This discussion forum has been closed. Starting new topics or replying to existing topics is no longer possible.
We welcome all users to use AfterDawn's discussion forums instead.
The forum started without much structure and grew quickly. Moderators are doing their best to eliminate redundant threads but new posts are most likely outstripping their efforts.
There also seems to be an ever-increasing personal element as the Do-Gooders clash with the Do-Betters. Don't read anything into that, it's simply what happens when caste is established :)
Finally, it's difficult to search for any useful information due to the magnitude of postings and lack of pre-structure.
SOOOOOOOOOOO..........I suggest the following:
The program has distinct "phases" of operation. The Forum should emulate those phases where difficulty might be had and solutions sought:
1. Installation
2. Preparing to backup
3. Read
4. Write (or Burn)
5. Playability issues, PC
6. Playability issues, Stand Alone
Within each of those 6 major topics, Moderators should be able to establish subtopics in a controlled manner much like they do now (those threads in BOLD).
Let people start threads BELOW these relevant subtopics if you choose to do so, or eliminate the ability to start a new thread entirely.
In this manner, the Moderators have a well bound area to moderate that makes more sense to users like me who are legitimately searching for solutions and think three or four times before posting.
Thank you for your time :)
BurnedOne
Member
5 Dec 2002 5:59 PM
Oh, one more thing.....
The reason I suggest emulating the program's phases is simple. People who are having problems with playability have obviously gotten past the install/read/burn stage, while those who haven't been successful with a single burn cycle are most likely not yet concerned about playability issues on a Toshiba......
As it stands, these things are still pretty much blended together right now.
Might help 321 focus on specific issues also..
TLH2
Inactive
5 Dec 2002 6:04 PM
I like the idea along with a couple of other forums - like:
General Chit Chat forum - where LD and Lawman can go and not be off-topic (hehehe)...
puff2345
Member
5 Dec 2002 9:13 PM
I like burnedones idea in addition i
think it should be seperated by each new
version . it takes alot of time 2 find
information.i also like idea by tlh2
jim
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5 Dec 02 9:17 PM
Floyd
Inactive
6 Dec 2002 1:33 PM
I like this idea very much BurnedOne, your suggestion makes a lot of sense. For what its worth I agree that the origional layout as it stands is far from ideal & serious consideration should be given to fundementaly changing it.
The forum is setup and hosted by Afterdawn, Moderators have not got the ability to alter the forum layout (in a major topic sense) and would have to be done by Afterdawn (as I understand it)with agreement between dRD & Robert.
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm sure they'll be taken on board and given full consideration. I don't know how long it would take or how much work would be involved in changing the setup, but I do know that dRD is going on holiday for a few weeks about now so change in the short-term is unlikely.
Thanks again,
Floyd
Mag66
Senior Member
14 Dec 2002 2:26 AM
I'd like to add my support to a change in the layout of this forum as I feel it is time for some re-organisation to occur given the large numbers of threads that badly need sorting out into much more senseible groupings than are currently possible.
Regards..
Mag
Unibonger
Inactive
14 Dec 2002 4:22 AM
I agree as well!
And why the heck am I still a newbie here?
I want to be promoted to Major Newbie or maybe even General Newbie!
Though I would perfer to be promoted to "Minister of silly remarks"
The management thanks you again for your continued support!
We are Microsoft...
Resistance is futile
You will be assimilated
A_Klingon
Moderator
18 Dec 2002 2:20 PM
Maybe the trouble right now, is that this forum is _both_ a free-for-all, anything-goes forum; as well as a nuts-&-bolts forum. How in hell to separate the two?? I don't think you can! One simply leads into the other, from either direction. General-type comment just naturally stems from the core issues.
I once suggested that dRD, perhaps, start a simple, "general-issues-type" of dvdxcopy forum back in one of the (Pink) Room forum sections, but I don't think he liked that idea too much.
This (Green) Room forum is supposed to be *strictly* for support issues. The trouble IS, is that dvdxcopy is quite controvercial all by itself, and for those who are experiencing NO problems at all, but are stil interested in dvdxcopy, well, there's really no where else to go *other* than here.
So things get clogged up, and people get bogged down when trying to seek out help to solve their particular problems.
I think that if this forum is *truly* going to realize it's original potential in maximizing help for paid subscribers of dvdxcopy, guys like ME (yes me) are going to have to scoot out of here. And maybe (just maybe) the mods are going to have to take a firmer stance - if your posting does NOT directly reflect a dvdxcopy problem OR solution (or proposed solution), then the user should be politely warned.
The forum would become quite 'dry' I suppose, but at least that way it would offer the best possible chance for people to obtain help.
(I don't know that my suggestion would be achievable). I can't *Focus* on any one thing for more than 3 minutes without rambling off somewhere else).
-- Mike --
BurnedOne
Member
18 Dec 2002 4:06 PM
You're right.
Management 101: No limits will exist without defined and enforced limits.
Uh, yeah.........
Anyway, structuring the forum properly and then severely limiting one's ability to post is the only way to go.
For instance, reporting movies that don't work with DXC shouldn't be in a "guidance" template but in a form control that's emailed straight to 321 with an index pointer on the forum for all to see. Intelligent forms produce much more consistent and controlled results than text templates.
But all that is moot. The real issue is why 321 chose to rely on "donated" public domain space as opposed to establishing a dedicated and well thought out support mechanism on their own website.
After all, they can process orders/payments/fullfillment there - why was support moved to Afterdawn?
Hmmmmmmm...............
A_Klingon
Moderator
18 Dec 2002 4:32 PM
Probably because a lot of people were coming here anyway, burnedone, as a/D deals very heavily wish audio/video by default. And besides, I got 321's attention right away with a single, original post in here about 2 months ago.
BTW, that was terrific info you gave (elsewhere) about your useage of DvdDecrypter & IfoEdit. (thnx). Have met with pretty good success myself.
(See?) I've wandered off-topic already! (And didn't solve one single dvdxcopy problem!)
I agree, vbulletin forums are always some of the best looking and easiest to navigate.
Nothing against afterdark, I am just used to vbulletin forums.
Just my 2cents
A_Klingon
Moderator
23 Dec 2002 4:14 AM
>>> ...nothing against afterdark ... <<<
Oh, _afterdark_ you're 'ok'; it's _afterdawn_ that you have to start worrying. :-)
-- Mike --
Rando
Inactive
23 Dec 2002 4:20 AM
I too have nothing against the current format, however, I think vbulletin offers a simple, and rather inexpensive solution to some of the problems described above, and with a little programming knowledge, can be outfitted with some slick user, mod, and admin. options.
prowler19
Member
23 Dec 2002 3:33 PM
oops
RudyTX
Member
23 Dec 2002 7:47 PM
I suggest that the new forum lists the system PROFILE of each member. I like this feature of the forums at www.pinnaclesys.com
In the case of dvdxcopy forum we need the profile to include PC info and Standalone dvd player info.
This information is very useful to pinpoint which systems configurations are more successful than others.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 22 Jan 03 7:51 PM
lawson23
Newbie
16 Jan 2003 11:53 PM
I agree with this idea of changing the forum format. It is so difficult to find what you need in this forum. They will be the first to punish those that don't follow the rule of search and I agree but for most users this is not a must because there is good organization of the forums. I glad to see I wasn't the only one not happy with the setup.
One more addition I think should be added a Hardware section. This could be in the forum or something else. We need something that describes the correct way to setup a specific Recorder. I have a 200e(that has never worked) and it would be nice to have all the topics on that recorder in one place or if someone had a full proof way of making it work it would be nice to have it posted on a webpage or a forum saying do exactly this!
telboy
Newbie
24 Jan 2003 1:22 PM
If the forum format was to change it would be nice to have an area for light discussion (loosely related to 321 and DXC)
I've been visiting this forum for at least the past two months and there appears to be a real community spirit which is refreshing to see.
There are a number of threads that do not really relate to problem solving or suggestions and feedback but at the same time have received a great deal of input from regular forum members and mods and are really quite entertaining and funny. Quite often I get a strange look from my dear wife as I start laughing at my computer screen.
Please, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, I am in no way putting this forum down, I actually think this is an invaluable source of support and information and no offence is intended.
Thank you all for the help and entertainment and long may it continue.
dighairr
Inactive
25 Jan 2003 11:58 AM
Cheers!
A_Klingon
Moderator
25 Jan 2003 10:32 PM
Yeah, one could do worse, I suppose.
At least it keeps me off the streets.
-- Mike --
dighairr
Inactive
25 Jan 2003 10:46 PM
I don't generally get into soaps but some of the threads lately are getting pretty good. I just can't help myself, I have to see what the next response will be in some! =O
dRD
I hate titles
26 Jan 2003 6:45 AM
Hi there and thanks for everybody about the suggestions for forum improvements.
The physical forum software wont be changed, most likely ever. The decision to originally write the forum software from the scratch on our own was made because we had at that time already 25,000 registered users who used their registration details for various tasks on our site (software notifications, voting, news comments, etc) and integrating seamlessly an existing registration and login system to an out-of-the-box BBS software is virtually as painful and writing your own.
The layout itself is not actually an issue, we can modify it to look whatever you ever want it to look like. We (aD and 321) just thought that this 321-site-look-a-like would suit nicely to fit with the 321's own website.
The support forums were "given" to us for various reasons, detailed reasoning is known only by Robert. But basically the original thread that pretty much launched the "DVDXCopy revolution" was started in our news commentary section and it grew into 500+ messages in one thread, so Robert asked us if it would be possible to start a separate forum room for DVDXCopy issues to handle the discussions more efficiently. We thought that we can spend the same amount of time by launching a separate forum structure for DVDXCopy and we did and 321 approved the forum to be "the official forum". And obviously it kinda gives """more credibility""" to have the support forum to be run on non-censorship basis by a pretty big name in the "DVD ripping business".
For new forum room suggestions, I agree with the idea to separate the different parts of the program functionality to match rooms, but it raises couple of concerns -- moving the existing messages from existing forum rooms to correct forums would kill the moderators :-) And secondly, what happens when one part of the current functionality in the program is dropped or new ones added: should the forum structure mirror these changes as well? Too much maintenance makes is a difficult idea to implement, even though I like the idea very much. From our point of view, creating/dropping forum rooms is piece of cake, but for moderators, moving the messages around to match the changed structure might be a pain in the butt.
I agree; I think the mods - all of them - are doing a phenomenal job as it is. Special mention must go to Mag 66, who has given, and continues to give SuperHuman Mod service - I simply can't imagine anyone devoting more of his own personal time than Mag does, to give helpful information, supply pertinant links, route questions to their proper places, give explanations based on his own, considerable experience not only with dvdxcopy but with computer equipment in general, censor posts where need be (although I wouldn't know anything about that of course) <gg>; he doesn't shun his duties and gives detailed responses, not one-line retorts; he genuinely tries to help people and in short, simply helps make this Forum as good as it can possibly be.
Although he's not on 321's payroll, he ought to be. Mag, you're a "one-er".
I too, like the idea of separate 'Rooms' (pink, green, blue, orange, whatever) to segment dvdxcopy's various functions, but agree, it would probably take 10 Mags to accomplish such a daunting task.
--->> ... [original thread] ... it grew into 500 + messages in one thread... <<---
Currently 738, but who's counting? I started that mess; I am a very_very_bad Klingon. :-)
For those interested in the genesis of this Phenomena and have 4 or 5 free hours to kill:
Despite the sheer bulk volume of rapidly shifting and evolving posts in this forum, I'm still glad that the Mods are giving a bit of leeway, and allow us to 'wander off the beaten track' every now and again. One has *got* to vent occassionally.
Great Job All Around, Guys.
-- Klingy --
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26 Jan 03 1:25 PM
cdtruckn
Senior Member
28 Jan 2003 11:56 AM
yes you are right
but now we need to split win98/me/problems from xp problems.
JUST BACKEN UP ;}
BurnedOne
Member
28 Jan 2003 4:46 PM
"what happens when one part of the current functionality in the program is dropped or new ones added: should the forum structure mirror these changes as well?"
Rarely would this not be precluded by a new version of the software, so simply create a new section for the new version. You could even delete the old section(s) or close them out, since anyone having problems with an old version should upgrade to the newest.
Version 1.4:
a. Installation Issues
b. Reading Issues
c. Authoring issues
d. Burning Issues
e. Playability Issues
If I couldn't get my backups to play on my standalone player, I wouldn't be cluttering up Installation Issues.
Visitors would have a much clearer navigation path when visiting the forum. If I've installed the software and can read a DVD and can tell it where to split but everything hangs up in the middle of the burn, it should be obvious to me to search/post in the "Burning Issues" section.
Although "Burning Issues" should not be confused with "Hot Topics" or even "Hot Pockets"...... :)
It is already over 90 days since last post to this thread, you're not allowed to post here anymore.
