New Messages

TomG · Apr 19, 2000

I think I've got some of the automatic login thing figured. Whether I'm automatically logged in seems to depend on whether I remembered to log out the previous time. Guess there's some logic there. If you don't log out, then you're logged in until your cookies expire in year 2020. Gee, that should give me enough time to read all the oil discussions.

I'm guessing that if you don't logout, then several files remain on your computer. Probably anybody with those files on another computer would also be automatically logged in. If true, then perhaps there is a very small security issue. Somebody with those files has access to individual profiles--personal information, e-mail address and encrypted password.

Anyway, at worst, the security risk seems very small. Never-the-less, I do log out, and my password is different from those I use for financial or other sensitive accounts. No big deal, but taking a few precautions isn't much trouble.

I do know of somebody who had her identity stolen. By luck, she was making a credit card inquiry at the same time the thief was trying to buy out a computer store. The thief whiffed trouble and skipped before the police arrived. The financial losses weren't huge, but it took a lot of trouble to recreate a secure identity. I try to keep personal information pretty close to my chest.

Muhammad · Apr 19, 2000

Well it's not so much an automatic login, rather that you never logged out, so when you re-visit the site, your login is still active from the last time you didn't logout. Yes, your account could in fact be accessed, on any website that stores your session as long as you were logged in when you left. That's what the logout feature is for.

The only security problem that could be created would be if you did not properly log out, and one were to view this forum logged in with your account. That is completely in your control. As you said, and as I would recommend, logging out when you are done with viewing is a good idea, any time the computer you are loggin in with could be accessed by another person.

>>Muhammad
Forum Master

Muhammad · Apr 19, 2000

Or, something easy to remember, for you. (I wouldn't make it the same as my username /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif)

>>Muhammad
Forum Master

W5FL · Apr 20, 2000

Has anyone noticed that if you are using NEXT to go through a topic, that if you post a message and then hit next, it does a PREVIOUS instead? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif If I don't quite posting messages, I will be back where I started. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

W5FL · Apr 20, 2000

Went to Instructions, hit back button on browser, the BACK on theread and got back here again! /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

W5FL · Apr 20, 2000

Also can't spell thread! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Djwalker · Apr 21, 2000

I, unfortunately, agree 100%. It takes much longer to review new posts than it used to. Also, even with the colored folders, new posts can appear multiple places in a thread. It is difficult to remember which sub-thread is on which topic and know what you want to check. I also find the multiple levels of thread indention hard to follow and time consuming to read. I really liked the old flatter format better. I would return to it in a minute. Sorry,
Dave

Bird · Apr 21, 2000

Unfortunately, I too, have to agree. The new format is beautiful, but in my case, at least, it takes so long to go from one screen to another that it's becoming impossible to read the new messages unless I have 2 or 3 hours a day to do it. Lately, I've had a lot of spare time, but that's changing and I may not be able to take the time to read all of them in the near future. I really enjoy reading all the new messages, but it appears that very soon I simply will not be able to do that.

Bird

JimBinMI · Apr 21, 2000

Bird,
Are you still having the slow loading problem that you did have? I was on a 28.8 modem when I had slow problems, now I've upgraded to a cable modem which is much, much faster, but I still have to wait for pages to load and I agree with you. I too like to read all messages, I might just learn something you know /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Muhammed - Is the slowness just the nature of the new beast or what? /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif JimBinMI

Muhammad · Apr 21, 2000

Well, in reference to the slow loading, I can overview all the tests we've done, what we have changed, and the differences in performance that the forum has in fact seen since those changes, but I'm sitting on practical proof right now... connected through an old modem on a slow machine, with some old phone wiring and country-road phone service - 16400 bps and if it weren't even my forum, I'd be really happy with the performance. The forum operates under these circumstances in a very smooth, fast loading way. So that's my current performance, and like I said we have tested and tested again, in any and all situations, with many configurations and under many high-traffic conditions, only to not be able to duplicate such slow loading times. That doesn't, in any way, mean that we will stop monitoring, watching, testing, and tweaking the speed of the forum. That is an ongoing chore.

As far as the changes, why they were made, etc... I can say again...

The old forum was on its last leg, searches were ready to crumble under the big load of messages you guys put on (great, keep it up!), loading times were increasing, and overall functionality of the forum was declining.

We elected to do a complete re-construction of the forum - starting from a clean slate. We built off of one of the world's best (if not THE world's best) discussion forum engine, adding many features to make the viewing as user-friendly and easy as possible. While at the same time, we needed to build a forum that had the horsepower under the hood to handle the millions of messages and users that the old forum wasn't able to handle in an effictive way any longer. (Consider our upgrade similar to going from a B7100 Kubota to a brand new M9000 4WD) In no way did we compromise fast loading for any features, or eliminate features for any reason. Changing formats (completely) didn't allow us to carry over some exact-duplicate features from the old forum for this first go-around.

However, we always are working on new features and improvements. Even if I didn't respond to each specifically, I have reviewed all of your questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, and even complaints and we will be adding new features, and will be making changes based on that feedback about the forum. And I can say that now we do have plans to integrate many of your requests - some just take some time to complete. Also, the forum will see ongoing changes, both minor and major, now and as long as we can improve it.

Regards,

>>Muhammad
Forum Master