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<DIV><FONT color=#000066 face=Verdana>Will,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000066 face=Verdana>I always write long responses in Microsoft
Word, then copy it and transfer to the "pianotec" window. You also have the
privilege of spell check in "Word"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000066 face=Verdana>Roger Gable</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=encorepianos@metrocast.net
href="mailto:encorepianos@metrocast.net">Encore Pianos</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, June 28, 2011 4:34
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [pianotech] Really, really
irritated with the New forum system</DIV>
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<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>I was trying to reply to Alan McCoy’s query about
soundboard hotboxes and had written a fair amount of text within the thumbnail
sized box given to us to use in the new system to write our replies
(surrounded by LOTS of empty unused white space). I wanted to look
something up, so I minimized the page to look somewhere else. (I did not
delete it) So I come back, or tried to, and it was gone. Disappeared,
along with about half an hour of writing. Arrgghhh!!!!<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>It’s not the first time it has happened either. In
the past I have also sent completed replies to the new site, using the
protocol given. Not only does it sometimes never show up, but, unlike
Outlook, it does not allow me to save a copy on my computer. Which I
would have re-sent if it had not disappeared altogether. If I try to
reply to a message on the new forum by hitting Reply within Outlook, the
message will be sent, Outlook keeps a copy, but it never gets to the new
forum. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>So I am sending this message by the old method in the hopes
that it will get to the forum for others to read. Of course, they will
soon enough eliminate this, which actually works reliably, simply, and
consistently. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>They dumped this poor cousin into our laps a few months
ago. I can’t see that anything further has been done to make it any less
buggy or easier to use. We’re going to be stuck with it anyway, so why
bother? I have to question how much value those who were responsible for
setting up this system place on the forum, or they would have payed a lot more
attention to how it was actually being used by us. And especially worked
to fix the problems as needed, of which there is little indication that such
has been done. No one is willing to say how much this thing cost – did we get
this program out of the $5 bin at Walmart?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>There are some interesting statistics regarding the pattern
of usage: I went into the Archives (yes, they do still exist,
somewhere….) and did a count on usage for each month, <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>January 2011 – 1872<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>February 2011 – 1480<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>March 2011 – 1139<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>April 2011 – 345<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>May 2011 – 235<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>As you can see, once the new system was implemented, visits
fell off a cliff, from March to April a 70% drop in usage, and a further drop
still in May. May is a mere 12.5% of the numbers in January. I
think March’s figures are artificially high because so many people were
bitching or asking how to use it (You certainly couldn’t find out how on the
web site). Is it fair to say that a lot of people said to themselves, if
it is going to be this much of a pain, I don’t want to bother?
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I think that the Forum had become one of the very best
resources for a great many Guild members. A year ago, it was lively and
vital. Not so much now. Have they killed the goose that laid the
golden egg? Do they even care? <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Yes, this is an irritable and grumpy reply. Probably
it will offend some. I haven’t heard anyone who had something to do with
implementing this system talk about the problems and performance of the new
system for a very long time. So if anyone of you are listening, please
feel free to call me (insert your derogatory term of choice), but at least
acknowledge the problems that exist and tell us what is being done about them.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I will not be going to the National, but it is my earnest
hope that the problems with the new system will be discussed in depth, and
meaningful solutions sought. What we have now is mediocre, and
underserves the Guild and participants of Pianotech. Do we really have
to live with this thing?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Will Truitt <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>