forum. There are few forums out there who have this sub-forum. Secondly, the gallery thread could stay right under the "hardware" section, or, each gallery could be dumped into it's appropriate sub-forum. I think it should probably just stay right under "hardware". Thirdly, I didn't re-include the processors thread. It does not matter to me one way or another, but personally, since it probably isn't any more popular that a MB/RAM/GPU sub-forum would be, I don't think it needs to be here. I think that general hardware would be just fine.]

Software
->General Software
->Operating Systems (could have forums under this that are "Windows, Mac, Linux", but they might not be utilized enough)
->Applications (could have subs in here for "media apps" and "office/business apps" or you could do "office/bus apps", graphics/photo apps", "audio/video apps" or something, too, if people felt they were needed)
->Security/Anti-Virus (I think this would be kind of nice...a decent possibilty)
->Programming

[Some notes: As you can see, a lot of rearranging and condensing. These are less frequented and don't need a ton of expansion/detail. The same for the following:]

Networking/Internet
->Home/Office Networking
->Servers (or "Server Admin.")
->Web Programming
->Web Design/Review
->Hosting

[Notes: As stated above, it doesn't need to be as expanded as it is now. Networking/internet stuff isn't frequented as much as hardware related stuff, so a little condensing wouldn't hurt, IMHO]

General (or "Other")
->Social Lounge
->Rules (I think this would be a nice feature, but it could stay in the SL or go in introductions or something)
->Introductions
->CF Comments/Suggestions
->Buy/Sell/Trade (or whatever you want to name it)

[Notes: I think this would be very good. A nice little cap to the rest of the forum]
___

Okay, now, this has taken me about a half hour to think out thoughtfully; please don't make yourself look like a jacka** and ruining it by flaming it with 10 second, unthoughtful post. Constructive criticism is welcome. Like I said, this is just kind of just to get the ball rolling, etc...

Thoughts? Please include any large/important categories I may have overlooked, or state why something I included, shouldn't be.

(BTW, I'll try and photoshop the main page so people can get a general idea of what this could look like).

I think we could condense that list a little. For example I think we could do without an intro and rules forum

 

[_-..zKiLLA..-_]

Thats a great forum right there dude lol

 

[JogaBonito1502]

I think we could condense that list a little. For example I think we could do without an intro and rules forum

That's a good point. I didn't really look at that bottom one. I was concentrated on the hardware. I'm not good with websites and stuff, but could those 3 "web ..." forums be condensed into 2 or maybe 1 forum? Or are they really different things? Cooling and OverClocking could really go together as well as Modding and Galleries (since after all you will post pics when you mod something).

 

[tom-knox]

I think we could condense
->Home/Office Networking
->Servers (or "Server Admin.")
into server and network management

 

[dude_56013]

That's a good point. I didn't really look at that bottom one. I was concentrated on the hardware. I'm not good with websites and stuff, but could those 3 "web ..." forums be condensed into 2 or maybe 1 forum? Or are they really different things? Cooling and OverClocking could really go together as well as Modding and Galleries (since after all you will post pics when you mod something).

I agree. I wasn't sure how people felt about the "web" stuff, but they are all used very seldom and I wanted to put them all together, but just didn't since I knew that if someone felt it needed to be condensed, then it would be mentioned--and it is!

I agree. Cooling and OCing can definitely go together, and modding and galleries could as well. However, I left galleries separate because there's also the workstation and car thread in there, and we could move the member photos and lmao picture threads there as well--so that was my reasoning behind that.

I think we could condense
->Home/Office Networking
->Servers (or "Server Admin.")
into server and network management

I agree. Again, not my strong points, and I wasn't sure how different they were so I left them separate. These could both be in one. It'd work fine--especially for the low traffic they get.

Overall, all good ideas. I couldn't decide what to do with some of the stuff, so I left it as is, or tried my best do list what I thought was appropriate. I'm glad this is staying on topic, and that everyone is being respectful of each other. This is how this is supposed to work--whether an idea gets passed or not.

 

[tom-knox]

Only thought i'd mention as i do frequent the web forums when somethings happening down their. Being a webmaster. But there rarely is

 

[J03]

I think we could condense
->Home/Office Networking
->Servers (or "Server Admin.")
into server and network management

I think we could condense that list a little. For example I think we could do without an intro and rules forum

I agree. It looks good, but it need some condensing. As it is, we have about five fourms that are very active, and others that get posted in once or twice a day... Stuff needs spreading out in some cases, and condensing in others.

 

[David Lindon]

Okay then. So then just sit back and watch it fail (if that's what happens) for all I care. There was no need for the over-sized font and jacka**y-ness.

Anyways, here's the PS'd stuff for anyone who wants a look. Click for a bigger image.

See that is way too many forums!

 

[berry120]

See that is way too many forums!

Agreed - I personally don't see the need for a massive overhaul at all. If it ain't broke, then don't fix it... and the current arrangement seems to work pretty well to me.

If it was my choice and I was making changes, then I'd probably do the following (I'm not campaigning for this to be implemented at all, this is just my personal take on it!)

- Merge shared hosting and dedicated hosting, these sections both seem quite sparse as it is and I don't see the need to separate them.
- Remove the communications / AIM section altogether, in my mind this is a bit unnecessary - technical discussion of messaging software could either go in general hardware / software or programming depending on what's being discussed, and sharing of names could just go in the social lounge.
- Merge server admin and networking, server admin doesn't seem that "used" and would probably mostly fit in networking anyway.

I'd then probably pull all the sub-forums out of the general section (this makes them easier to find and I'm not a massive fan of sub-forums anyway!)
- I'd put gallery in the general section
- Processors I'd put in the technical section
- Overclocking I'd merge with processors, there's only 7 topics in it and that hardly seems worth it!
- Reviews I'd put in the general section
- Media I'd probably merge with general software (it seems a bit of a niche category to make into it's own section?)

As said above though, that's just my personal take and I don't think there's a NEED to redesign the layout at all. Sure I'd change a few things around if I was in charge, but everyone will have their preferences and it's up to David how he decides to organise things!

 

[~NeonFire372~]

Okay then. So then just sit back and watch it fail (if that's what happens) for all I care. There was no need for the over-sized font and jacka**y-ness.

Anyways, here's the PS'd stuff for anyone who wants a look. Click for a bigger image.

See that is way too many forums!

I don't think that's too many forums, it looks great to me. Right now we have too few forums, too many subforums under the General Hardware and Software section taking away from the main focus of ComputerForums - computers.

I know it will never happen but that screenshot is what CF should be.