[A6] New host?!?

[Susan Baird]

> On Thu, Aug 12, 2004 at 10:07:57PM -0400, QualityTunage at aol.com wrote:
>> Nothing too flash, just a place to store everything we need (tips and 
>> tricks,
>> sounds, a decent forum, etc.). And also to get ourselves off this guys
>> server!
>>
>> It would be nice to be able to visit an A6 web site as and when you 
>> chose to,
>> as opposed to receiving the continual stream of e mails.
>>
>
>   I'm dead against having another mechanism "as opposed to" email.  "As
> an alternative to", with the modes of delivery being equivalent, is 
> fine
> with me.  Is that something people really want?  If so, let me know and
> we'll make it happen.  A few of us are working on providing a better
> "A6 web experience".  It may not all come together overnight, but it
> *will* come together.
>
>   I'd like to avoid something like Yahoo Groups; I think we can, too.


One thing that might be helpful is to have a 'home base' - a page that 
is registered with the search engines that has a list of links to the 
T&T document, patch archives, Boele's page, instructions on how to sign 
up to the list, mp3 samples of the A6 for people who are considering 
buying it, etc. Currently new people have to post to the list and ask 
where those things are or know to download the T&T document to find 
them.

Regarding how we communicate, I've come to really like the emails but I 
can go either way. I also like forums. For purposes of updating the 
T&T, it is much easier to download a monthly archive and go through it 
as one document than to sort through a forum of posts. So I would 
definitely like to keep that function no matter what else we do please.


Two Concerns:
If you have an email list like we have now 'and' a forum, somehow you 
have to get all emails and forum posts to archive in addition to being 
able to see posts on the forum. Otherwise, it seems like it would be 
messy and information would be all over the place. I've never seen that 
done but I'm sure you know more about that David.

Another concern is that if the purpose of having a forum is in part to 
avoid a stream of emails and some people 'uncheck' that option, then 
you have some people answering to emails and some never seeing 
discussions unless there is a forum topic. We don't want a divided 
group.


Advantages/Disadvantages:
The advantage of the current list is that information is streamlined, 
immediate and efficient. The advantage of a forum is that you can see 
an entire thread without having to download an archive. Additionally, 
it can be more personable - people can chat without it being off-topic. 
In addition to sections for Tips and issues, you can also have sections 
for people to post their music, off-topic sections, etc. Along with 
that expanded freedom of discussion comes more moderator involvement.

Cheers,
Sioux