Sigh...

[zygoat]

I can't stand these web-based message boards.  I actually quite liked the old one, because it was simple and easy to use.

My participation in this forum is probably going to drop to zero; I encourage anyone who would like me to read their postings to either post to the MUGOO mailing list at mugoo-talk@mail.eton.ca, or mail me directly.

It's been fun!

-ben

[Neil Herber]

I can't stand these web-based message boards.  I actually quite liked the old one, because it was simple and easy to use.

Ben

What is it that you dislike about PHPBB? Registration? The look? Difficulty in finding things? The old board was web-based too ....

Since I have currently restricted it to a single forum, it operates more-or-less like the old board with the advantages of being able to edit your posts, instantly see new posts, send private messages or email to members, search for key words ... etc etc. Did you try setting the My Apple theme in your profile?

Any suggestions you (or anyone else has) for improving this are quite welcome.

[zygoat]

What is it that you dislike about PHPBB? Registration? The look? Difficulty in finding things?

All of the above.  First of all, the registration is a hassle because it necessitates remembering a username and password for every phpBB system that one participates in.  The visuals and the UI irritate me more, however, because there is such a vast amount of useless adornment on every page (graphics, buttons, smileys, links, etc).

For this type of thing, Usenet works far better.  It's threaded, text-based, simple, open to anyone and everyone without encumbrances, and accessible using a plethora of tools at the user's choosing.

I guess a lot of people like web-based boards, but they're just not for me.  I still find that the systems invented decades ago (Usenet, e-mail) are FAR more effective for the purpose, especially given the vast number of different user-agents available for the user to choose (NewsWatcher and PowerMail are my favourites for Usenet and e-mail, but there are dozens of other options available on the Mac alone).  With phpBB, we are forced to use the awkward shoe-horned web-based UI.

Since I have currently restricted it to a single forum, it operates more-or-less like the old board with the advantages of being able to edit your posts, instantly see new posts, send private messages or email to members, search for key words ... etc etc.

Again, Usenet has already solved these problems.  Even with the old board, I could tell what threads were new (links were blue instead of purple in Safari) and which had new replies since my last reading (appeared at bottom of list with a more recent date).

Did you try setting the My Apple theme in your profile?

No, I haven't looked at any profile stuff at all, aside from filling in the requisite fields when I registered.  Is this a necessary step to getting a more functional UI?  Should it be set as a default for everyone?  I will look into it.

Any suggestions you (or anyone else has) for improving this are quite welcome

My suggestion would be to dump phpBB.  Alternatively, an NNTP service which is bi-directionally synchronized with the phpBB would be a great solution.

(Endnote: I hope that by having manually typed the word "quote" in square-brackets around each of the above passages (hassle) is causing them to be rendered as quoted bits in my reply.  At least, that's what I inferred from what was presented to me.)

-ben

[zygoat]

Neil,

If my opinions on this issue seem harsh, please don't take them personally.

I have a peeve against a seemingly modern movement to solve all the world's problems with web-based this-and-that, especially when there are better solutions which already exist.  Moving stuff to poorly-functioning web boards seems a step backwards to me, and watching backward steps being made in the name of progress is disheartening.  I have a personal vehement distaste for phpBB for some reason, I think because it tries to provide a slick interface which I just can't swallow.  The MUGOO board happens to be the second board I participate in which has converted to phpBB in the last week, so I think I am especially sensitive at the moment. :)

Anyway I realise your intent is to improve things, and you are of course doing all area Mac folk a great service with your offerings so far.  I appreciate that, and don't mean to disparage your efforts!

-ben

[Neil Herber]

I have a peeve against a seemingly modern movement to solve all the world's problems with web-based this-and-that, especially when there are better solutions which already exist.  

Ben and all others who question PHPBB:

The "old" board was a custom programmed affair built with Tango middleware operating off of a FileMaker 3 database and being served by WebStar 4 under OS 9. Probably the most remarkable thing about that statement is that all of those products are obsolete and they were all commercial software. My goal for a "new" board is to have something that is open-sourced, runs under Apache, is written in PHP or Perl, uses a mySQL database or flat files. Since I am not interested in writing code, I want to have something that is proven and has a big user base for support. PHPBB fills all of these requirements.

The thing I dislike about PHPBB is the relatively rigid "forum" format and the overly complex themes and styles. I absolutely despise the "smileys". I am trying to create a MUGOO theme that brings back some of the simplicity of the old board, but the template files are numerous and complex. The "My Apple" theme may satisfy those who are Aqua fans, but the person who coded it has not made the tabs work properly.

I have also tried to replace the board in the past with a news server (Rumour Mill) and it was a dismal flop with users. Even my recent experimental Wiki attracted only a few postings before it fell silent. So if anybody has a suggestion of a product that could replace PHPBB while filling all my requirements - bring it on!

Neil

[zygoat]

Thanks for the explanation, Neil.

I didn't realise all that stuff was running on 9... impressive!

I would be happy to donate some time to write a php/mysql-based re-incarnation of the old message board, if it were so favoured.

As for other pre-existing web-based solutions in alternative to phpBB, I don't know of any offhand... but I will keep my eyes peeled.

What is RumourMill?  I am unfamiliar with it; I should look into that too.

-ben

[robtain]

Neil,
Congratulations on the new Board. I'm a newcomer to the MUGOO site, but I have to say that I really prefer phpBB to the old board. I posted a message on the old board for my wife and was frustrated when we discovered that we couldn't go back and edit the message.

In the spirit of the Mac OS, this is a nice, elegant interface that is powerful at the same time.

Keep up the good work!
Rob