TZ - slowing down?

[efc]

First, I want to explain "the why" for this post. For some time I have noticed that we have been getting fewer request for technical help than we once did. I am curious if something has changed here at TZ that is keeping people away. If so, we need to identify any negatives and fix them.

I hope we get a vigorous discussion started. Our members have a wealth of knowledge which will be interesting to hear.

To start the discussion, I will mention a few possibilities:

1. Computer users are more knowledgeable and don't need as much help.

The problem is that every day I come in contact that are just as clueless about computer operation as they were in the past. My barber asked me to look at a problem with his computer. This was a great barter opportunity. Free haircut for quick computer fix. A couple minutes into the work, I noticed that there was an audience looking over my shoulder. There were comments, "I didn't know you could do that".

2. Vista has solved all of the problems. I can't speak to this one since I have decided to migrate to linux instead of Vista.

3. They are not getting the technical help that we once provided.

4. People that need help are not finding us.

5. Other.

As I stated above, I hope we get a lively discussion. You may think that there is no slowdown and I am full of s**t. That was probably a mistake. I predict at least 50 replies attesting to the fact that I am full of s**t. :)

[Conan]

The slowdown is due to BB not being here and spamming the board with his useless posts! :D

[FastGame]

You may think that there is no slowdown and I am full of s**t. That was probably a mistake. I predict at least 50 replies attesting to the fact that I am full of s**t.

You're wrong so far :D

I think its slowed down at other sites also (forum wise), not just TZ.

XP is mature, stable, has few problems and contrary to M$ numbers I don't think Vista is a success. The transition from XP to Vista isn't as great as it was between 98/ME to XP, less people need help. XP was the boom era in tech forums. Now the roll has reversed....because of Vista and the advancement in Linux, Linux forums are the boom and there's no shortage in post there.

Specialty forums, there's more of them now a days. People hang out at their hobby site, these sites usually have a section for general PC help.

I've said this a few years ago to one of our mods, I'll say now for all.....The more successful a site becomes with *News, the least successful it is with its forum. I saw this years back when I went to the top visited News sites, they had little forum traffic compared to tech help only sites. Don't know why :confused:

YouTube and MySpace, between the two people have little time for anything else :p

Google, people fix most of their problems with a Google search.

"Huge naked stars list!!! Must see!!!!!!" 2 million saw TZ as a joke ?

I don't know really, just things to ponder..........

[Reverend]

I think its slowed down at other sites also (forum wise), not just TZ.

XP is mature, stable, has few problems and contrary to M$ numbers I don't think Vista is a success. The transition from XP to Vista isn't as great as it was between 98/ME to XP, less people need help. XP was the boom era in tech forums. Now the roll has reversed....because of Vista and the advancement in Linux, Linux forums are the boom and there's no shortage in post there. FG has hit the nail on the head.

XP is now a pretty stable OS and the initial technical problems have been well covered here at TZ and other forums. Therefore if a user requires answers they can easily find them via Google, etc, without the need to physically post the question in a forum.

An interesting point to note is that even though our active posting is down we are still maintaining healthy, consistent traffic. (and not just for the "naked" thread).

Looking back over our 5+ plus years in business, although TZ has a wealth of technical brains we have always been known as a more social forum rather than a technical forum. I suppose you could say we were an early form of the popular social networking sites that have sprung up in recent years which i think is something for us to be proud of.

The bottom line is, most forums in general are slowly losing out to blogs, etc.

I also agree with FG regarding the growth of Linux. Open source may be the future and that is an area that TZ could, and should, possibly tap into.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure, TZ is here to stay! :)

[piaqt]

Amen, rev! I've been at this since Win 3.1, and google and I are old friends. But when "been there, done that, here's how to fix it" trumps anything I can find, this is where I get the best help.

And most blogs overdo the omphaloskeposis.

[blackhat]

You got me with "omphaloskeposis".?? Anyway, I have been getting my tech questions answered by using the search function on this site. I thought people were getting tired of my "silly" postings, so I use the search first. DRB

[Reverend]

You got me with "omphaloskeposisA rare typo by Pia.

Its "Omphaloskepsis" and loosely means "self importance"

[piaqt]

... contemplation of one's own navel.

[usergame]

I like xp and so do I. I think vista is just a gussied up version to increase sales until Vienna arrives.

[piaqt]

Vista's faster, more fluid and did away with all those "My" folders. But the last major change was from 3.1 to 9x.

[FastGame]

Vista's faster
Where is it faster ?

PIII 512MB waits for answer :p

[piaqt]

centrino duo 2GB says loading, finding stuff, etc. It just moves more fluidly.

[efc]

This isn't exactly on topic, but it should be fun to debate.

Here is the data that I trust on the speed of xp vs vista. LINK (http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/29/xp-vs-vista/)

It is eleven pages so don't give up before the end.

[efc]

Found this little item for Fast Game.

http://www.tomshardware.com/site/flash_videos/my_vista_upgrade_a_short_comedy.html

[Linedawg]

Too answer the questing is TZ slowing down; I have to say I have noticed a significant drop off of posting within the last few months. There was a time when I could log into the site and see 20 – 40 new items within a 24 hour period. Now it seems like there is only a hand full of posting. It also seems like we lost a few of are regulars (Other than BB) that would post. I’m not really sure on what has happened but a defiant slow down is noticeable.

[PIPER]

Been working seven days a week for the last 7 months...:(.....writing a fantasy novel in my spare time and designing the artwork for the cover at the same time. Had a guy or so I thought that was going to do it but that fell along the wayside...so do it myself I will...still having issues with my external drive....blah blah blah...:p

[piaqt]

On the other hand, LK's back, so it's not all bad.

[rik]

It also seems like we lost a few of are regulars (Other than BB) that would post. I’m not really sure on what has happened but a defiant slow down is noticeable.

In my case too many life changes. New job is infinitely more demanding, recently divorced and have moved into a place with no internet yet. :(

[Curio]

Not so many years ago, people ran without firewalls and never heard of spyware. Then everyone went on broadband - they were there to be exploited and it happened, unprotected people had fast connections to the internet, those malware people must of loved it. Now the OS comes with a preconfigured FW by default, people have routers Windows defender is built in and any new PC comes with AV already installed. The window of opportunity is not so great as it was for the malwaresers. Programs are written better and isolated better due to previous experiences.

There are still plenty of holes but getting at them is not so easy and PC users are more wary of opening files from an unknown source. There are also many programs to remove any kak that gets in, the only one I still see plenty of are the smitfraud variants. More of a grinding halt than a general slowdown.

Oh and AV is getting cheaper too. For instance Kaspersky antvirus used to be £40 year per user now its available in a 3 user version for £27. Server antivirus used to cost a fortune and need to be licensed per user too, now you can get it for £40 (AVG)

[Dehcbad25]

I think that now the questions are more advanced, like the ones I currently have in my head (why does the S%# Exchange server not read the group member inside the distribution groups, differences between distribution groups and security groups inside exhcnage, etc)
Yes, a bit more advanced that the usual fanfare. The only question I heard from people who use Vista is: Why is my new Windows Vista PC with 2 GB of RAM so slow? or Which do you think is better, XP or Vista? :p

[cash_site]

Well, I'm back from a 5 month hiatus! Hehe.. just in time for XMAS.. my present to you all.. more :spam: as i reply to 1600 threads...

Happy holidays xox

[Reverend]

Good to have you back cash. :thumbup:

[piaqt]

Yeah... It looks a lot better than your face. :rolleyes:

[cash_site]

Good to have you back cash. :thumbup:

No probs Rev, hopefully the extra spam traffic will send your ads by google income through the roof... a nice little xmas bonus :D

@pia, what's wrong with your face? :p

[piaqt]

Nothing! I happen to be the cutest thing since sliced bread.

[efc]

I started this thread more than two months ago. Whatever was going on at the time has corrected itself.

[cash_site]

I started this thread more than two months ago. Whatever was going on at the time has corrected itself.
Hehe.. perhaps it was the changing in the tide due to Al Gore's Massive ego...

Or now that it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, a lot more people are staying at home, trawling the forums :D lol, especially our large thread on a Friday night! :eek:

[piaqt]

So how does that explain your current case of logorrhea?

[cash_site]

So how does that explain your current case of logorrhea?
A little from column A and little from Column B <-- hmm... wish they were D's
:cool:

[Conan]

I started this thread more than two months ago. Whatever was going on at the time has corrected itself.

Thanks to cash_site!:D

[cash_site]

Thanks to cash_site!:D

Hehe... oh man, i think i'm being stalked by the Anti-SPAM council!! Wait.. no.. it's ok.. it's only some indescript black helicopter hovering silently out my window! :-D

The forum just needed some pizaz and flash, err.. just needed some Vista bugs to get us talking! I'll be making lots of thread in the New Year to go through my experiences with trying to setup Vista... some good and other bad. Is there an VistaAnnoyances website??

Does anyone have a confirmed list of garaunteed to work Vista WIFI cards?

How do you ICS?

LOL, this is just a tip of iceberg, and like Monica, the ship is going down!

Err... if you have the answers to these questions, please start a new thread - else the Reverend will get his BAT out or his sidekick Piaqt will bite! :p

Cheers!

[piaqt]

For you, I don't need any such excuse. <chomp>

[cash_site]

Haha.. i just knew you'd come online just as i posted that! :p

Hope your evening is fine and dandy.

[piaqt]

oh, http://piaqt.homestead.com/files/SIG/boxing.gif

[cash_site]

Talking about boxing, is anyone going to see the new hilary swank movie PS. I Love you?

Will be taking my girlfriend to it, gee, I almost cried just at watching the Trailer!

Thread Hi-Jack?!

[PIPER]

Talking about boxing, is anyone going to see the new hilary swank movie PS. I Love you?

Will be taking my girlfriend to it, gee, I almost cried just at watching the Trailer!

Thread Hi-Jack?!

Peeps still go to the movies?....lol...last time I went....damn...can't remember the flix...lol....going to the movies today ends up costing me BIG BUCKS...rather buy a new game....did I say that?...:D

[cash_site]

Peeps still go to the movies?....lol...last time I went....damn...can't remember the flix...lol....going to the movies today ends up costing me BIG BUCKS...rather buy a new game....did I say that?...:D
LOL, don't you miss sitting with the missus in the back row, eating your pop-corn watching life-sized movies? Or is lounging at home in your tighty-whities, downing a beer, watching the latest DVD-Screeners the 'in-thing' now?

[rik]

LOL, don't you miss sitting with the missus in the back row, eating your pop-corn watching life-sized movies? Or is lounging at home in your tighty-whities, downing a beer, watching the latest DVD-Screeners the 'in-thing' now?

Peeps still wear tighty-whities? :rolleyes:

[PIPER]

LOL, don't you miss sitting with the missus in the back row, eating your pop-corn watching life-sized movies? Or is lounging at home in your tighty-whities, downing a beer, watching the latest DVD-Screeners the 'in-thing' now?

yup....watching movies...blu-ray...or gaming now on the PS3 on my new 42inch plasma that I got for believe it or not $500.00 bucks...samsung to boot....:D

[cash_site]

yup....watching movies...blu-ray...or gaming now on the PS3 on my new 42inch plasma that I got for believe it or not $500.00 bucks...samsung to boot....:D

Well, i must say, that is pretty inviting! If only i was on holiday, i'd bring BBQ Wings for you everyday, just to watch TV :D

[Dehcbad25]

Piper, which Mafia group do you know that sold you a "brand new" 42" for 500??
(Can you pass me the contact info ??) :p

[piaqt]

... or the license plate of the truck it fell off?

[cash_site]

... or the license plate of the truck it fell off?

I'd be following that truck with a soft-padded trailer!

[PIPER]

Piper, which Mafia group do you know that sold you a "brand new" 42" for 500??
(Can you pass me the contact info ??) :p

LMAO....actually, this all happened by walking into SAMS Club at the right moment. Some peep bought it, broke one of the connectors on the back and brought it back to the store.....it was the connector for the antenna which I don't/won't need but they offered it to me at that moment for 500.00...a samsung no less....the rest is history......:assshake:....:p

[piaqt]

http://piaqt.homestead.com/files/SIG/bottom.gif

[Dehcbad25]

That is Luck with capital L.