Just after some Feedback on Technibble Itself

[Bryce W]

I know opening up to enthusiasts would expand the user base but would kill the site for many of us.

I will never open it up for enthusiasts. There are thousands of other forum on the internet for that.

Must admit that I'm not a podcast fan either. It's just too time consuming. 10-15 minutes of real content spread out to 30-40+ minutes what with all the banter and everything. MUCH prefer to read a transcript as I can skip the things I'm not interested in; plus the written version is usually boiled down to the essentials anyway.

I am not a fan of the banter style podcasts either. Its a style that some people love and I understand why, but I prefer "just the meat" myself. And thats why you should check out the short non-interview podcasts. Just the meat, none of the fluff. They are 5-10 minute, content-compressed, rapid-fire tips and tricks, I think you'll enjoy it if you aren't a fan of banter.

All of the podcasts have a transcription too if people prefer to read (which it appears most people commenting do). I'll make the transcript more prominent so we can have the best of both worlds.

Keep the feedback coming! No matter how big or small. It can actually be the small tweaks that make huge differences in the "flow" of this place. I have already taken action on some of it.

 

[oldtech]

I echo the sentiments of many others when it comes to preference for written information over podcast. Most individuals absorb information faster when reading rather than listening.

The new look and feel is excellent as far as aesthetics and I also prefer "new posts" as my go-to spot.

I've been pretty dismayed with the huge influx of apparent end users and part timers and would love love love to see that tightened up again.

A suggestion would be to have more top level vendor provided content. I don't necessarily want to be sold to when coming here but if a vendor wanted to provide a technical presentation and or product information. Getting a few of the top RMM vendors to go head to head comes to mind as an example or perhaps getting a vendor like Krebs to do a security focused talk for the MSP's.

PS what ever happened to AliceKlarr?

 

[Bryce W]

I've been pretty dismayed with the huge influx of apparent end users and part timers and would love love love to see that tightened up again.

I have restored the Intro questions (had to get it remade for the new system) so that should help.

PS what ever happened to AliceKlarr?

I honestly dont know. Her account has been deleted and I am not sure why (I was travelling at the time it appears to have been deleted). She might have requested it from my support staff or she might have been flagged as a spammer for some reason. I'll contact her via email and try to find out what happened.

 

[HCHTech]

I'm mobile, so spend a lot of time in the car - I love the podcasts. I also listen to audiobooks that way. I just don't have any other time for that type of content. I will spend time on the forums when I'm in the shop. If I've been keeping up, then I'll go straight for the new posts, but otherwise, I browse around.

 

[4ycr]

I like the new pod casts and tend listen to them when I get an email or see a post on the forum. My bookmark takes me to the forum straight away so miss the front page but I do occasionally make my way there.

 

[cypress]

If we get an e-mail when the Podcast is released then I am not getting that. I do check my Podcasts App on my iPhone everyday and the Homepage of this site. That is how I find out about that.

 

[PBComputer]

I'm really liking the podcast and find it easier then reading to take in the info

 

[TechLady]

I will never open it up for enthusiasts. There are thousands of other forum on the internet for that.
I am not a fan of the banter style podcasts either. Its a style that some people love and I understand why, but I prefer "just the meat" myself.

Right, that's what I hate about most podcasts...the pointless rambling and banter in between the stuff you actually want to hear. My time is extremely limited most days and I get irritated having to listen to even five minutes of fluff.

 

[mraikes]

I listen to a lot of podcasts (currently hooked on Dan Carlin's Hard Core History for any history buffs out there). But oddly I rarely listen to tech oriented podcasts, including TN's.

Possibly the last Tech podcast I listened to regularly was years ago - The old/original Podnutz podcasts by Steve (I forget his last name). The very best were just rambling monologues about whatever repair jobs happened to cross his workbench that day. I could listen to those all day and regularly picked up usable tips just by hearing how someone else does it. Not as a lesson like "How to remove a virus in 10 minutes! Sponsored by Viro-Clean!" But rather just a one sided conversation about repair jobs, problems, battles and resolutions. Sadly, as time went by he sold his business, took a shot at making music or something and dropped off my podcast radar.

But I miss that style. Reading the TN forums kind of replaces that vicarious participation, but if someone did a similar podcast again, I'd probably become a listener.

 

[Bryce W]

If we get an e-mail when the Podcast is released then I am not getting that. I do check my Podcasts App on my iPhone everyday and the Homepage of this site. That is how I find out about that.

Its the normal newsletter mailing list. You can subscribe using the "Join 26,000+ techs link" on the bottom right of the front page.

Right, that's what I hate about most podcasts...the pointless rambling and banter in between the stuff you actually want to hear. My time is extremely limited most days and I get irritated having to listen to even five minutes of fluff.

I hear ya, I am similar and that's why I have done the quick rapid-fire tips format. The last non-interview quick-and-dirty ones are 7:48, 4:26 and 7:52 in length. Give them a shot, the non-interview ones are extremely TechLady friendly

 

[Bryce W]

I've been pretty dismayed with the huge influx of apparent end users and part timers and would love love love to see that tightened up again.

A few more days have passed now since the Introduction questions have been reintroduced, definitely a rise in quality of new members.

 

[sapphirescales]

I HATE podcasts. Who wants to sit there and listen to something for 20 minutes when you can read it in 2 minutes? Better yet, you can skim over the post real fast or use CTRL+F and search for something.

Frankly, I don't like the format of podcasts and all the BS between what you actually want to read. Besides, you rank on Google with written content. With podcasts? Not so much.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I prefer podcasts, the information sinks in better for me. I see the value of having them typed like Bryce provides for us as it allows going back and reviewing or searching quick and easy.

 

[CompConfig]

I go to new posts first. I have limited time as I am on-site everyday. I have listened to the pod casts and I like them. I love to learn so any of the articles that teach anything is Useful. Even if I know the topic hearing a different perspective is beneficial.

Thanks for all of your hard work!

 

[TimM]

I'm another who is not much interested in podcasts, so I'd pretty much ignored them.
I like the new forum style a lot more than the old style, but with one exception.
In the forums I tend to only read a handful of them, but then I like to read the oldest post with new content first. So I'll open, for instance, "Business and Legal Issues" scroll down to the first topic that has a bold heading, read that, then go to the next one up. In the old forum I could move to the next topic in that forum by clicking a button for the next post. In this version, I have to navigate back to the forum, then click on the next topic. So each topic takes one extra step to get to (two extra steps if the next topic with new posts is not on the first page of topics within the forum).

 

[Pacific Blue IT]

I tend to focus on the tech eyes only forum, and also hit the new posts or today's posts.
Podcast - I think it's a good idea, but I tend to be a better reader then listener, I'd rather read the transcript then turn on the podcast, take more in that way and tend to retain it longer.
The podcast is a good idea though because on the other hand, finding time to read articles is difficult during a busy week so being able to play a podcast whilst on the move is great.

 

[Ashley Hathaway]

Being a new member here I cannot comment on the "improvement" as I didn't know what it was like before. There seems to be a strong well knowledgeable member base and that's good for new techs like myself. There is so much to learn and the people here are kind friendly and helpful. As for the pod casts I haven't listened to them yet, I have them downloaded. I like the idea of short to the point podcasts with a transcript available too. Everyone learns in different ways. I myself am a Kinaesthetic learner, I learn by doing things, other people are visual learners so will do well by reading and others are audible learners so podcasts are perfect. Everyone learns differently and this forum helps with that. It is also nice to see admin actually taking on board what we say and acting on it. I have been on forum where this isn't the case, needless to say I deleted my account.

Keep up the good work

 

[Krynn72]

I've listened to maybe 5 podcasts ever. I just don't like them, because that's not how information sticks with me. Reading something will make me remember it much better because then its embedded in my brain with visual input as well. Written content also has the HUGE benefit of being searchable when you cant remember the particulars of something that was mentioned in an article. Finding and scrubbing through an audio file to find the info simply is too annoying and I'd rather re-find the info elsewhere.

 

[kwisher]

My suggestion would be to change the naming convention of your podcast files. Seriously, you should adopt something shorter than trying to put the complete title in the file name. Learn to use id3 tags for the meta-data.

 

[TheRealMcKoy]

As a newbie, not sure how much my opinion matters, but I am really enjoying the podcasts. I can listen to them when I am commuting and also when I am at work doing mundane tasks. I am a fairly young person who is looking at expanding beyond application work and possibly going into business for myself and find these very valuable. I read technical manuals, reports and emails all day long. It is nice to give the eyes a break and listen for a change...especially to something that is professional, succinct and well thought out and assembled as the podcasts I have listened to so far seem to be.

As far as the forums, I don't know what it was like before, so I can't speak about a comparison. I can say that the forums appear neat, well managed, and easy to read. I have been on other forums (not necessarily tech related) and I can say they do not appear to be as tidy, as easy to read and as well patrolled/participated in by admins/moderators--especially with meaningful contributions to the discussions. Nice job, in my opinion.