h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The popup window on the beta sites was a clue to the fact that they used the inbuilt Windows password management, and hence every user could have a different username and password if required...

The popup window on the beta sites was a clue to the fact that they used the inbuilt Windows password management, and hence every user could have a different username and password if required...

That's the second doublepost today that I *know* I only sent once. There must be some sort of synchronisation problem with the servers...

Unfortunately Abi hasn't said what the perceived problems with Yahoogroups are, so it's a bit difficult to comment. There's always Topica, of course (www.topica.com) - but that also has ads. I suspect that any free service is going to involve some advertising content.

Using something like majordomo would be good, and it would be fairly easy to set up an independent service, I would have thought. All you need is a server and some software (Listserv has a very high reputation). Files can be uploaded to a BBS service, or you could even keep the Yahoogroups going just for their Files areas.

But my take on Yahoogroups is that although some people don't like it, it does have a lot of very useful facilities (email, web, archives, files, chat, calendar, security features, delivery options, etc.) and it's completely free, and I think it could be quite a tall order to replace it with something as comprehensive at the same price.

FWIW
Bels

Why we'd like to ditch YahooGroups - they're going to start charging for it, and it ain't *that* good.

Passworded DNA sites - Unfortunately any content posted to a password-protected DNA site still appears on Personal Spaces, so people could still see the titles of what was going on. Also content would still appear in the search, even though you would need to enter a password to actually get to it. Password protection is simply so we can keep the masses out of sites that are about to be launched while we populate them with launch content, so it's no big deal if links appear to a site that requires a password; you could say it's anticipatory marketing. That wouldn't apply to this site.

On the other hand, it might be possible to set up a completely separate satabade that's password protected, and which runs on, say, the dev server. That's a 'might' - I'll ask Jim.

"Satabade"... You should copyright that one quick, Mark!

"they're going to start charging for it"

Actually, to clarify, they're going to start charging for a premium service, and our usage falls into that category. I think when you get beyond 50 new members in 6 months max they'll charge you.

And it's now so full of adverts that I personally find it irritating as hell. Just my humble opinion, of course.

Blimey, how on earth did 'site' translate into 'satabade'?

Sounds good though, eh!

"database"

yahoo = satan bade (bath)

Er..... Yeeeesssss... (backs away)

Yes, I was wondering if it could go to the dev satabade .

That way, you could try new versions out on it first, with a captive audience...

True!
You'd probably have to have one site per volunteer group though

I've used this message board software which supports web and mail (and nntp), though it's not the easiest thing to learn...

Feel free to play around with it: http://in.newham.net:8080/~newham-social/

There is a phrase out there somewhere about "free lunches".

With the collapse of dot.com advertising revenues around the world, every company is looking for income streams from the services that they currently provide for free. Therefore if you did find another provider that could offer a free service now, what is to say that they won't start charging in 6 months time? Plus we would have had the hassle and cost of moving.

Yahoo Groups ain't wonderful. But it does offer a goodish range of functionality and it is accessable to all. I would also guess that as soon as the service becomes a pay service that those pointless adverts will disappear.

Sorry folks, I think the time has come for the Beeb to stick its hand in its pocket and cough up the dosh.

there's always MSN communities..i'm not recommending it, but it's pretty much the same as yahoo groups, and as far as i know isn't giong to start charging...
^. .^
= ' =

MSN Communities are just as annoying, trust me...

The cards are marked for MSN Communities. The functionality of the free version of Hotmail has been reduced, and you have to pay for any extras. Communities is bound to go the same way.

That's the way the whole web is going it seems... (thank god for the license fee). I do think a lot can be done with a few majordomo lists...