Posted by Dr. Bob on November 11, 2002, at 1:16:43
In reply to Re: GRC Newsgroups...lockable threads, posted by bluedog on November 10, 2002, at 23:59:21
> 1. My impression is that the download and display times are faster in a newsreader than in a web based message board.
I know it can be slow here, sorry about that. I think I need to change how the server does some things... But that's a separate issue from how posts are displayed...
> 2. In the newsreader format you only need have the heading of the first post in a thread visible leaving more space on the screen to display the threads you are interested in.
That's true, the threads don't come "pre-expanded", you start with just the first post in each thread. But then it's an extra stop to expand each thread you're interested in. And if an unexpanded thread gets interesting, you'd miss it...
> 3. You can have multiple posts opened in separate windows and displayed on the screen side by side at the same time and with ease in reduced size windows.
You can also have web page links open in new resizable windows...
> 4. You can swap between different newsgroups (eg between PB and PSB) without having to scroll to the top or bottom of the screen.
How do you do it there?
> You can set up your newsreader to display the different groups in a separate column down the side
You mean have two groups displayed at the same time? You could do that here using separate windows...
> 5. But I think the real strength of the newsreader system is the way that you compose and send new posts. It is very much like composing emails and you can use the whole screen to view the post that you are composing.
>
> bluedogI know some people, myself included, would prefer a larger box to enter posts into. Sometimes I just type into Word and copy and paste.
But it might also be possible to let people adjust the size of the box. If I were to make aspects of this interface customizable, should I start there?
----
> I am thinking now and prefernot to reload mail...if it is not mentioned on relies sent to me is there a way to stop email notification of updates. If not, could you post a how to.
>
> ~tonyEach update email should give you a URL for that. For more information, see:
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/extras.pl
----
> the method is poor.
> Select, download & read. Again, again, ect.
>
> In newsreader format, the process is more like:
> select chuncks of header and body to read, download, then read, read, readSorry, "chunks of header and body"?
> Or, flag threads to watch and download headers and bodies as they grow
You mean you can just "leave it on" and have them added in real time? Now *that* would be neat...
> using a newsreader means some processing is offloaded from your server to the user.
>
> oracleWhat part of the processing is that?
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> > when a discussion turns into "the
> > thread that wouldn't die", loses its factual value, and becomes
> > just about egos -- in other words, when it gets to the point
> > where it might as well be taken to eMail since it's no longer in
> > the community's interest to host the dialog -- it makes sense for
> > me to administratively lock the thread.
>
> bluedogBut when is a thread "no longer in the community's interest"? Not everything here is about facts...
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:8084
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/8147.html