Testing out new forum software

[Fraser]

Hi folks, we're trying out a new forum solution called Lefora, which could do a much better job of being both a blogging platform (which Phil and I use for our websites), as well as a discussion forum software.

I've set up a sample over here at:
http://universetoday.lefora.com

I'll be testing it out as a blogging solution, duplicating some of my articles on Universe Today, but I'd love for some of you try give it a try as a discussion forum as well.

Give it a try, set up an account, create some new conversations, or participate in an existing discussion.

I want to make a few caveats:
- This is going to feel completely alien to you. Apart from a few familiar concepts, it has a totally different interface - nothing's where you're going to be expecting it. It lacks features that you've come to know and love.
- It's completely disposable. This is just a test, and at some point we'll probably throw the whole thing out, so don't get to attached to anything you write.
- It's in beta (maybe alpha?), so expect things to be constantly changing as new features are rolled out, improved, or just broken.
- It might go nowhere. We could test it out for a few weeks and decide that it's just the wrong direction to explore, dump it, and never speak of it again.

So with all those caveats, why are we testing this out? My great dream is to have a much better integration between the blogs (me, Phil, and potentially other bloggers), and the discussion forums. What's the difference between a blog + comments, and a well written post on a discussion forum with following comments?

In my opinion, there's no real difference.

Phil and I would love to figure out a way to make BAUT a better platform for giving the community a voice. A way for you to reach a wider audience, and participate with one another. So, this is an experiment to get a sense of what that might take.

There's a section in forum just for you to discuss bugs, request features, and give general feedback. The developers really want to hear from you, and will be actively working to incorporate your feedback into the features of the site.

You can access it directly here:
http://universetoday.lefora.com/forum/category/224/

[Kelfazin]

It looks like it would take some getting used to, but has some potential.

[hhEb09'1]

What will happen to the current BAUT message database?

[R.A.F.]

My webtv doesn't "like" it. Fact is, it won't allow me to register, so I won't be posting there...

In other words, I DON'T LIKE IT. Well, ya wanted opinions.

edit to add...OK...I "nosed" around until I found a way to register...so I'll give it an objective "look".

[Swift]

Well, I got into it through the link in Fraser's post, set-up a user (Swift) and then tried to get into the forum and our corporate internet access is now stopping me from the site as a "non-work related" site. I'll take a look from home, but for me that would be strikes one, two, and 2.9.

[Argos]

I like its feel. A classy interface looking like a on-line magazine. Definitely worth a test. That´s the most interesting Bulletin Board solution I´ve seen in years.

Thumbs up.

[R.A.F.]

Why is it called a forum solution?

I was unaware that there were any problems to solve.

[Kelfazin]

from The Free Online Dictionary of Computing

Solution
<jargon> A marketroid term for something he wants to sell you without bothering you with the often dizzying distinctions between hardware, software, services, applications, file formats, companies, brand names and operating systems.

"Flash is a perfect image-streaming solution." "What is it?" "Um... about a thousand dollars."

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by R.A.F.

Why is it called a forum solution?

I was unaware that there were any problems to solve.

I was going to ask the same thing.

I think it's too busy, and I do have an actual reason, other than aesthetics...

The key pieces of information are very hard to spot. I make a lot of quick spot decisions and navigation based on the who's and the when's and the how much's of the reply. With the current board software, these things are very easily spotted because they are isolated in thier own columns. This and the topics do not infringe on each other's flow.

In the sample, there is too much scanning to spot the information, especially when the same items float horizontally based on the size of the words.

There is also far less in the way of how much is on the navigation screens in a single "screenful".


Down in a single topic though, the "magazine" feel is not so bad.

[Argos]

Originally Posted by R.A.F.

Why is it called a forum solution?

I was unaware that there were any problems to solve.

Ok, RAF you´ve chosen me as your target today. That´s fine...

I think the vBulletin type of software has serious presentation problems. So I really think Lefora [and the like] is a solution.

I´m not the first one to use its professional jargon along these pages. I´m sorry for that sin, though.

[Kelfazin]

Originally Posted by NEOWatcher

I was going to ask the same thing.

I think it's too busy, and I do have an actual reason, other than aesthetics...

The key pieces of information are very hard to spot. I make a lot of quick spot decisions and navigation based on the who's and the when's and the how much's of the reply. With the current board software, these things are very easily spotted because they are isolated in thier own columns. This and the topics do not infringe on each other's flow.

In the sample, there is too much scanning to spot the information, especially when the same items float horizontally based on the size of the words.

There is also far less in the way of how much is on the navigation screens in a single "screenful".


Down in a single topic though, the "magazine" feel is not so bad.

I think this is a good description. I couldn't figure out how to say what it is that bothered me, but after reading what you wrote I can now say "Yea...what he said!"

[R.A.F.]

A marketroid term for something he wants to sell you...

So Fraser is trying to "sell us" on this new software??

[Kelfazin]

Originally Posted by R.A.F.

So Fraser is trying to "sell us" on this new software??

Well Argos used the term first...so now I dunno who's selling what

[R.A.F.]

Originally Posted by Argos

Ok, RAF you´ve chosen me as your target today. That´s fine...

What the heck are you talking about...I've haven't "chosen" to "target" anyone.

Oh...and what NeoWatcher said..."it's too busy" describes it perfectly.

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by Argos

...I think the vBulletin type of software has serious presentation problems. So I really think Lefora [and the like] is a solution....

What problems, can you be a little more specific?

Originally Posted by Argos

I´m not the first one to use its professional jargon along these pages. I´m sorry for that sin, though.

It depends on the profession...
For instance, I don't know if using professional mud wrestling jargon would be appropriate here.

[Argos]

I don´t understand the reason of your nit picking. Just about every software is a 'solution'. Whether this term sounds ridiculous because a certain kind of folks use it, well, that´s not my problem. I think it´s a perfect term.

[Argos]

Originally Posted by NEOWatcher

What problems, can you be a little more specific?

Originally Posted by Argos

I think the vBulletin type of software has serious presentation problems

You know what I´m saying?

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by Argos

You know what I´m saying?

No I don't, that's why I ask.

What is it about the presentation that is a problem?

[Argos]

No I don't, that's why I ask.

I think you do know what I´m saying, and something´s telling me you´re mocking me for some reason.

From ´the Lefora website

The Lefora Team got fed up with the lack of features available in message boards (...) such as vbulletin and phpbb forums. We use them everyday, from art forums, to game forums, to tech forums - we couldn't get over just how old school they were. Something needed to be done!

I make those my own words.

[R.A.F.]

Does anyone understand what Argos is getting so "bothered" about??

We simply disagree...we don't think this new software is that "great". So what.

aside...I am starting to get the sinking feeling that we're getting this new software no matter what.

Just call me paranoid...

[hhEb09'1]

Originally Posted by Argos

[i]I think you do know what I´m saying, and something´s telling me you´re mocking me for some reason.

I'm not sure what you are saying. Is it you think this board looks too old fashioned?

I would like to know "What will happen to the current BAUT message database?"

[Argos]

I'm not sure what you are saying. Is it you think this board looks too old fashioned?

Well, yes. Wouldn´t it be worthwhile to seek for a novel(*)...solution?

(*) Is this term allowed, or is it just another marketroid buzz word? Suddenly I´m not so self-assured writing English...

[hhEb09'1]

Originally Posted by Argos

I'm not sure what you are saying. Is it you think this board looks too old fashioned?

Was that a response to my post?

PS: Upon further reflection, I see that it was.

PSS: Somehow, my post and Argos's edits must have crossed. Sorry about that.

[Argos]

I really don´t get what´s going on here...

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by Argos

I think you do know what I´m saying, and something´s telling me you´re mocking me for some reason.

Whoa, what? And if I'm not mocking, then how should I have addressed my lack of understanding?

Originally Posted by Argos

From ´the Lefora website
I make those my own words.

Thank you... That was my question.

Based on that phrasing (especially the "old school" part), I think we are down to a matter of opinion.
Although, I really don't know what features they are referring to.

Since I don't have any issues, I can only assume they are only some "nice to haves" rather than actual deficiencies.

[Fraser]

If we ever change boards, it wouldn't happen without migrating the entire BAUT database, so that everything was still accessible. For me, that would be a deal breaker.

And if we ever felt that BAUT was too old fashioned, it would be pretty easy to redesign the templates to give it a more up to date look.

No, my only concern with BAUT is things are too broken up. There's UT, there's BA, and there's BAUT. But maybe there's a way to put them all together, so that my articles are just the first post to a forum thread. I really think that blogs and forums are just two different ways of looking at the same information. Blogs are very personal, while forums are developed by a community. But I think there could be something else that sits in between the two.

So check it out, register an account, give it a try and let me know if you see what I'm talking about.

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by Fraser

...I really think that blogs and forums are just two different ways of looking at the same information. Blogs are very personal, while forums are developed by a community. But I think there could be something else that sits in between the two.

I think that's where some of my confusion comes in. I only see blogs as a forum with the starting point being that of the site administrator.

[Argos]

And if we ever felt that BAUT was too old fashioned, it would be pretty easy to redesign the templates to give it a more up to date look.

The problem is not the template. It is the whole conception of the board {and not only VBulletin, which is still one of the best employing the current [here I go again] paradigm}.. It´s been useful, but it´s getting old.

[hhEb09'1]

Originally Posted by Fraser

If we ever change boards, it wouldn't happen without migrating the entire BAUT database, so that everything was still accessible. For me, that would be a deal breaker.

The last time we migrated was painful. Old posts are scattered with un-parsed symbols, and hard to read. Links were lost, although there was a link translation that seems to work in most cases. Posters lost posts, and some posters left because of it. I'm not sure there is a commitment to the database as it is.

I really think that blogs and forums are just two different ways of looking at the same information. Blogs are very personal, while forums are developed by a community.

Part of the problem is that there are different standards for the blogs than the forum. Personal behavior that is OK in the blog is a bannable offense on the forum.

[NEOWatcher]

Originally Posted by hhEb09'1

The last time we migrated was painful...

Yes it was, but remember that was a merger not just a migration. A lot of the pain was when identifications and the like were conflicting.