Well…
Quite happy that the Forum and files have made the transition. Well done. Kudos. Allow me to hit that Like button!
But here we go:
1. “remember the days when the forum was much more active”
I still visit the Forum 2 to 3 times a day (if not more) but I don’t always log in. Such visits may not all be counted - just as many may also visit just for a quick reference and they may not be actual members either. And “traffic” can often be a seasonal thing as well, much like ebb and flow of the tides. This time of year (when the weather improves) I’m outdoors tending to other matters… just as many others do. But yes, it does often seem rather quiet at times. And perhaps just like the weather, that also changes.
2. “One of the reasons I took responsibility of Mac OS 9 Lives was the wish to make those days coming back.”
It’s rather doubtful that we’ll ever beat the record of 1307 Most-Online-Ever number from January 14, 2020 (pandemic days) but today’s number is 271. Compare that to the System 7 Today forum’s number of 14 for today and it’s easy to determine that the traffic is still here. May not be all bona fide members but the Forum still serves rather well as an on-going reference and source for some downloadable files (even sans membership). Still, there are those of us that often refer others (on and from other forums*) to this one. Spreading that gospel, baby! (*MacRumors, 68kMLA, TinkerDifferent, etc.) This IS the go-to site for OS 9. AND considering Apple’s most recent machine/OS offerings, perhaps we shall again see a resurgence in these older, dependable machines running OS 9?
I’d venture to say that for the most part, people visit here, get what they need and then they’re gone. Except for maybe what DieHard often referred to as the Core Users / Group.
3. "What is Mac OS 9 and why should one use it”?This seems rather evident in the sense that nearly all new visitors are brought to the Forum via some search engine result, pertaining to some specific aspect of OS 9. AND quite honestly, I’m often quite pleased when it points to some old post of mine here, or even from some other member. There is GOLD here. (Some times silver or maybe even bronze… if it’s mine, maybe.)
4. Ch-ch-changes and consolidation?I am old and quite grouchy… and honestly quite often resistant to change. Especially if it becomes a matter of change, primarily for the sake OF change. Sure, some things can be merged - BUT the WIDE array of different sections should stay fairly much the same.
In the beginning, this was primarily a DAW reference site and there was much discussion as to whether or not other OS 9 related “things” should even be allowed. Hell, there was a time (for quite a long time) when the mere mention of OS X would result in much hand-ringing, teeth-gnashing and a very loud outcry. Happily, that changed as it became apparent that OS X could serve as an important adjunct and compliment to OS 9. (i.e. multi-drive, multi-boot, multi-partitioned drives especially when it comes to functional problems associated with OS 9 working partitions / drives.)
But yes, the general look and feel of the Forum can be considered as rather haphazard to the novice. That’s where that little search feature at the top comes into play. Chances are that the information sought, IS here. One need only search for it. And that effort nearly always pays off. All too often it seems, that we field questions of the most simple in nature. Because someone wants their answer served up on a silver platter immediately… even well before the question has been examined closely enough by the user. And then there are those that need help above and beyond what is readily available here. In many of those instances, some Forum members have sent HDs, SSDs and even installation discs to the far reaches of the globe (often at no charge or for shipping costs alone). That’s who some of us are - and what some of us do.
So, change things? Maybe
incrementally. But please, don’t change the overall look and feel of this site. I do like System 7 Today forum’s overall look… but not for MacOS9Lives.
5. The “Like” button.No this isn’t Facebook (and I detest Facebook and Zuckerberg). And honestly I didn’t like the “Like” button to begin with. However, it did become a way to easily acknowledge a good/great/grand post, especially made by newbies - or those that had just begun contributing to the Forum (without more keystrokes) quite simply for encouragement. Mind you, also good for old dogs’ contributions, when warranted. SO yes, I’d like to see it return just like Protools5LEGuy… instead of taking the time to type out accolades and post them. For me, maybe the addition of a “dislike” option too would be good. (I’m joking.) But yes, by all means complete the migration of the downloads.
6. Games / Gamer Section additionWTH. Why not? So many of our recent new members originated during the pandemic when many Macs were recovered from storage and resurrected to primarily play games. However, perhaps members should somehow declare that this is their primary interest / focus? That, to keep me and others from delving too deep into certain specifics when wholly unnecessary. SO yes, a certain section for gamers and gamer related questions makes utter and complete sense.
7. OS 9 and active Forum E-van-gel-ismSome of us do this regularly. Spreading the “gospel”. (Over on MacRumors, 68kMLA, TinkerDifferent, etc.) I often see references to something posted here, on other forums. And often with the mention that they’ve forgotten exactly where or providing any link. And then there are the complaints that they cannot see the images posted here without first registering as a member. (Which is sort of BS, as they had to register on those other forums too, in order to view full images there.)
8. “Bulletin Board” …what?Nahh. I tend to think of this more as a Worldwide User Group (or WUG* as opposed to a MUG). Don’t make me go all the way back to the BBS mindset. *Or just for fun… a “FUG” (Forum User Group).
9.Also, see #10 belowI’m afraid that we may be heading more like what S7T’s opening page looks like?
Which is fine for System 7 Today… nice and clean. Simple, uncluttered.
But sadly I can’t quite see MacOS9Lives compressed down into that format.
Check these numbers:
Again, I’m only guessing here… but compressing MacOS9Lives down into that S7T format?
I shudder at the thought. Tell me that I’m concerned over nothing, please.
UND furthermore,
10. From an earlier, unposted post:I for one don't miss any of the forum plugins, but then it's probably a routine thing. If you've used the stuff for, say, two years on a daily basis, you'd sure miss the feature. I think Knez will look into what's possible and offer up solutions. I haven't known him to be a only-my-way-is-the-right-way type of person, so come time, come (optional, maybe?) features!
There's certainly the possibility to write a more efficient theme for the forum to accommodate for even older / slower machines / people with shitty internet connections. I've done that for the System 7 Today forum, which also runs on SMF. Could be an optional theme for Mac OS 9 Lives too, if there's interest?
Yes! Let's discuss this
“More efficient / optional theme”?“If you've used the stuff for (plugins)
say, two years on a daily basis, you'd sure miss the feature(s).”
I’ve only been around here since 2016… as FdB, then FBz and most recently as aBc. I change once I reach 666 posts (because I’m Satan). Not really. I do this so that newbies won’t be put off by some noted large number of posts and thereby possibly leading them to thinking I’m some expert or know-it-all. (When I am not.)
Undoubtedly some changes were likely inevitable with the hand off. And I most certainly do miss some of the plugins. (Still hoping for the return of some of them.) But… a more efficient and perhaps optional theme? Is this a reference to a format or layout “appearance” change to something more like that of System 7 Today’s?
Please,
no.
This Forum is a veritable, on-going and massive archive... quite unlike any other site in existence today.
And yes, that new “bottom feature” is nice.
P.S. I’m still working on the copper heatsinks for the Mac Mini AND an ATX PSU conversion guide for the Quicksilver and other G4s. But now, daylight’s burning and I have a huge list of outdoor duties - waiting while I stole time to write all of this drivel. And I’m certain there will be more (drivel). There's never anything to do.
And now, after reading some of the posts above this (while I typed this)...
Let the wild rumpus begin!!!
