The totally off-topic thread

[samh004]

Which Sunday morning of what year?:shock:

This one. I went to bed on Sunday morning, but also got up on Sunday morning

 

[JohnK]

I agree, it is a bit hard to realise what has been read and what hasn’t. Plus everything seems very faded. Perhaps the settings can be tweaked a little to restore the old look and feel that you talk about, while keeping the new layout.

I wouldn't mind if new versions of software provided actual improvements/enhancements rahter than change for change sake. Still find the new software hard to use which dampens the motivation to post.

Most threads are hard to read and font has also gone from Verdana to Tahoma.

 

[samh004]

I wouldn't mind if new versions of software provided actual improvements/enhancements rahter than change for change sake. Still find the new software hard to use which dampens the motivation to post.

Most threads are hard to read and font has also gone from Verdana to Tahoma.

Perhaps that can be changed. I’ve been exploring all day and trying my best to get accustomed to the new feel and haven’t experienced any of the speed issue, which might be due to ads.

 

[JohnK]

No point in repeating one self but I have no doubt the new software is harder to use. Unfortunately I do not have the time to get used to the new software and configure it for my needs.

The last version of vBulletin was quite good and this version is the worst version of vBulletin I have encountered....

 

[samh004]

No point in repeating one self but I have no doubt the new software is harder to use. Unfortunately I do not have the time to get used to the new software and configure it for my needs.

The last version of vBulletin was quite good and this version is the worst version of vBulletin I have encountered....

It’s unfortunate that AFF was effectively forced to upgrade as there was no longer support for the older version, but had this upgrade been done in a few months time or yesterday, there would have been issues, we’ve just got to find them and fix them quickly

 

[tuppaware]

Forced upgrade... VBforums been taken over by apple?

I find it harder to read the page now.

 

[samh004]

Forced upgrade... VBforums been taken over by apple?

They were taken over in fact, but not by Apple.

The change was pretty much forced on us by vBulletin, as they have discontinued their "old" forum software, and introduced a complete new version. For those who are interested, you can read all about it at Purchase vBulletin, the most powerful forum software available.. The "old" software would ultimately become unsupported, so it was important that we did the upgrade. (There are some pretty cool features - such as blogs- available in the new version. We will introduce these new features in time.)

Unfortunately, the new version uses a completely different template structure so we did have to change the "look and feel" as well.

 

[QF WP]

Well, I have to say that nagivation is a little harder, but that's only because I don't know how to drive it. Will give myself a week or so to get comfortable with the functions.

At least most of you understand this IT guff

 

[Mal]

It’s unfortunate that AFF was effectively forced to upgrade as there was no longer support for the older version

Much better to upgrade than to face either non-support or attacks from hackers because there are vulnerabilities that are unpatched,

Regardless of what people think about the interface etc, there are many reasons why the upgrade is important...

 

[ejb]

... Will give myself a week or so to get comfortable with the functions....

I am sure after a couple of weeks we will all have forgotten the "upgrade". Like anything new it takes time to adjust.

ejb

 

[anat0l]

I go away for only two days and all I can read in the last few posts of this thread is b*tch, b*tch, b*tch, b*tch, b*tch, b*tch! Yep, I'm definitely back in Australia.

Once again, Change Management continues to be the most challenging aspect of any given project. At least from a human and social perspective anyway.

Just to add to all the b*tching and moaning, whilst at the NAN outbound security this morning, overheard this from an off-duty DJ (or DJ group) crew member:

"We've been here for over an hour all because of a bottle of water!

They then continued their tirade all the way through outgoing immigration, generally treating all of the airport staff as third class citizens and lashing them with contempt. Rather surprising that they were not pulled aside and book thrown at them.

Seriously, they are air crew (albeit off-duty), but in any case, if that's not a definition of incompetence, then God help me find one. Certainly a poor example to the rest of their colleagues.

 

[anat0l]

I am sure after a couple of weeks we will all have forgotten the "upgrade". Like anything new it takes time to adjust.

ejb

The ability to adjust is directly proportional to one's age and also inversely proportional to one's IT literacy.

Apart from that, you forgot that there is always a tirade of complaints about the new system.

 

[Flashback]

The ability to adjust is directly proportional to one's age and also inversely proportional to one's IT literacy.

Apart from that, you forgot that there is always a tirade of complaints about the new system.

Tell me about it.. just upgraded a client's machines to Office 2007 (will upgrade to 2010 using the tech guarantee, when it's out); and they're whinging "can't we change the layout back to normal?".

Joys of putting in licensed software to get rid of pirated cough ...

 

[JohnK]

Apart from that, you forgot that there is always a tirade of complaints about the new system.

Only when the new system is worse than the previous system. It is quite clear that the new version has serious user interface issues. This is what happens when a person is given control of a project (and I assume has poor project management skills) who should not be in charge of any project.

I have no doubt in my mind that user interface of the new vBulletin version is a few steps backwards. How long it takes to adjust is anyone's guess.

 

[anat0l]

I have no doubt in my mind that user interface of the new vBulletin version is a few steps backwards. How long it takes to adjust is anyone's guess.

Well maybe you have no doubt, but perhaps I do. We just may have to agree to disagree, but given there were valid reasons why this upgrade had to go ahead, I'm tempted not to criticise it to death on the premise that I can't program such an interface (let alone a better one) myself, and I doubt there are many others here that can do so either.

Of course, I have started back on this forum for some time after there has been sufficient time for some of the bugs to be fixed. So how long has it taken me to get used to this interface? Less than a day, it seems.

I'm also viewing this from my netbook rather than a full screen. That's supposed to be a worse experience, but I have had no troubles so far with the new interface. It's different, that is pretty much all.


Finally, I challenge anyone to name one IT project or system that has been implemented/delivered and not a single complaint has been received. By your definition, if even one complaint is received, the project is a failure, and the project manager should be fired and run out of town on a rail. Unreasonable? Your call, jury.

 

[JohnK]

Finally, I challenge anyone to name one IT project or system that has been implemented/delivered and not a single complaint has been received.

That is an easy question.

The Inventory History imquiry program I wrote over the MAPICS database in 1987 was a huge hit. Not a single complaint and countless compliments. Employees who had never had access to the system were begging for access.

Also the Quality Control system I designed, programmed and supported in the 90's was a huge hit at the chemical company I worked for at the time. In fact it was such a hit that they begged me to write a new one for them in Unix when the company decided to scrap the old legacy system and go for shrink wrap Online 2000 (actually Offline was a more accurate description) system. I did not know C, Unix or Pick and did not have an interest to learn any of them.

And lastly, but not least, my distribution/manufacturing system was another big hit when I installed it at an importing company back in 1999/2000. Huge improvement on their old obsolete system.

By your definition, if even one complaint is received, the project is a failure, and the project manager should be fired and run out of town on a rail. Unreasonable? Your call, jury.

It would be very hard to limit it to just one complaint. Whatever you, or anyone else, may think this new version of the vBulletin software looks very amateurish and is at least a few steps back from the previous version.

And yes there were reasons why admin had to go to the new version and eventually we all will get used to the new version but it does not make it better. Barely acceptable is more accurate....

 

[samh004]

I booked my first ever (and hopefully last) TT flights today to get to Melbourne for round 6 of the AFL. Each leg was just $50, and as much as I wanted to fly back Qantas, even the sale fare of $129 just seemed too much for a short jaunt to watch the AFL.

I’ll try remember to post some sort of a TR regarding the experience, and hope it goes very smoothly, but failing that, if it goes badly maybe you’ll see me on Air Ways

 

[Mal]

It's interesting that the combined Wivenhoe / Somerset / North Pine water levels are now at 97.4%

With lots of rain still predicted around Brisbane (and Cyclone Ului potentially coming for a visit), it will be interesting to see how high the levels get.

As I've commented before - I hope there are some brains working for SEQWater that know what they're doing, and aren't blindly following political spin.

 

[samh004]

It's interesting that the combined Wivenhoe / Somerset / North Pine water levels are now at 97.4%

With lots of rain still predicted around Brisbane (and Cyclone Ului potentially coming for a visit), it will be interesting to see how high the levels get.

And it’s just soared since you’ve been gone!

But we’d love to have you back, even if it’s just another drought.

 

[straitman]

anat0l,
you seem very fired up at people who are nearly expressing their thoughts on an appropriate thread :!: