Computing/Computer Hardware/Tweaking & Modding etc

jesus_thats_gre

Hi

Would it be possible to maybe get these categories re-jigged a bit. The current arrangement seems to have slowly brought about a slow death of these topics.

Tech
>>>Computer Hardware
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>Computers & Technology

Is there any stats that would back up my feeling that the number of users viewing and posting in these areas have dropped off significantly when compared to the previous structure that existed about a year ago.

Maybe it would be an idea to just merge all three sub-forums into a single forum.

irlrobins

I don't think there's been a drop off in traffic. The comp/tech forum is a lil quieter but that is simply because threads posted there previously are now in other categories. I'd say there's been a good increase in the volume of traffic in the Windows forum due to Vista's release and also in the laptop forum now that more and more people are buying laptops.

Over all I'd say the Tech category is in good shape.

Although maybe Cable/Digital TV could do with a prune/merge? Census seems to be a bit of a dead forum.

Vexorg

Would a computer sub category grouping some of the hardware be useful

Something like:

Computers
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

SouperComputer

Vexorg wrote:

Would a computer sub category grouping some of the hardware be useful

Something like:

Computers
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

looks good to me!

Timans

yeah, that's the best way Vexorg.

jesus_thats_gre

Merging them all under one category would make sense in my opinion. Could I suggest this, just slightly different?

Computers
>>>>>>>Computer DIY & Enthusiasts
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

WizZard

I wouldn't lump the current Tweaking & Modding forum into the Computers forum, even if T & M has quietened down in the last while.

The "generalised" questions in Computers would swamp the sometimes specialised/niche threads that T & M has, which are interesting to read for enthusiasts.
Putting them all into a sub-category might even bring some fresh faces to the T &M forum too

Blowfish

Vexorg wrote:

Computers
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

Looks good, although it might be better to have the Comp & Tech one as the first one in the list as its the most general.

jesus_thats_gre wrote:

Computers
>>>>>>>Computer DIY & Enthusiasts
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

I can see lots of non-technically minded people posting general questions in the DIY & Enthusiasts forum if it was this way.

irlrobins

Blowfish wrote:

Looks good, although it might be better to have the Comp & Tech one as the first one in the list as its the most general.

^ Agreed.

Wizzard wrote:

I wouldn't lump the current Tweaking & Modding forum into the Computers forum, even if T & M has quietened down in the last while.

The "generalised" questions in Computers would swamp the sometimes specialised/niche threads that T & M has, which are interesting to read for enthusiasts.

^ Also agreed.

jesus_thats_gre

Bah the javascript drop down menus keep going missing on me. I reckon they are purposely doing it

I just do not see the point in having seperate forums for Building & Upgrading and Tweaking & Modding. What you could call the merged forum would be another thing but I certainly think that both areas are closely linked.

irlrobins

Calling the Sub-Category "Hardware" rather than "Computers" might be better.

Also make it non postable?

Vexorg

Ok if the menus were working it would look something like this

Computers
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

I think replacing Computers with Hardware might cause more users to skip over the category as they will see Tech > Hardware. Tech > Computers is easier to follow in my mind:)

As the menus are still mis-behaving, apart from disappearing* I cannot force them to update the changes I have made, it may be better to hold of on the discussion until we have them working again.


*, if you go to www.boards.ie and hit refresh a couple of time, the menu should appear, if you select the forums from this page and open in new page or new tab (FF & ie7) you will always have the menu available to you in the original page/tab.

irlrobins

Vexorg wrote:

I think replacing Computers with Hardware might cause more users to skip over the category as they will see Tech > Hardware. Tech > Computers is easier to follow in my mind:)

Fair enough.

jesus_thats_gre

While I still feel the 1st two should be merged, getting rid of the computer hardware sub-forum is enough.. For now

Tom Dunne

Vexorg wrote:

Ok if the menus were working it would look something like this

Computers
>>>>>>>Building and Upgrading
>>>>>>>Tweaking & Modding
>>>>>>>Computers & Technology
>>>>>>>Graphics
>>>>>>>Laptops

I think replacing Computers with Hardware might cause more users to skip over the category as they will see Tech > Hardware. Tech > Computers is easier to follow in my mind:)

Could I just throw in my tuppence worth? There are a lot of laptop threads appearing in the computers and technology forum. If laptops and graphics swapped places in the proposed menu above, people might notice the laptop forum more and post laptop threads there instead of the general forum.

Endurance Man

Crisis, leave it the way it was, this new position is pissing me off. Cant they be made "big" again?
I hate having so many little categorys within categorys within categorys, just means you have to click on more forums to read things.
Comps and Tech;Laptops;Tweaking & Modding. Tweaking and buidling/updgrading are basically the same thing, no need for two really.

po0k

2 fora: "n00bs" and "h4x".

Done.

Endurance Man

And kaks you are a hobo, tell them change it back!

jesus_thats_gre

Weighing in on something a few days late.. Tis not like you endo..

cast_iron

I would have thought that Building/Upgrading/Tweaking/Modding are all closely enough related to be lumped into one forum.
Neither forum is that busy to make it overbearing.

The rest of the alterations seem pretty good.

Anti

B/U and T/W are not very similar at all. The new layout is great. Well done.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Meh, "Subbed" dropdown menu for the win, to be honest.