Forum Reorganization

[arn]

The forum is going to undergo a major reorganization in the next few days.

I just wanted some input/opinions on it before it takes place.

Here's the current proposal. And I guess I should say the reasons behind the reorganization.

1) Unfortunately, the way this forum has evolved, there is by nature significant overlap in News stories and various subforums. As a result, it has been overweighted in the News/Rumors area.

2) The buying tips area has grown and is a very popular forum on the site.. . for obvious reasons. I think it needs to stay... even thought it is a more abstract division than forums traditionally have.

3) Purchase Recommendations/Reviews is a failure as people simply post their questions in that forum.

4) Overall goals of mine are to simply forums, and reduce redundancy. I don't mind creating more forums if necessary... but I'd rather not create a bunch of new forums that few people will use.

Here's the proposed update for now:



(Edited 6:36pm)

Mac News

MacRumors News Discussion - comments on MacRumors news stories

MacRumors Page 2 Discussion - less-reliable rumors and speculation, lesser news items

MacBytes News Discussion - www.MacBytes.com - news headlines and links

MacPolls Discussion - www.MacPolls.com - poll of the day

Mac Hardware

Buying Tips and Questions - have a buying decision? ask for advice here

New to Macintosh - Need help? tips, technical assistance and general q&a

Macintosh Computers - Power Mac, PowerBook, iMac, iBook, eMac, Mac mini, etc.

Peripherals - displays, iSight, AirPort, printers, speakers, etc.

Marketplace - member-to-member buy/sell/trade (no commercial sales)

Mac Software

Mac OS X

Mac Applications - Mac software apps

Mac Programming - Mac software development

Mac Games - games

Distributed Computing - general discussion, Folding@home and other projects

iPods/iTunes

iPods - iPods, iPod accessories

iPod Gear Discussion - www.iPodGear.com - iPod accessories, gadgets, third-party products

iTunes and iTunes Music Store - (no subtitle needed)

Daily Tunes Song Discussion - www.DailyTunes.com - daily song recommendations

Special Interests

Apple and Tech Discussion - Apple Computer, Apple stores, computer industry, technology

Music - general discussion of music, audio, and the music business

Web Development - design and development of websites

Design, Graphics, Photography - (no subtitle needed)

Video and Animation - (no subtitle needed)

Apple Collectors - (no subtitle needed)

Community

Community Discussion - random discussion about anything

Current Events - current event news stories (include a news link)

Picture Gallery - Screenshots, photos

Politics, Religion, Social Issues - controversial issues of society

Site Information

Rules and Announcements - Read Me First!

Site and Forum Feedback - your comments on MacRumors, MacBytes, Daily Tunes, iPod Gear, Macpolls

Contests - held occasionally for MacRumors members


A few things I'm unsure about. I don't know if I like having "Technical Help" and "New to Mac" as separate forums. I'm not sure if a "New to Mac" forum is needed, but would be inviting to new comers.

arn

[noel4r]

The Technical Help would be useful as a separate forum so people who have problems can easily find it.

[emw]

I think it makes sense to have Technical Help and New to Mac as separate forums - people who have been using Macs for some time can still have technical problems...

Edit: Perhaps instead of "New to Mac" it's something like "Mac Basics" where we include various stickies, like the Windows to Mac networking one, the repairing permissions one, etc., as well as have people post their specific questions.

Overall, I like the reorg, and think it will make everything a little simpler, although perhaps having the Site Information forum at the top may make things like the Rules/FAQs more readily spotted by newcomers.

One last obvious question - will the contributions be reopened after the change? Many of us are chomping on the bit to give to the site.

[Lacero]

I personally think it's too many forums to click through. I would try to combine and consolidate some of the forums to half the number as it stands now.

[wordmunger]

I like the "new to mac" forum idea. You're right--very inviting. I think it would be good if this forum kind of had separate rules -- you know, not so harsh on people with redundant posts, that sort of thing. The idea is, if you post a question here, you're a newbie, and so mistakes are excused.

I think it's okay that this forum is redundant with technical help. I actually have more of a problem with a "technical help" forum separate from "mac hardware" and "mac software." I think you're going to have more redundancy there, with people putting software tech questions in the software forums, etc.

Overall, nice job rearranging the forums. Makes a lot of sense!

EDIT: Here's an idea -- why not make "new to mac" its own major category, possibly with "switcher advice" and "technical help" as two subcategories, and then move it up higher in the forum hierarchy. This would make it easier for newbies to spot right away.

[emw]

Oh, and where's the Wasteland? ;)

[arn]

I personally think it's too many forums to click through. I would try to combine and consolidate some of the forums to half the number as it stands now.

post your recommended list. it's easier said than done.

arn

[arn]

Oh, and where's the Wasteland? ;)

archive's will stay as they are.... with wasteland in it.

arn

[edesignuk]

I personally think it's too many forums to click through. I would try to combine and consolidate some of the forums to half the number as it stands now.I can't see how that would work. There are so many posts/threads. If forums were combined there would be SO much in them (in terms of new threads/posts) that they would be a nightmare to look at.

With more forums you can look at what you want to look at, what interests you. If you want to see everything "New Posts" (http://forums.macrumors.com/search.php?do=getnew) is just the job.

[arn]

I like the "new to mac" forum idea. You're right--very inviting. I think it would be good if this forum kind of had separate rules -- you know, not so harsh on people with redundant posts, that sort of thing. The idea is, if you post a question here, you're a newbie, and so mistakes are excused.

I think it's okay that this forum is redundant with technical help. I actually have more of a problem with a "technical help" forum separate from "mac hardware" and "mac software." I think you're going to have more redundancy there, with people putting software tech questions in the software forums, etc.


I agree... do you think better to only have New to Mac and have software/hardware forums seperately?

arn

[wdlove]

Your proposal seems very concise. Redundancy can become a problem, so hopefully this will help. With the current general "Current Events" be expected to be posted on the "Community Discussion?"

Any decision on how to handle "Contributor Status?"

It sounds as though this change over will occur this weekend. Will be good timing since next week appears to be a very busy time.

I'm hoping that you will continue with the frequent Polls. They are appreciated, thank you arn. ;)

[wordmunger]

I agree... do you think better to only have New to Mac and have software/hardware forums seperately?

arn
Yeah-- I think so--just post tech support requests in the relevant hardware/software/ipod forums except as I edited above, maybe have a separate, more forgiving newbie tech support area.

[Savage Henry]

I don't mind the current number of forums; I tend to use the 'search' facility for something I want and see where I wander from there. But that habit could have developed from the frequent overlapping of stories etc that I've encountered during my brief tenure here.

The Techie Help and New To Mac sounds valuable.

[emw]

I personally think it's too many forums to click through. I would try to combine and consolidate some of the forums to half the number as it stands now.I disagree - I'd rather have more specific forums so that I don't need to read through things I'm uninterested in just to get to some other items that I might like.

I think we may need to be specific as to which forums should contain "requests for help" since many might post in the Hardware forum instead of the "Technical Problem Solving" forum, leading to some confusion.

To arn's point, though, what's the best way to split it up? I'm not sure, but perhaps to have specific "Discussion" vs. "Technical Support" areas would be helpful.

Edit: The more I think about it, the more I like the separate Technical Support forum, since many members like to provide tech support, and this would be a good consolidated area to contain it. Besides, in many cases you may not really know if it's a hardware or software issue (bad RAM, or bad preferences, for example). Of course, then that limits what people would actually talk about in some of the hardware/software forums, I suppose.

[mkrishnan]

I agree with whatever you think is best, Arn. You do such a great job! :) Also it doesn't end up impacting me as a reader that much, since vBulletin has the new posts thing which doesn't go forum-by-forum.

I do think the new-to-mac sort of idea is nice...maybe as a sub-forum in whatever other forum handles help? That seems to make structural sense, but to be honest, I'm not sure how many newbies will really understand sub-forums. :( Were there a prominently placed welcome-to-Macland kind of forum, I think it would make the place seem even more friendly to new people. And I'd promise to leave my sharpened stick in the troll thread. :D

After all, it was really the tech help kind of stuff that got me hooked on MR. I didn't post till after I bought my iBook at all, but I learned soooo much about what was going on with Macs when I was making my buying decision in the previous months just by reading those posts. I probably should've read the rumors more closely, so I would've had a glimmer that could've avoided me buying Office.X two weeks before 2004 was announced, but.... ;)

Anyway, I think your idea sounds good, Arn!

[arn]

rearranged a couple of things... took out Technical Help.

original post has most recent edits

arn

[wdlove]

Yes, Hardware and Software should be kept separate as you have it listed in your proposal above.

I also think that the number of forums proposed is well thought out and should serve us all very well.

[leekohler]

Why not try "New to Mac/Techical Help" and see how it works for a while?

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I like the new setup...

I'm not sure the General Apple/Tech forum is needed...
- General Apple and Tech Discussion - goes under Mac News, iPods/iTunes, Mac Hardware and Mac Software, wherever it's appropiate...
- Current Events - may be moved up under Mac News
- Technical Problem Solving - should be split in two, one for OS/software problems under Mac Software and hardware problems under Mac Hardware

Also, maybe Video and Animation also could include Movies stuff...?

[arn]

I like the new setup...

I'm not sure the General Apple/Tech forum is needed...
- General Apple and Tech Discussion - goes under Mac News, iPods/iTunes, Mac Hardware and Mac Software, wherever it's appropiate...
- Current Events - may be moved up under Mac News
- Technical Problem Solving - should be split in two, one for OS/software problems under Mac Software and hardware problems under Mac Hardware

Also, maybe Video and Animation also could include Movies stuff...?

I like it.

Changes made. (see original post)

arn

[wordmunger]

I like it.

Changes made. (see original post)

arn

Oh, yes. This is looking very good now!

[Daveway]

Would it be possible to move the tabs to the center of the page? Also, how many people here use the calendar feature? I think it could go.
-dave

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I like it.

Changes made. (see original post)

arnI like...

But maybe Marketplace should go somewhere else (since you also can buy/sell software and 3rd party accessories)...? Maybe in Community...?

[wordmunger]

Would it be possible to move the tabs to the center of the page? Also, how many people here use the calendar feature? I think it could go.
-dave


Well, I've never used it, but I think some people do use it to check birthdays. I know I certainly appreciated my birthday thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=107828).

[arn]

I like...

But maybe Marketplace should go somewhere else (since you also can buy/sell software and 3rd party accessories)...? Maybe in Community...?

Ya... the marketplace is a bit out of place, but most people are selling hardware... perhaps community.

And I don't use the calendar, but it's easy enough to keep.

Tabs are gonna stay on the right.

arn

[Sun Baked]

Arn,

We've been trying to do this for a bit, but it probably should be formalized into separate forums under Hardware, Software, and iPod/iTunes...

Hardware FAQs
Software FAQs
iPod FAQs

Not a forum when members can start new threads.

But someplace where helpful threads can get moved to by the mods, and still posted to by members.

Probably would beat having stickies all over the place.

[arn]

Arn,

We've been trying to do this for a bit, but it probably should be formalized into separate forums under Hardware, Software, and iPod/iTunes...

Hardware FAQs
Software FAQs
iPod FAQs


I like the idea... keeping good threads. lemme think about it.

arn

[Applespider]

Must confess that I liked the first version that didn't differentiate between hardware and software. Often part of the problem when people need help is not being able to differentiate between it being hardware/system issue.

Can there be 'virtual' forums so that the 'New to Mac' could be listed under both Hardware and Software? Newbies have even less chance of figuring out which their problem is related to.

I'd almost be tempted to put Mac Gaming, Mac Programming and Distributed Computing under Special Interests and move Mac OS and Mac Applications into what's currently Mac hardware.

[wdlove]

Thank you arn, happy to see that you included the general "Current Events."

Are you making any changes to the look of the MacRumors itself? How long do you expect that the change over will take?

[arn]

Thank you arn, happy to see that you included the general "Current Events."

Are you making any changes to the look of the MacRumors itself? How long do you expect that the change over will take?

I don't expect to make any drastic changes to the look of the site.

As for the New to Mac under Hardware section. Yeah... it would be better if it was a bit more software/hardware agnostic.


arn

[edesignuk]

Arn,

We've been trying to do this for a bit, but it probably should be formalized into separate forums under Hardware, Software, and iPod/iTunes...

Hardware FAQs
Software FAQs
iPod FAQs

Not a forum when members can start new threads.

But someplace where helpful threads can get moved to by the mods, and still posted to by members.

Probably would beat having stickies all over the place.I really like this. Could be very useful, and as you say, better than stickies.

[mymemory]

I agree... do you think better to only have New to Mac and have software/hardware forums seperately?

arn

They are very close to each other in terms of content. For example, I have a friend who just got a Mac and he is a PC expert and the kind of questions about programming he is asking me would fall more in to the softweare/hardware forums.

It depends on your level of knowlege you have and it would be easy to jump from one to the other. But still... in one we would have silly questions and in the other one more complex ones I think.

Everything would depend on the volume of people using each section.

I would change the title from "New To Mac" to "Mac Newbees" is more catchy and probably will drive more attention to it.

[arn]

Must confess that I liked the first version that didn't differentiate between hardware and software. Often part of the problem when people need help is not being able to differentiate between it being hardware/system issue.

Can there be 'virtual' forums so that the 'New to Mac' could be listed under both Hardware and Software? Newbies have even less chance of figuring out which their problem is related to.

I'd almost be tempted to put Mac Gaming, Mac Programming and Distributed Computing under Special Interests and move Mac OS and Mac Applications into what's currently Mac hardware.

actually the more I think about it, I think it's ok.

I think people will go to it if they don't know if it's a hardware/software issue... while if they know it's a software issue, posting it in the appropriate software forum is fine.

arn

[MacDawg]

Looks great to me... and I trust your wisdom Arn

To Lacero's point about too many forums, you can expand and contract the ones that you don't want to see.

I love this place... just wish I could spend more time here.
Can't wait to experience the changes

Woof, Woof - Dawg

[Chip NoVaMac]

I like the first posts ideas on organization. I think though that marketplace items should not be listed on the first page, unless under their own subheading.

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says...I generally like it - the idea of a "newbie" forum is great and will be a great addition to the forums - if we get a few really well written stickies for some of the basics sitting at the top of it we'll be all set. But yeah, at the moment having it sitting in "Hardware" is a bit confusing - many newbies will get confused and post a lot of duplicate threads in the other software forums (as they do now)...I am not sure exactly as to what is the best way to separate them out though without creating too many forums...ideally a section "New to Mac" with Hardware, OS, and Software sub-forums might be best but also might be overkill?? Regardless, I look forward to the changes and I hope we all take it easy on the admin/mods during ther break-in period....oh yeah!

[dotdotdot]

As long as Community Discussion, Picture Gallery, Web design stuff, and Mac Help and news stay I'm fine...

Until I get a Mac, I love using the Community Discussion...

---

Also, a suggestion is to add a forum specifically for Windows questions and heres why: No matter who it is, a person with a windows computer WILL eventually ask a question here. And the Mac/Apple Hardware, Software and General forums have been flooded by Windows questions...

[tech4all]

Also, a suggestion is to add a forum specifically for Windows questions and heres why: No matter who it is, a person with a windows computer WILL eventually ask a question here. And the Mac/Apple Hardware, Software and General forums have been flooded by Windows questions...

Well I do sorta agree with that, but not sure how it will fly in a Mac forum despite the reason.

Why do you say some forums have been "flooded" by Windows questions? I'll admit there are Windows-related topics that have been posted (myself included), but I wouldn't call it "flooded".

[dotdotdot]

Well I do sorta agree with that, but not sure how it will fly in a Mac forum despite the reason.

Why do you say some forums have been "flooded" by Windows questions? I'll admit there are Windows-related topics that have been posted (myself included), but I wouldn't call it "flooded".

Well, not really "flooded" as much as... well, yes they are flooded for a Mac site.

There is always questions for Windows from how to install iTunes on a Windows 98 computer, which is KIND of relevant, to how to change shell styles in XP to Microsoft ads to anything...

Sure, its a mac site, but face it: The Mac community is just too smart!

I think a Windows section would be good, of course it would not need to be called the Windows section, it could have a more harsh name...

[thomasp]

Is it possible to have a subforum under "Mac Software" for anything pre-OSX related. Eg, a place to request help for OS9 and Classic stuff?

There are still "some" of us out there who use OS9 ;)

[TEG]

I would like to suggest that somewhere in the fourms, we need a Television Forum, Relating to TV shows we like/hate, Mac Spotting in Shows, and TiVo. I think that it would greatly help move some of those discussions out of community discussions.

TEG

[Doctor Q]

I would like to suggest that somewhere in the fourms, we need a Television Forum, Relating to TV shows we like/hate, Mac Spotting in Shows, and TiVo. I think that it would greatly help move some of those discussions out of community discussions.I think that's a little too specialized for a separate forum. Community Discussion has many threads about TV shows, and also about movies, cars, sports, and other reoccurring non-Mac subjects. I think the topics not related to computers are fine lumped together in Community Discussion.

[wdlove]

I think that the idea is to streamline and simplify.

Any idea when the change to the new format might occur? I would imagine that it will require shutting the forum down for that period of time.

[iGary]

Seems like a lot of repeats...

Most people post their pics in the picture gallery, and I see a design, artwork/photography forum in another place. Perhaps that can all go in Community.

Seems like some repeats with Apple discussions in two separate forums where they could be consolodated.

Prolly easier for you guys to keep track of things the fewer forums there are...

Just my .02

[Doctor Q]

Any idea when the change to the new format might occur?How 'bout this coming Friday at, say, 6pm? There won't be much happening then. ;)

I would imagine that it will require shutting the forum down for that period of time.Actually, I expect that the forums can be reorganized "live", so we won't have to miss a minute of MacRumors forum activity, just as the new iPod Gear Products forum was added with no interruption.

[Doctor Q]

Most people post their pics in the picture gallery, and I see a design, artwork/photography forum in another place. Perhaps that can all go in Community.Good point. The idea behind the "Design, Graphics, Photography" forum is to have a natural home for people involved in those particular professions/hobbies, since graphics professionals are common in the Mac world, whereas people post any old pictures, such as screenshots of their desktops or photos of their pets, in "Picture Gallery". Would it solve the problem if they were as follows?

Design and Graphics - design-oriented applications and techniques

Pictures - screenshots, photos, and photography

[wdlove]

How 'bout this coming Friday at, say, 6pm? There won't be much happening then. ;)

Actually, I expect that the forums can be reorganized "live", so we won't have to miss a minute of MacRumors forum activity, just as the new iPod Gear Products forum was added with no interruption.


Thank you Doctor Q, that was my concern with possibly such a busy upcoming week. Don't think we will be wanting to miss one exciting minute. ;)

[MacNut]

I would love to see sports and entertainment as a separate forum.

[iGary]

Good point. The idea behind the "Design, Graphics, Photography" forum is to have a natural home for people involved in those particular professions/hobbies, since graphics professionals are common in the Mac world, whereas people post any old pictures, such as screenshots of their desktops or photos of their pets, in "Picture Gallery". Would it solve the problem if they were as follows?

Design and Graphics - design-oriented applications and techniques

Pictures - screenshots, photos, and photography

Yep, that works - under Community, right?

[Doctor Q]

Yep, that works - under Community, right?"Design and Graphics" would probably be under Special Interests, because it's a Mac-related topic, given how many graphics professionals use Macs. "Pictures" would more likely be under Community, since it's for pictures of all kinds. However, the final decisions on all of these suggestions are up to arn.

[iGary]

I'm ready for the contribute forum, too, but I won't push it because Arn said he was looking at bringing it back. :D

[MacNut]

Will the Mods get reorganized to patrol a certain forum as opposed to everyone patrol the whole site.

[zelmo]

I like the new line-up suggestions and look forward to milling around as the changes take place. Hard to believe this place can get much better, though. :)

One thing that has nagged at me now and again is the Mac Gaming section. This is probably splitting hairs, but so many of the gaming threads have nothing to do with Macs. There are tons of console-specific threads, and even an occasional PC games thread. Would you want to segment that out to Mac Gaming and Other Gaming? Not a big deal, I know, but while you're considering changes...

[MacNut]

How about the gaming forum, split it between computer and console.

[Doctor Q]

Will the Mods get reorganized to patrol a certain forum as opposed to everyone patrol the whole site.Probably not. Whoever is on duty handles anything that gets reported. Coverage depends more on time zone than on particular forums.

One thing that has nagged at me now and again is the Mac Gaming section. This is probably splitting hairs, but so many of the gaming threads have nothing to do with Macs. There are tons of console-specific threads, and even an occasional PC games thread. Would you want to segment that out to Mac Gaming and Other Gaming? Not a big deal, I know, but while you're considering changes...How about the gaming forum, split it between computer and console.This is a tough call. A member who starts a game thread doesn't care where it is (since they know where it is) as much as a member who looks through the posts in a Games forum because the subject interests them. So the question is whether people looking at the Games forum really want to see only computer games for Macintosh.

It could open a can of worms to have forums for every non-Macintosh-related interest we can think of (food, travel, sports, cars, console games), all under Community, so it's more likely than not that we won't have a "Console Gaming" forum. We have chosen in the past to use the "Mac Games" forum for all games, despite the "Mac" in the forum name.

If you had only two choices:1. having a "Games" forum for all types of games

2. having a "Mac Games" forum only for Mac-based games, with all other game threads mixed into "Community Discussion"which would you pick?

[PlaceofDis]

this me just nit-picking, but howabout rather than "New to Mac" call that thread Basics/Tech. Assistance? that way it appeals to both beginngers as well as getting help.... just my thoughts on that though

[MacNut]

1. having a "Games" forum for all types of games

2. having a "Mac Games" forum only for Mac-based games, with all other game threads mixed into "Community Discussion"which would you pick?I would assume just call it the gaming forum and be as generic as possible.

[Blue Velvet]

At first glance, the title of the 'Design, Graphics & Photography' forum seems too similar to 'Picture Gallery'

Is the first section a place to discuss and ask questions about software/hardware related issues connected with the subject? I can imagine lots of people posting their pix in here...

But otherwise it all seems good to me.

[zelmo]

If you had only two choices:1. having a "Games" forum for all types of games

2. having a "Mac Games" forum only for Mac-based games, with all other game threads mixed into "Community Discussion"which would you pick?

The first choice is sufficient. It would make me feel less like an intruder when posting PSP threads and the like. :rolleyes:

[Doctor Q]

I couldn't resist memorializing the split second when nobody at MacRumors needed help with anything!

[Blue Velvet]

Runs much snappier! :D :rolleyes:

[Nermal]

Yes, we've upgraded to MR Forum X 10.4.8 which features updated nVidia and ATI drivers, plus Finder performance optimisations :D



Yeah, I'm bored :rolleyes:

[840quadra]

I really like some of the new Forums, and the layout makes more sense to me now!!

great job Admin / Moderator team!!

[MacNut]

It does seem more organized now, I like it.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

It does seem more organized now, I like it.I totally agree... nice change to wake up to this morning... :)

[Diatribe]

Some nice changes, great work. I do have a couple of questions though.
Is the Mac Basics And Help only thought for newbies or as a general hardware/software problem forum? Because there are still Rower's guidelines for getting help as a sticky in the Macintosh Computer forum.

Also there seem to be a lot of software related questions in the Mac Basics And Help forum, which is as intended I suppose but wouldn't it make more sense to just move it out of the hardware section and into it's own?
Something like:
•Mac Basics And Help
- Mac Problems And Questions
- Software FAQs
- Hardware FAQs

That way we'd have a one stop for questions and infos and it would keep the other forums clean of the regular tech support questions and open for a little bit more discussion and the tougher questions. I think this would create a more distinguished tech support area and hardware/software area.

[wordmunger]

Some nice changes, great work. I do have a couple of questions though.
Is the Mac Basics And Help only thought for newbies or as a general hardware/software problem forum? Because there are still Rower's guidelines for getting help as a sticky in the Macintosh Computer forum.

Also there seem to be a lot of software related questions in the Mac Basics And Help forum, which is as intended I suppose but wouldn't it make more sense to just move it out of the hardware section and into it's own?
Something like:
•Mac Basics And Help
- Mac Problems And Questions
- Software FAQs
- Hardware FAQs

That way we'd have a one stop for questions and infos and it would keep the other forums clean of the regular tech support questions and open for a little bit more discussion and the tougher questions. I think this would create a more distinguished tech support area and hardware/software area.
I think this is just adding to the confusion. What's nice about the current setup is that the Mac Basics forum pops up first, so newbies see right away where they need to post questions. More sophisticated users with specific problems can post them in the relevant forums.

[Mr. Anderson]

I like the new organization and the new forums should work out nicely.

D

[Doctor Q]

I think this is just adding to the confusion. What's nice about the current setup is that the Mac Basics forum pops up first, so newbies see right away where they need to post questions. More sophisticated users with specific problems can post them in the relevant forums.Correct. If your question is specific to a topic covered by another forum, e.g., "iPod/iTunes Discussion" for iPod questions, "Mac Peripherals" for a printer question, "Mac Applications" for an iCal question, you can post it in that forum. Otherwise, it can go in the "Mac Basics and Help" forum.

[dsharits]

I like the new setup. It will just take a little time to get used to, but it makes a lot more sense.

[emw]

Awesome job on the reorg- really looks nice. Unfortunately, we're still getting the "Server Busy" messages... I guess that'll be next ;)

[solvs]

I hadn't even really noticed at first. Everything's pretty much where'd you'd expect to find it, as far as I can tell so far. That's a good thing, BTW. :D

[ravenvii]

I like the new setup. It will just take a little time to get used to, but it makes a lot more sense.

Same here - really like the new organization, more logical. But yeah, takes a little getting used to, I was so used to the old layout, having frequented here everyday for a while now.

[wdlove]

Good job arn and the mods, thank you for your hard work to improve the forum for the loyal users. The new setup makes lot of sense.

[Mechcozmo]

Possibly this thread could be placed in the "New Person" thread? Linkety (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102527)

Oh, and the forum's descriptions could be capitalized and such. That would be nice for those of us with OCD. :D

[CubaTBird]

i dunno.. i kinda liked the older look better.. now there a lot of forums to choose from.. ahh! so many options!! ahh! :p

[Sun Baked]

Possibly this thread could be placed in the "New Person" thread? Linkety (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102527)

Oh, and the forum's descriptions could be capitalized and such. That would be nice for those of us with OCD. :DThey have drugs for that...

Which would probably help you out quite a bit more than a little forum editing.

[Doctor Q]

By the way, you are welcome to post "i need help" questions in whatever forum covers the topic of the question, e.g., "Mac Applications" for an iCal problem, "iPod/iTunes Discussion" for an iTMS question, etc. In fact, that's preferred when it is forum-topic specific.

Having "Mac Basic and Help" under "Mac Hardware" is another clue that we don't expect all questions to go there.

The "Mac Basics and Help" forum is the catch-all forum for questions that don't have a more specific home. But it's not a big deal to sort them out this way so it wasn't worth having long-winded explanations to say all that.

[Mechcozmo]

They have drugs for that...

Which would probably help you out quite a bit more than a little forum editing.

Yes, I am quite aware of that. I am actually on some drugs already, and have also done a fairly extensive amount of behavior therapy. I hate taking drugs. I hate having to depend on something ELSE to make ME "normal." Especially because my faith in drug companies is rather shakey. Look up Serevent. It was a drug that I took for years but was pulled because people were dying from it-- which the companies own trials showed. My health is up to some greedy bastard. I feel really damn good about that one.

So y'know what? They do have drugs for that. Guess what? I've probably tried them. Guess what? THEY DONT ALL WORK. Life is better through chemicals, eh? *********. Pure, too. Proof 200 for the Americans here who actually know how to measure proof, something I've known for years. Because I can't forget it. Because of no other reason.

I have a right to ask for a minor change. If it doesn't happen I'll just do what I have been doing-- avoiding that page. If it does happen, then great! What difference does it make to you? If you are truly obsessive compulsive about it being like that, then I can understand. But if not, why say it?

I don't like it when people make comments like that. :(

[Doctor Q]

Oh, and the forum's descriptions could be capitalized and such.The forum subtitles are purposely lowercase (although not consistently) to deemphasize them compared with the forum titles, which use initial caps. But I understand how little things like that can bother people. I prefer to spell iPod shuffle and Mac mini with lowercase 's' and lowercase 'm' as Apple does, while most people seem to spell them iPod Shuffle and Mac Mini. But, for some reason, seeing Mac spelled MAC doesn't bother me. :confused:

[Mechcozmo]

The forum subtitles are purposely lowercase (although not consistently) to deemphasize them compared with the forum titles, which use initial caps.

Well.... this is what I meant:

MacRumors.com News Discussion
Comments, corrections, and opinions on MacRumors articles

Now, the 1st word is capitalized and the word "MacRumors" is consistent with the title. It could or it couldn't go with a period at the end-- technically, the subject is "Comments, corrections, and opinions" with predicate "MacRumors articles" but there is some leeway there.

[tech4all]

I'm not sure if this was affected by the reorganization of the forums, but whenever I click on a username it always say's they are "offline" when in fact they are online.

Is that a bug? Anybody else see this?