Forum activity and redesign

[nocar]

I am a long-time user of MyInfo. I enjoy reading and learning discussions by other users. I was wondering what could be done to get more activity in the forum and posted my questions via a private email to "admin” listed in MyInfo users. But I have received no reply. So I am posting in the forum itself to see what others think and know.

My questions are:
1. Could part of the issue for lesser user involvement relate to how the forum is designed? For instance, two of the forums under MyInfo Beta are: Windows Beta and Windows Beta Suggestions.
2. Is there a Windows Beta software application?
3. If so, how do I obtain it to be able to test and comment?
4. What is the difference between Windows Beta and Windows Beta Suggestions?

Perhaps clarifying forum divisions would help in getting greater user involvement:
1. Reorganize the forum
2. Make the Beta sections available only to those who are actually testing Beta version of the software (if it exists)

Thanks for reading.

[Telesto]

1. Could part of the issue for lesser user involvement relate to how the forum is designed? For instance, two of the forums under MyInfo Beta are: Windows Beta and Windows Beta Suggestions.

No idea. It's a bit of a niche product. So I personally don't expect much additional activity.

2. Is there a Windows Beta software application?
3. If so, how do I obtain it to be able to test and comment?

Currently, no. Could be in the future, I guess

4. What is the difference between Windows Beta and Windows Beta Suggestions?

I assume a clean-up attempt of Petko, somewhere in the past. I posted bugs and suggestions in the same section... I still do

Why I tend to post under Beta:

Initially
There was actually a beta and I intended it as - in hindsight overambitious - feature suggestion for the Beta cycle

Currently
- Habit
- Relations with earlier topics
- I started to perceive the Beta section a bit like my private scratchpad domain. I'm easily distracted. So when trying to be productive, I encounter something/ something comes during use of MyInfo. I have to write it down instantly, before it slips. It comes in between what actually wanted to do. So quite some posts are a bit of a rush job. Not improving the quality. Also, some proposals are also more temporal solutions; quick dirty. Not longterm solutions. The hidden forum section feels bit like safe place. So it's not really intended as public discussion starter; at least not be me
- I don't want to push suggestions from others down (or flood a section)
- Some posts are not about small improvements, but a some vague ideas how it could be designed better/differently. Without clear knowledge of the technical side. A public discussion about a technical unfeasible direction makes no sense, IMHO

[nocar]

Telesto, thanks for your reply.

So if I find glitches in the way the current version of MyInfo 8 works, in your opinion, should I post them in the Windows Beta section of the forum? Or is wiser to e-mail my findings directly to Petko?

[Telesto]

Telesto, thanks for your reply.

So if I find glitches in the way the current version of MyInfo 8 works, in your opinion, should I post them in the Windows Beta section of the forum? Or is wiser to e-mail my findings directly to Petko?

No hard rules; pick something of your liking, IMHO
* The "General Discussion & Support" section; as the intended public area. So others users being aware of the problem or can mention that the encounter same issue. Response might be faster. It also helpful if the bug being hard to reproduce; others can try too. As observed, there is not that much activity; so the advantages are more or less theoretical
* E-mail
* Forum PM (to Petko, not admin)
* Windows Beta section, if you wish. In the past it was opt-in, I think, so I guess not every forum member having access. It isn't the intended area to post non-beta bugs, but doesn't make a difference at this point in time, IMHO.