Upgrade Downtime

CountryBoy · Jul 23, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

I am serious.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I will give $50(a year).Thats not a whole lot,but it is all I can afford at this time.
I love this forum,but I like it better the way it was the other day. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Lets have the address Muhamaad......................
Make it payable to TBN ?
And if you get more than enough money give some to our moderators. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 23, 2003

Garry,

I couldn't resist teasing you about that when I read your post. As I write this I see your post total at exactly 1500. That is impressive for anyone and incredible for someone who doesn't have his machine as yet. When you actually get one you'll probably be nipping at Bird's tailfeathers for a post total.

Muhammad · Jul 23, 2003

I like the old way a hundred times better. Does this mean we are stuck with this new way?

For the time being, the speed advantages to having the main index without the new post counts, are significant enough for us to keep it this way.

There's a chance that we will bring it back at some point, but for now we need to leave it off.

From our perspective, we're going to lose more users to slow loading than we are to not having the new post counts on the main index.

Believe me, if it were possible and sensible at the same time, we would do it.

JDGREEN4ME · Jul 23, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

I prefer the old look also... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Golfgar4 · Jul 23, 2003

Hey Gary, it's no problem! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I've had other guys make similar comments. I'm getting use to them.....more or less. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Speaking of the number of posts. You should talk. You're over 2,000!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Of course, it does help if you have a tractor, doesn't it?
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I wonder what that says about me? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Either I'm really pathetic and need to get all this information well before I get my tractor, or I just need to get a life! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I choose the first one!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And just think - once I get my tractor I'll know everything, so I can just make posts about all of my screw-ups! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

pruntyc · Jul 23, 2003

I'm too new to have a say, I know. But why can't we put it up to a vote, what the users would rather have speed or the old way. And let the majority decide which they would rather have. I mean it is a site for all, isn't it. I know you can't please everyone, that is imposible. But maybe you could please the most. Then no one would have any right to complain. Just my thoughts, right or wrong. And like is often said, I've been wrong before.

Muhammad · Jul 24, 2003

Here's a bit of a timeline:

2000: When we implemented this version of the discussion forum, we had about 20 posts per day. Our database was tiny, and the site was fast.

2001: After about a year the site became fairly slow and overloaded. We had to cut back a couple features in favor of speed. After that, we outgrew our old server and got a new one. The site was again fast.

2002: After another year the site became fairly slow and overloaded again. We upgraded our server and tweaked our software. The site was again fast.

2003: After this last year, the site became fairly slow and overloaded again. We upgraded our server and tweaked the software, and made a sacrifice of two features in favor of speed. The site was again fast.

At a certain point, the size and traffic of the site makes it impossible to offer some features that are not designed for high-traffic sites like this one. In order for those features to work properly, you need much more powerful servers than what we're dealing with right now.

Our traffic ranks us in the top 2,500 websites in terms of page views, and on certain days we come close to the top 1,000. Most sites in that range, have a lot more money to throw at their server than we do (corporations, magazine-backed sites, venture capital, etc).

Frankly, a feature is not working properly if it's causing pages to take 10x longer to load, and no website operator with usability in mind would make that trade.

There's a chance that sometime this year we will get a new server, and maybe then the feature might return. But at this time, a compromise has to be made.

To me, the compromise is not that great, since you can still see which forums have new posts in them.

MadReferee · Jul 24, 2003

At first I didn't like the changes, then after a little bit I got used to them and now like this way better.

In my software consulting business I deal with speed and response time for database applications on a daily basis. I hate to tell you how many db schemas and stored procs I have analyzed in an attempt to get better performance for the clients applications.

I will take speed and its associated performance any day over a few creature comforts that can be easily substituted for.

MossRoad · Jul 24, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

And if you get more than enough money give some to our moderators. 

Then I'd lose my not-for-profit status /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Muhammad · Jul 24, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

Somebody sent me an e-mail this morning titled 'TBN Funding' and I accidently deleted it with a group of spam messages before reading it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif If you could, please send it again. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 24, 2003

Speaking of the number of posts. You should talk. You're over 2,000!! 

Yeah, that's true... But, I bet if you went through mine you'd find that well over half of them would be me asking a question or asking for further explanation or elaboration on an answer to one of my questions.

Every once in a while someone asks something I happen to know something about, but most of my posts are my trying to learn.

I'm always amazed at people like Bird, John Miller III and many others who are just incredible wealths of information and so incredibly generous with it and patient beyond words with folks like me who sometimes need it explained three or four different ways (often with pictures and diagrams) before I 'get it.'

I've said it before and I'll say it again here. TBN is a perfect example of what I always thought the Internet could be. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Jul 24, 2003

( I've said it before and I'll say it again here. TBN is a perfect example of what I always thought the Internet could be. )

Couldn't agree with you more! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Well, I could. But it wouldn't make any difference! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Jul 24, 2003

Muhammad and all at TBN,

I like the new look. I poked around a while and it is nice. What I really like is the fact that I am at 28.8 dialup here at home and the text just rockets in here very fast now. Only a second or two slower than our high speed connection at work. Once the graphics are cached, the entire page loads in a very short time. Keep up the great work and thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

David G.

CountryBoy · Jul 24, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

It was not me Muhamaad,but what can I do for you ?

As far as the new features my not saying I like it,I think I may have spoke too soon.I say lets all try it for a week or 2 and see how we like it,I too will take speed of the sytem of a few "creature comforts"

BillG_in_TX · Jul 25, 2003

Re: Upgrade Downtime-DONATIONS to TBN...

Muhammad,

Another site I frequent - Geocaching.com - has a Premium membership option that gives those members certain extra features, but is basically supported because the members love the site.

I'll bet they're even making a profit! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

JohnMiller3 · Jul 27, 2003

( Generated in 0.073 seconds in which 0.036 seconds were spent on a total of 10 queries. Zlib compression enabled. ) 

Well Ibrahim... you got us from seconds to milliseconds... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

...when do we get down to micro or nanoseconds... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

DocHeb · Jul 27, 2003

Any faster they'll be givin' us what we want before we ask! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JohnMiller3 · Jul 27, 2003

( they'll be givin' us what we want before we ask! ) 

Hi Chris...

That's exactly what we're looking for...

I want to see the answer... BEFORE the question is posted... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

(certainly, Ibrahim can do that! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)