Upgrades to the forum script, should we or shouldn't we?

[QUILT]

Am I confused?
 
What else is new?

 

[chiquita]

So we are staying here, just loosing the template?

Now I know why you didn't ask me to help tweak.
 

Crabby would be lost in cyberspace.

[juliartz]

I agree in essence with both the pet guy and two boys. I'm not a big person on change, but have learned to adapt. Howerver, the look of the other forum is lack of personality. It seems all the other forums have that look, just one clone after another. Here, however, you've made some very unique styles and "fun things" which you say will be lost for sure. Personally, I prefer this look, and I find it very user friendly. But then, I am not the one that has to do the "tweeking" nor playing in the "back room"   . So if it makes the jobs easier for you guys, it should not really matter much what we think, after all, we are not the ones trying to keep it running smoothly, you are.

[The Pet Guy]

I agree in essence with both the pet guy and two boys. I'm not a big person on change, but have learned to adapt. Howerver, the look of the other forum is lack of personality. It seems all the other forums have that look, just one clone after another. Here, however, you've made some very unique styles and "fun things" which you say will be lost for sure. Personally, I prefer this look, and I find it very user friendly. But then, I am not the one that has to do the "tweeking" nor playing in the "back room"   . So if it makes the jobs easier for you guys, it should not really matter much what we think, after all, we are not the ones trying to keep it running smoothly, you are.

bold mine

It will be sad to lose the "personality" I see a sppel chacker has been added, that is a very good thing.

[TJR Stores]

Well folks it has been a while since you heard my opinions 

I think, and have voted, to keep the forum as it is.

Why?

 Because the upgraded is still in beta and this can be very touchy in terms of reliabilty.

The other reason is I think you should wait till it is stable and all your mods/features have been upgraded also.

Saying that you should also keep the installed upgraded version to one side as you have now so you can get familiar with the admin side of things.

JMO

And I feel SCRAT will do as she likes... >>> runs and ducks for cover 

[QUILT]

So we are staying here, just loosing the template?

 

I figured that too after the comment at the other forum.  It's not nice to point fingers    So happy in my little world

We are very easy to please

[The Tavern Wench]

Well folks it has been a while since you heard my opinions 

Oh now you decide to show up....just so you can disagree with me. 

I think, and have voted, to keep the forum as it is.

Why?

 Because the upgraded is still in beta and this can be very touchy in terms of reliabilty.

Well, in all seriousness on this one...Rob would normally be right and I typically am the first to say wait until it's out of Beta.

That being said, this time is a different situation and I'll explain why.

Technically the SMF coders believe this to be a very stable version.  It has already been through rigorous Beta testing.  This version is called SMF 2.0 Beta 3 Public.  The very first version was SMF 2.0 Beta 1 and it was released back in August 2007 to their Charter members for testing.  So you're looking at 7 full months of being test driven (and apparently there was a Beta 2 in there somewhere too) by people who know these forums inside and out and know how/what will break in a forum. 

I have also been spending hours reading at the SMF forum the past few days to see what, if any, problems were showing up for the 'general public'.  So far everything is looking good and few are having problems.  Problems that have shown up are most times 'user error' and/or there has been an immediate response and fix given.  To me, this was very encouraging and reassuring.

What I originally wanted to do was just move all our topics/posts/members to the freshly installed forum, but when I talked to the Coders this was not recommended.  They said doing an upgrade would be better, so I'm heeding their advice.

The other reason is I think you should wait till it is stable and all your mods/features have been upgraded also.

The only mod we currently have that will be missed (in my opinion) is the Tiny Portal mod, which is the basis for our 'look/layout'.  Most of the mods I've installed on this version don't work. 

Others that I have installed, are now built into the base code and we will still have anyway.

There are many, many glitches in this forum that most don't see because they are in the 'control room', but I feel they interfere with the overall site performance and it's bot-friendliness.   And you all know how Joe and I both are about a site being SEO-friendly. 

Saying that you should also keep the installed upgraded version to one side as you have now so you can get familiar with the admin side of things.

That's why I installed it...I learned the hard way (myself and by watching Rob) not to jump in sight unseen. 
I am still lurking at the SMF forum to watch and see what is happening before I even consider undertaking the upgrade process.  I want to be fully aware of any potential problems BEFORE I even begin.

I also plan to keep the other site as a testing platform for any new mods that are released.

And I feel SCRAT will do as she likes... >>> runs and ducks for cover 

 

[Platzki]

Well... I know you have all been waiting on pins and needles for my opinion...

I love it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other forum has no.... no... no... what's the word I'm looking for?????

GUMPTION!!!!!

I signed up and I'll go if you make me.... but I like it HERE!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

[TJR Stores]

Well folks it has been a while since you heard my opinions 

Oh now you decide to show up....just so you can disagree with me. 

I think, and have voted, to keep the forum as it is.

Why?

 Because the upgraded is still in beta and this can be very touchy in terms of reliabilty.

Well, in all seriousness on this one...Rob would normally be right and I typically am the first to say wait until it's out of Beta.

That being said, this time is a different situation and I'll explain why.

Technically the SMF coders believe this to be a very stable version.  It has already been through rigorous Beta testing.  This version is called SMF 2.0 Beta 3 Public.  The very first version was SMF 2.0 Beta 1 and it was released back in August 2007 to their Charter members for testing.  So you're looking at 7 full months of being test driven (and apparently there was a Beta 2 in there somewhere too) by people who know these forums inside and out and know how/what will break in a forum. 

I have also been spending hours reading at the SMF forum the past few days to see what, if any, problems were showing up for the 'general public'.  So far everything is looking good and few are having problems.  Problems that have shown up are most times 'user error' and/or there has been an immediate response and fix given.  To me, this was very encouraging and reassuring.

What I originally wanted to do was just move all our topics/posts/members to the freshly installed forum, but when I talked to the Coders this was not recommended.  They said doing an upgrade would be better, so I'm heeding their advice.

The other reason is I think you should wait till it is stable and all your mods/features have been upgraded also.

The only mod we currently have that will be missed (in my opinion) is the Tiny Portal mod, which is the basis for our 'look/layout'.  Most of the mods I've installed on this version don't work. 

Others that I have installed, are now built into the base code and we will still have anyway.

There are many, many glitches in this forum that most don't see because they are in the 'control room', but I feel they interfere with the overall site performance and it's bot-friendliness.   And you all know how Joe and I both are about a site being SEO-friendly. 

Saying that you should also keep the installed upgraded version to one side as you have now so you can get familiar with the admin side of things.

That's why I installed it...I learned the hard way (myself and by watching Rob) not to jump in sight unseen. 
I am still lurking at the SMF forum to watch and see what is happening before I even consider undertaking the upgrade process.  I want to be fully aware of any potential problems BEFORE I even begin.

I also plan to keep the other site as a testing platform for any new mods that are released.

And I feel SCRAT will do as she likes... >>> runs and ducks for cover 

 

 It's strange because we both agree yet on different terms lol.

I will just say this.. do some more testing yourself then transfer over if everything is fine. From mine and your point of view we should wait until the beta is removed, this way we are sure not to run into too many, if any, problems.

 I say we as if it is not you tweaking and killing a site it is me 

So I personally am waiting till it is 100% got the stable seal of approval. Then I will wait some more till the mods are upgraded.

Oh saying that some already have been made for this version... 

[The Bar Keep]

Ok just a follow up because I still think some people are confused. 


WE ARE NOT MOVING!!!!! The upgrade will take place right here. This domain will stay intact as well as all memberships and posts.

Now to follow up what Deb and Rob were talking about a bit. Tiny portal is what provides the theme for this forum now. When we do the upgrade we will lose the theme but tweak the default template to match colors as this forum is now. Will we lose the left side bar? Most likely yes but at some point in the near future that will be brought back. Tiny portal is responsible for most of additional mods not working in the version we are running now of SMF. To be honest if I had to chose between the theme and certain mods working I would chose the mods. From a business standpoint that is what makes sense.

I leave you with this today about the upgrade. With the upgrade we will be able to better serve the members of The Crabby Host 10 fold in terms of SEO and marketing. With the upgrade complete we will be able to create groups from within the membership that will refine the learning experience when it comes to online selling. With the upgrade complete we will be able to bring a whole new marketing channel to independent website owners (new meaning to share your wares) that if you participate you will be able to direct bot traffic directly to your site. With the upgrade complete The Crabby Host community will be able to grow at a faster rate and combine the features of www.thetraderspost.com & www.thecrabbymarketplace.com

Just some of the things we will be able to do.


Joe - The Bar Keep

[Platzki]

Ok just a follow up because I still think some people are confused. 


WE ARE NOT MOVING!!!!! The upgrade will take place right here. This domain will stay intact as well as all memberships and posts.

Joe - The Bar Keep

OK... so we're just "kinda" moving...

 

[The Tavern Wench]

OK... so we're just "kinda" moving...

 

It's kinda like spring cleaning and just moving the furniture around a bit. 

[The Pet Guy]

It is like when I was young. Everytime my parents moved I had to go even if I didn't want to go. I guess this time we aren't moving to a different state just remolding the house. Still change is change and I don't do change well. I am happy and smiling and then   

[juliartz]

I'm with pet guy on all changes  I'm an old bat, and even though I've had so many changes in my life, I had hated them all. Did I adapt? Of course I did. I also hate clones. And a change of color does not, imo, "unclone" it. Just like a new house develpment, where every freaking house looks exactly the same except for color, (just don't come home drunk, you might get arrested for breaking into someone else's house!   ), I hate things that lack individual personality. But as a business standpoint, I do understand, as I have already stated. Will the change cause me to leave? H*ll no! Will I be a happy camper? Probally not. But like I said, that should be of no concern to the ones who are in the end, doing this for us. And also, let's hope that its the membership that will shine thru the "cloned" looking site, and be the one that truly makes this place unique.    

[2boysandtoys]

So.....are we remolding our home here or remodeling?   

I surely have no thoughts - I'm the admitted Numpty - what is the world could I say?