Macrumors forums as a model

[LarryRC]

Mathew suggested that we look at Macrumors to get a rough idea of the new proposed forum layout. I have been a registered user of Macrumors since 2014 (user name: LGR). I have been a registered user of DPReview since 2018. Due to the launch of the new iPhones this past weekend i have been on the Macrumors forums more recently than usual. At the same time I checked my usage and found that since i registered in 2014 i have a total of 168 posts or an average of 15 posts per year on the Macrumors forums. The majority of those post have been Apple product launchings related (very mundane sometimes helpful info).

Likewise I am a member of Fredmiranda with an even lower post count annual average.

I have been a registered member of DPReview since 2018 and have a total of 2756 posts or an average of 394 posts per year.

So why have I gravitated my forum activity towards DPReview? After reading through ALL of the at present 575 Upcoming forum changes: investing in our community's future posts and reflecting on the groundswell of feedback i have some thoughts.

Macworld and Fredmiranda are difficult to find information. DPReview is organized such that not only do i get to add info and share thoughts, but, also I learn a lot about a lot of things that I didn’t know I needed to know. As an example: I use the articles in Macworld to learn about lots of things but hardly ever their forums. I use the DPReview forums to ask specific questions, offer opinions, and learn new things about a wide range of topics. The site layout makes sense and is inviting to explore.

I DO USE macrumors for their articles. I DON’T use their forums. For specific Apple info I use mactalk and ios talk at DPReview.

I have always gravitated towards DPReview’s forums due to their format that mostly attracts thoughtful posters. The average post on Macrumors forums are like tiktok one liners while the depth of writing on DPReview often blows me away. When do these people have time to post all of this interesting stuff on diverse topics like gear, where to go find a certain bird, post processing, computers, sensor theory, dynamic range etc? And again I feel that the reason is the layout on DPReview is much more conducive towards quality while macrumors and fremiranda are a large number of threads full of one liners.

So what? Again reading through all of the posts on upcoming changes I learned some things. For example I have almost always used flat view never really understanding threaded view. I now understand and appreciate threaded view and why it is so important to many users and how it adds to their productivity and ability to be so prolific on DPReview.

I also learned that Macrumors has a paid tier of users as does Fredmiranda. For $50 annual on Macrumors one can go ad free, filter articles (?), and do private chats. While $50 may or may not be a lot of $ it is almost 40% of my annual Adobe LRC PS subscription.

I hope that somehow whatever flaws we have that this hive of us very knowledgeable and productive bees that make up DPReview can continue as a group. I believe that it isn’t an accident that we are all here with this incredible collective of knowledge and energy. And I think that it is important to appreciate and hear the collective wisdom that is here at DPReview. If there is a desire for excellence then there will be a way to get there.

Thanks for listening.

 

[AlainCh2]

I largely agree with your findings, we share experience.
We are doing it now in this on Forums Experience ... from our life, in a Photo community.

Few communities I was used to visit, have ever been a place so "safe" to do that, with so a few "Shouters" in the range

• Threaded / Unthreaded

1) I'm a flat user, I used threaded 3 time in DPR - I never force others to do as I do.
2) I'm born with eidetic memory > can locate anything I've visually impressed
3) Low level of normal memory and BAD MEMORY INDEX are the worse part

That means that at school I was able to read the book's pages related of what I've studied >>While I was been interrogate
That also mean that if I look at one of my shot, I do remember everything about how I shot it.

I VOTED FOR A THREADED DPR

.

• Losing users

From my personal experience as explained in my First post in thread ended in page24

1) you can loose 5% or 10% of users, no issue ?
2) Users 95% - Permanent Participants 5%
3) Heavily Involved Participants 3%

Heavily Involved Participants aren't the shouters, these read, shout and leave soon.
They are People that WANT to share their knowledge and help others when needed. They express their opinion and become Pillars in discussions for their long time-permanence.
5% Participants are also composed by news people that comes, stay few months/more then one year, and then disappear.

Why these are the most important users not to lose ... it's easy to understand?

The life of Social groups like a Forums rely on 3% of it's "users"

.

• Human Ambience/UI Interface

1) Human being react to what is around them in a predeterminate way
2) An established ambience is prone to allow adaptation for slow changes
3) Nobody can predict what detail's modification will hurt more the Ambience Pillars

Once upon a time ... we met on Thursday in the same BAR, I did 30Km to join.
Other much less ... after some years, the barman said to me:
"it's two weeks I see less Customers at evening during the week, I did not change anything".... I said "Hmmmm ... well, you had to change the chandelier when it broke"...
... next month we stopped meeting there on Thursdays, and the group dissolved
[we are still friends and meet once a year after 50 years]

Contours are more valuable then contents to keep up communities

.

• What to get after 29 pages

I voted Threaded even if I dont use because I know it's useful for somebody I respect, "the other Members" they all are more important.

If we miss some of the Pillars in Nikon Z Sub-Forum it will be an empty spot, full of questions, yes! ... but no member will anymore respect each other when answering
[shouters do that]

UI and appearance is for me more important that what I've read from fellow Members
DPR IS CLEAN ... never a Forum has been so clean.

Conserving ... Aspect & The Roots of the Community will be a hard task

.

I dont care to have to read one thousand posts, I have done that before...
...it's an interesting experience

( if that can help somebody else reflect on the matter )

--
___.............................!............................ ___
-------- Mid of French/Italian Alps --------- I Love my Carnivores. >https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151
.
Photography ... It is about how that thing looks when photographed..
( Avoid boring shots )

 

[Schrodingers cat]

.... and this was my first time looking at the Macrumors forum, but I would probably characterize the experience as clumsy bordering on tedious (on the other hand, that's pretty much how my wife characterizes me, so what do I know )

--
Personal travel snapshots at https://www.castle-explorers.com
1. Making good decisions is generally the result of experience.
2. Experience is generally the result of making bad decisions.
3. Never underestimate your capability for doing incredibly stupid s**t.

 

[rsn]

There are certain forums I have belonged and I have belonged to many, - bikes, motorcycles, car brands, photography, model railroading, boating, I can't remember them all - that have a certain look and interaction that just somehow feels right. Some of these feel right forums have changed sometimes multiple times and each time it felt like a downgrade.

When I just looked at the Macrumors forum site (first time there), it felt like a downgrade. Dpreview will continue to survive as the great majority of users will stay. An addiction is an addiction. So whatever flavour of forums are instituted so be it. But, the old forum layout and colours will be missed.

 

[Mathew Anderson]

Mathew suggested that we look at Macrumors to get a rough idea of the new proposed forum layout. I have been a registered user of Macrumors since 2014 (user name: LGR). I have been a registered user of DPReview since 2018. Due to the launch of the new iPhones this past weekend i have been on the Macrumors forums more recently than usual. At the same time I checked my usage and found that since i registered in 2014 i have a total of 168 posts or an average of 15 posts per year on the Macrumors forums. The majority of those post have been Apple product launchings related (very mundane sometimes helpful info).

Likewise I am a member of Fredmiranda with an even lower post count annual average.

I have been a registered member of DPReview since 2018 and have a total of 2756 posts or an average of 394 posts per year.

So why have I gravitated my forum activity towards DPReview? After reading through ALL of the at present 575 Upcoming forum changes: investing in our community's future posts and reflecting on the groundswell of feedback i have some thoughts.

Macworld and Fredmiranda are difficult to find information. DPReview is organized such that not only do i get to add info and share thoughts, but, also I learn a lot about a lot of things that I didn’t know I needed to know. As an example: I use the articles in Macworld to learn about lots of things but hardly ever their forums. I use the DPReview forums to ask specific questions, offer opinions, and learn new things about a wide range of topics. The site layout makes sense and is inviting to explore.

I DO USE macrumors for their articles. I DON’T use their forums. For specific Apple info I use mactalk and ios talk at DPReview.

I have always gravitated towards DPReview’s forums due to their format that mostly attracts thoughtful posters. The average post on Macrumors forums are like tiktok one liners while the depth of writing on DPReview often blows me away. When do these people have time to post all of this interesting stuff on diverse topics like gear, where to go find a certain bird, post processing, computers, sensor theory, dynamic range etc? And again I feel that the reason is the layout on DPReview is much more conducive towards quality while macrumors and fremiranda are a large number of threads full of one liners.

So what? Again reading through all of the posts on upcoming changes I learned some things. For example I have almost always used flat view never really understanding threaded view. I now understand and appreciate threaded view and why it is so important to many users and how it adds to their productivity and ability to be so prolific on DPReview.

I also learned that Macrumors has a paid tier of users as does Fredmiranda. For $50 annual on Macrumors one can go ad free, filter articles (?), and do private chats. While $50 may or may not be a lot of $ it is almost 40% of my annual Adobe LRC PS subscription.

I hope that somehow whatever flaws we have that this hive of us very knowledgeable and productive bees that make up DPReview can continue as a group. I believe that it isn’t an accident that we are all here with this incredible collective of knowledge and energy. And I think that it is important to appreciate and hear the collective wisdom that is here at DPReview. If there is a desire for excellence then there will be a way to get there.
Thanks for listening.

Thanks for checking these sites out and comparing!

 

[Mathew Anderson]

.... and this was my first time looking at the Macrumors forum, but I would probably characterize the experience as clumsy bordering on tedious (on the other hand, that's pretty much how my wife characterizes me, so what do I know )

Please keep in mind it's just one rough example. If you're not liking the arrangement or something, that can be changed (and likely it's different than what we have).

 

[Mathew Anderson]

There are certain forums I have belonged and I have belonged to many, - bikes, motorcycles, car brands, photography, model railroading, boating, I can't remember them all - that have a certain look and interaction that just somehow feels right. Some of these feel right forums have changed sometimes multiple times and each time it felt like a downgrade.

When I just looked at the Macrumors forum site (first time there), it felt like a downgrade. Dpreview will continue to survive as the great majority of users will stay. An addiction is an addiction. So whatever flavour of forums are instituted so be it. But, the old forum layout and colours will be missed.

We're curious what about it felt like a "downgrade"?

 

[rsn]

When I just looked at the Macrumors forum site (first time there), it felt like a downgrade. Dpreview will continue to survive as the great majority of users will stay. An addiction is an addiction. So whatever flavour of forums are instituted so be it. But, the old forum layout and colours will be missed.

We're curious what about it felt like a "downgrade"?

Compare this site to the site that was to replace it, forget its name but close to dpreview then you will understand.

 

[MAC]

Mathew suggested that we look at Macrumors to get a rough idea of the new proposed forum layout. I have been a registered user of Macrumors since 2014 (user name: LGR). I have been a registered user of DPReview since 2018. Due to the launch of the new iPhones this past weekend i have been on the Macrumors forums more recently than usual. At the same time I checked my usage and found that since i registered in 2014 i have a total of 168 posts or an average of 15 posts per year on the Macrumors forums. The majority of those post have been Apple product launchings related (very mundane sometimes helpful info).

Likewise I am a member of Fredmiranda with an even lower post count annual average.

I have been a registered member of DPReview since 2018 and have a total of 2756 posts or an average of 394 posts per year.

So why have I gravitated my forum activity towards DPReview? After reading through ALL of the at present 575 Upcoming forum changes: investing in our community's future posts and reflecting on the groundswell of feedback i have some thoughts.

Macworld and Fredmiranda are difficult to find information. DPReview is organized such that not only do i get to add info and share thoughts, but, also I learn a lot about a lot of things that I didn’t know I needed to know. As an example: I use the articles in Macworld to learn about lots of things but hardly ever their forums. I use the DPReview forums to ask specific questions, offer opinions, and learn new things about a wide range of topics. The site layout makes sense and is inviting to explore.

I DO USE macrumors for their articles. I DON’T use their forums. For specific Apple info I use mactalk and ios talk at DPReview.

I have always gravitated towards DPReview’s forums due to their format that mostly attracts thoughtful posters. The average post on Macrumors forums are like tiktok one liners while the depth of writing on DPReview often blows me away. When do these people have time to post all of this interesting stuff on diverse topics like gear, where to go find a certain bird, post processing, computers, sensor theory, dynamic range etc? And again I feel that the reason is the layout on DPReview is much more conducive towards quality while macrumors and fremiranda are a large number of threads full of one liners.

So what? Again reading through all of the posts on upcoming changes I learned some things. For example I have almost always used flat view never really understanding threaded view. I now understand and appreciate threaded view and why it is so important to many users and how it adds to their productivity and ability to be so prolific on DPReview.

I also learned that Macrumors has a paid tier of users as does Fredmiranda. For $50 annual on Macrumors one can go ad free, filter articles (?), and do private chats. While $50 may or may not be a lot of $ it is almost 40% of my annual Adobe LRC PS subscription.

I hope that somehow whatever flaws we have that this hive of us very knowledgeable and productive bees that make up DPReview can continue as a group. I believe that it isn’t an accident that we are all here with this incredible collective of knowledge and energy. And I think that it is important to appreciate and hear the collective wisdom that is here at DPReview. If there is a desire for excellence then there will be a way to get there.
Thanks for listening.

I was a part of FM Wedding forum for years, flat view. Now it is a ghost town. And when in Canon FM forum you get a long thread, you are scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and you can't ignore people or easily find the people you know, that you want to read.

The reply with quote, reply with quote, and colored text feature here is amazing, along with the threaded view for fast navigation to where knowledgeable users want to go quickly.

I looked at Macrumors site and with flat view I was lost in long threads.

If DPReview put up for sale their forum software, a savvy buyer could save it and that is where I'd land, simply because the software drives better collaboration with more efficient interactions. But they'll deep six it instead of sell it and that is a shame.

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

 

[rsn]

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Some will leave new people will join. Some will leave with great flourish, others quietly, but if the forums remain relevant it will still be popular.

 

[MAC]

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Some will leave new people will join. Some will leave with great flourish, others quietly, but if the forums remain relevant it will still be popular.

if can be better secured by not deep-sixing threaded view

 

[rsn]

Some will leave new people will join. Some will leave with great flourish, others quietly, but if the forums remain relevant it will still be popular.

if can be better secured by not deep-sixing threaded view

You're talking to the wrong guy, I don't like threaded. I want to quickly scowl especially if it is a long thread to see if anything unique pops up. Or I will go to the bottom and hit the forward button to get to the last post. It's rare I go threaded. And leaving because you can't get threaded sounds......

 

[LarryRC]

Some will leave new people will join. Some will leave with great flourish, others quietly, but if the forums remain relevant it will still be popular.

if can be better secured by not deep-sixing threaded view

You're talking to the wrong guy, I don't like threaded. I want to quickly scowl especially if it is a long thread to see if anything unique pops up. Or I will go to the bottom and hit the forward button to get to the last post. It's rare I go threaded. And leaving because you can't get threaded sounds......

It would be good to have both flat and threaded options to attract a wider range of posters.

 

[Ken53]

I looked at Macrumors site and with flat view I was lost in long threads.

I find flat view only usable when participants are "very few".

If DPReview put up for sale their forum software, a savvy buyer could save it and that is where I'd land, simply because the software drives better collaboration with more efficient interactions. But they'll deep six it instead of sell it and that is a shame.

Hoping maybe Gear Patrol will sell a clean version of DPR software. The big question: do they have a clean version? My bet is even the software alone, is worth a big chunk. Gear Patrol doesn't have sell their user list.

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Exactly. Once DPR is downgraded to the likes of the others, we have options galore. Maybe even treat multiple small forums as one larger one. Just make the rounds.

It might take a year or two, but I am optimistic, DPR code will sooner or later find its way back on the grid.

 

[LarryRC]

I looked at Macrumors site and with flat view I was lost in long threads.

I find flat view only usable when participants are "very few".

If DPReview put up for sale their forum software, a savvy buyer could save it and that is where I'd land, simply because the software drives better collaboration with more efficient interactions. But they'll deep six it instead of sell it and that is a shame.

Hoping maybe Gear Patrol will sell a clean version of DPR software. The big question: do they have a clean version? My bet is even the software alone, is worth a big chunk. Gear Patrol doesn't have sell their user list.

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Exactly. Once DPR is downgraded to the likes of the others, we have options galore. Maybe even treat multiple small forums as one larger one. Just make the rounds.

It might take a year or two, but I am optimistic, DPR code will sooner or later find its way back on the grid.

Interesting idea.

 

[MAC]

I looked at Macrumors site and with flat view I was lost in long threads.

I find flat view only usable when participants are "very few".

If DPReview put up for sale their forum software, a savvy buyer could save it and that is where I'd land, simply because the software drives better collaboration with more efficient interactions. But they'll deep six it instead of sell it and that is a shame.

Hoping maybe Gear Patrol will sell a clean version of DPR software. The big question: do they have a clean version? My bet is even the software alone, is worth a big chunk. Gear Patrol doesn't have sell their user list.

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Exactly. Once DPR is downgraded to the likes of the others, we have options galore. Maybe even treat multiple small forums as one larger one. Just make the rounds.

It might take a year or two, but I am optimistic, DPR code will sooner or later find its way back on the grid.

Interesting idea.

they'll not sell it, folks like me would go there and not return very often...

 

[Ken53]

I looked at Macrumors site and with flat view I was lost in long threads.

I find flat view only usable when participants are "very few".

If DPReview put up for sale their forum software, a savvy buyer could save it and that is where I'd land, simply because the software drives better collaboration with more efficient interactions. But they'll deep six it instead of sell it and that is a shame.

Hoping maybe Gear Patrol will sell a clean version of DPR software. The big question: do they have a clean version? My bet is even the software alone, is worth a big chunk. Gear Patrol doesn't have sell their user list.

Anyway, if it is going to be flat view, I might as well spend my time elsewhere and not waste my time scrolling and scrolling and not being able to easily find the posters who I know can answer the points.

Exactly. Once DPR is downgraded to the likes of the others, we have options galore. Maybe even treat multiple small forums as one larger one. Just make the rounds.

It might take a year or two, but I am optimistic, DPR code will sooner or later find its way back on the grid.

Interesting idea.

they'll not sell it, folks like me would go there and not return very often...

You likely correct.

Although it does happen when businesses go bad and assets get liquidated or simply a determined buyer offers a high price. I don't wish bad luck on any business, but it is a real part of running a business. Businesses take different directions every day. Trends can take quick turns. I can see bad and good scenarios where the original DPR software could and up for sale.