Comments on: Forums or Mailing Lists? http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists Alex King, Denver Web Developer Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:02:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: alexking.org: Blog http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1483 alexking.org: Blog Tue, 06 Apr 2004 06:42:54 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1483 <strong>Forums!</strong> We've got forums: http://alexking.org/forums/ The forums are running on the excellent PunBB package. I made a couple of mods (and still plan to do some tweaking to the built in RSS feeds for the forums to include more information), but the... Forums!
We’ve got forums:

http://alexking.org/forums/

The forums are running on the excellent PunBB package. I made a couple of mods (and still plan to do some tweaking to the built in RSS feeds for the forums to include more information), but the…

]]> By: Alex http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1473 Alex Sun, 04 Apr 2004 01:03:49 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1473 Don't worry, I'm a huge fan of RSS. There will definitely be RSS feeds for any of the solutions - even if I have to write it myself. :) Don’t worry, I’m a huge fan of RSS. There will definitely be RSS feeds for any of the solutions – even if I have to write it myself. :)

]]> By: Jennifer http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1472 Jennifer Sun, 04 Apr 2004 00:47:26 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1472 I vote for anything RSS-enabled so i can just subscribe to the feed to keep up with what's going on. I just started using BlogLines.com and they can turn an email list into an RSS feed for you, so I would prefer the email list if the forum sw you choose cannot do RSS. Luckily yahoo groups can be turned into RSS feeds, but only if you do not require people to "join" before they are allowed to read posts. I vote for anything RSS-enabled so i can just subscribe to the feed to keep up with what’s going on. I just started using BlogLines.com and they can turn an email list into an RSS feed for you, so I would prefer the email list if the forum sw you choose cannot do RSS. Luckily yahoo groups can be turned into RSS feeds, but only if you do not require people to “join” before they are allowed to read posts.

]]> By: alexking.org: Blog http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1471 alexking.org: Blog Sat, 03 Apr 2004 03:26:04 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1471 <strong>Ok, Forums AND Mailing Lists</strong> My previous post has gotten a lot of good comments and responses. I've also gotten a dozen replies from an e-mail I sent out to my current beta testers asking for their thoughts, and I've had several discussions over IM during the day. More throu... Ok, Forums AND Mailing Lists
My previous post has gotten a lot of good comments and responses. I’ve also gotten a dozen replies from an e-mail I sent out to my current beta testers asking for their thoughts, and I’ve had several discussions over IM during the day. More throu…

]]> By: Chris K. http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1470 Chris K. Fri, 02 Apr 2004 19:06:49 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1470 What about newgroups/maillist? You can have a mailing list server, then have it post to the news server as well (mailman does this I belive). What about newgroups/maillist? You can have a mailing list server, then have it post to the news server as well (mailman does this I belive).

]]> By: Stuart Tannehill http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1469 Stuart Tannehill Fri, 02 Apr 2004 18:37:42 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1469 Go with a forum, Alex. The Yahoo groups system is a pain to deal with and frankly, I don't want any more email than I require. PHPBB vs. PunBB... go with Pun. It is lighter and (much) faster than PHPBB and simpler to manage. Heck, I am going to give it a try... and I usually use PHPBB. Go with a forum, Alex. The Yahoo groups system is a pain to deal with and frankly, I don’t want any more email than I require.

PHPBB vs. PunBB… go with Pun. It is lighter and (much) faster than PHPBB and simpler to manage. Heck, I am going to give it a try… and I usually use PHPBB.

]]> By: Greg http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1468 Greg Fri, 02 Apr 2004 18:24:25 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1468 Forums get my vote. You could do something like they've done at DoubleBit (I'm not affiliated) http://doublebit.com/forums/ They've setup forums for their different products as the top level. If all the products are in the same forum it makes it easier to search through all of them... there will be some/many issues that will affect both Tasks and TasksPro users alike. Forums get my vote. You could do something like they’ve done at DoubleBit (I’m not affiliated) http://doublebit.com/forums/

They’ve setup forums for their different products as the top level. If all the products are in the same forum it makes it easier to search through all of them… there will be some/many issues that will affect both Tasks and TasksPro users alike.

]]> By: Jonathan Greene http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1467 Jonathan Greene Fri, 02 Apr 2004 18:15:29 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1467 I definitely like the board option as well. I like being able to self-serve, search and subscribe as you can with phpBB. I like the RSS option within the WordPress boards as well... not sure if you can do that in phpBB... Sounds like we mostly like boards... I'd keep a list or rss feed though for announcements. I definitely like the board option as well. I like being able to self-serve, search and subscribe as you can with phpBB. I like the RSS option within the WordPress boards as well… not sure if you can do that in phpBB…

Sounds like we mostly like boards…

I’d keep a list or rss feed though for announcements.

]]> By: GFMorris.com: It's all a blur. http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1466 GFMorris.com: It's all a blur. Fri, 02 Apr 2004 17:38:26 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1466 <strong>Fora or Mailing Lists?</strong> Alex asks a good question: should Internet-based software technical support and features discussion be offered via Web-based fora or mailing lists? My answers to him were: First: I’m a large fan of fora, and I run a rather large phpBB install. Unless a community develop... Fora or Mailing Lists?
Alex asks a good question: should Internet-based software technical support and features discussion be offered via Web-based fora or mailing lists?

My answers to him were:

First:

I’m a large fan of fora, and I run a rather large phpBB install. Unless a community develop…

]]> By: Ric http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1465 Ric Fri, 02 Apr 2004 17:09:25 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1465 Forums for support with categories etc. Agree that combining 1.x, 2.0 and pro support would be nicer. Mailing list for announcements would be good - say i find no problems and therfore never need to go to the forum :), how do i know a new version is out... Forums for support with categories etc. Agree that combining 1.x, 2.0 and pro support would be nicer.

Mailing list for announcements would be good – say i find no problems and therfore never need to go to the forum :) , how do i know a new version is out…

]]> By: Geof http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1464 Geof Fri, 02 Apr 2004 16:50:11 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1464 Well, I'll argue for Web fora for another reason: you want an accessible solution for your users. Tasks is Web-based---it makes sense then that the support function should be Web-based. While I love email and I love RSS, I have tools that manage those formats well. Most folks don't. The common tool that people will have to manage content is the Web browswer. Well, I’ll argue for Web fora for another reason: you want an accessible solution for your users. Tasks is Web-based—it makes sense then that the support function should be Web-based.

While I love email and I love RSS, I have tools that manage those formats well. Most folks don’t. The common tool that people will have to manage content is the Web browswer.

]]> By: Michael Baas http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1460 Michael Baas Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:46:49 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1460 Force people into using RSS :) mb Force people into using RSS :)

mb

]]> By: sandro http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1459 sandro Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:29:17 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1459 i'd have to vote for a phpBB solution as well. not only can people serve themselves (which i am always for), nor would we get tons of email, but you'd get an ever growing knowledgebase archive of problems and solutions that new users could _hopefully_ search prior to asking you about... not to mention a BB solution could allow duly appointed users (if you choose that route) to take on some of adminitrative duties so that you could spend more time working on your killer apps :) i’d have to vote for a phpBB solution as well. not only can people serve themselves (which i am always for), nor would we get tons of email, but you’d get an ever growing knowledgebase archive of problems and solutions that new users could _hopefully_ search prior to asking you about… not to mention a BB solution could allow duly appointed users (if you choose that route) to take on some of adminitrative duties so that you could spend more time working on your killer apps :)

]]> By: gkk http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1458 gkk Fri, 02 Apr 2004 14:45:11 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1458 Alex: To answer one of your secondary questions, I would prefer having one forum for all of your software, with sub-categories for tasks, tasks pro, etc. It would be useful, for instance, to see what the tasks pro people are doing with tasks pro even though I am using tasks. it would likely generate some upgrading or cross-selling for you, too. Alex: To answer one of your secondary questions, I would prefer having one forum for all of your software, with sub-categories for tasks, tasks pro, etc. It would be useful, for instance, to see what the tasks pro people are doing with tasks pro even though I am using tasks. it would likely generate some upgrading or cross-selling for you, too.

]]> By: Chris H http://alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists#comment-1457 Chris H Fri, 02 Apr 2004 14:13:00 +0000 http://www.alexking.org/blog/2004/04/01/forums-or-mailing-lists/#comment-1457 I agree with the previous votes for forums.. mailing lists are kind of a pain and I get too much mail as is... Forums allow people to participate when they want to.. I agree with the previous votes for forums.. mailing lists are kind of a pain and I get too much mail as is… Forums allow people to participate when they want to..

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