I expect complaining, dissatisfaction, annoyance, resentment, etc. TPF/PlushForum is a familiar, comfortable, old shoe (whatever its deficiencies) and TPF/Discourse is a stiff new leather shoe (whatever its virtues) that just doesn't feel the same.

I too like the current format - old-shoe that it is. But change is the only constant, and I am grateful I didn't have to do the shopping for a new platform. Thank you, Jamal.

But change is the only constant, and I am grateful I didn't have to do the shopping for a new platform. Thank you, Jamal. — BC

Gracias, BC. :up: :up:

I too like the current format - old-shoe that it is. But change is the only constant, and I am grateful I didn't have to do the shopping for a new platform. Thank you, Jamal. — BC

And thank you, BC.

I understand that some people prefer the simplicity of PlushForums. I agree, it's great as far as it goes, a very elegant design in terms of functionality, look and feel, and performance. I only wish they'd been able to develop it.

But it's not about design preference; it's about long-term viability. PlushForums is effectively in maintenance mode, with zero ongoing development, which means no updates, no fixes, and increasing risks over time.

Discourse by contrast is an actively developed platform used by large communities worldwide. It receives continuous updates, security improvements, and new features, supported by a huge developer community. Moving to Discourse ensures that TPF remains secure and sustainable in the years ahead, even if the interface takes a little getting used to.

Personally, I find the experience of writing a post or OP in Discourse, and interacting with other posts, vastly better than here.

Yes, what's with the 'download an app' decision in place of desktop short cut to the webpage on chrome. Is that a consequence of the platform itself?

Thanks for your undivided attention.

FYI I won't be staying around here to have a conversation about it though. I'll keep an eye on this thread just to check if people are having problems signing up at the new place. Otherwise my TPF time will now be spent at the new place.

Please ask questions about Discourse on the new (Discourse) forum.

Yes, I’m not really against change, I just noted if there’s a possibility to customize for a cleaner look, that would be nice. Clean minimalism is timeless.

Personally, I find the experience of writing a post or OP in Discourse, and that of interacting with other posts, vastly better in Discourse. — Jamal

Yes, I understand the reasons and I’m not suggesting not having the new site. Some features, like writing is better; good to see a preview at the same time as writing.

But a cleaner interface, if that becomes an option later on, would be preferable. I’ve never been a fan of burger-menues and modern forum design, everything looks the same today and the cleaner feel was something I valued a lot about this forum.

If ever there was some updates that would enable simplicity as a custom option, that would be nice.

Seems pretty clean to me:

Yes, what's with the 'download an app' decision in place of desktop short cut to the webpage on chrome. Is that a consequence of the platform itself? — Alexander Hine

It's just the site, but loaded in its own "app" with a stripped down version of Chrome. You can still open it in a regular browser.

OK, I said I wouldn't get into another conversation here, so...cheerio.

Clean minimalism is timeless — Christoffer

Live simply. Use Helvetica.

Couple o things:

Is "sign up" the same thing as "register"? I see a "sign up" button but nothing about registering,

It tells me that "J" is too short as a username. Any way around that? If not, what do you think is the best way to create some kind of continuity for my posts? I could be, for instance, "Jay"?

Is "sign up" the same thing as "register"? I see a "sign up" button but nothing about registering — J

Same thing, yes.

It tells me that "J" is too short as a username. Any way around that? If not, what do you think is the best way to create some kind of continuity for my posts? I could be, for instance, "Jay"? — J

There are technical downsides to having single-character usernames. Currently the minimum length is 3. There's a way around it though. You can use "Jay" for instance, and then in your preferences enter "J" as your full name, and I think there might be a setting to show your full name on your posts.

Helvetica is lovely but I can't get over the following problem.

In a font with serifs:
In Helvetica: Ill

There's someone here (I forget who) who writes "plug-ins" for browsers. Similar to the "Ignore list browser extension." It's more of a "hackish" workaround but effectively the same idea.

Maybe this person will read this, your concern, and make something superficial like that for this new forum. It can't be that hard. Shoot, I might even take a crack at it.

But I think the real question on people's mind is: What about "image emotes?" A small yet fairly significant part of me may die upon discovering @Hanover's thumb will never be seen again on the new platform.

All in all, I think @BC's metaphor sums up everything fairly. It is like a new pair of shoes. It's different. Only an issue if you take the time to dwell on it. Before you know it, it'll be like nothing changed. We're self-professed intellects, allegedly. We should be able to find the same joy and level of engagement if we were writing one another letters and conversing through physical mail, I'd say. So with that in mind. Full steam ahead. :grin:

Serif fonts are probably easier to read [decode] than sans serif fonts. That's what I've heard. Context solves the problem of "Ill"--is he 3 or is he sick? I'm not an a graphic artist, but such people have intense opinions about precisely which font goes best with what kind of text.

The very common fonts are generally easy to read and reasonably attractive.

We did it! What a magnificent way to start this Thursday!

I suspected you'd photoshopped it at first. :grin:

Well, that was easier than expected! Useful, because I expect we'll need to upgrade to the Pro Plus plan, which will give us more storage space for images, and more staff members if we want them.

Anyway it's a bit misleading, because it includes a one-off payment of £200.

Anyway it's a bit misleading, because it includes a one-off payment of £200. — Jamal

Well, the result is satisfactory; it doesn't matter how it was done. :lol:

Yeah, it's great. I just mean we're not raking in £255/month.

I just mean we're not raking in £255/month. — Jamal

We will, Jamal. Good things take time. :smile:

That's the spirit!

Pro Plus will be £180 (including sales tax) and then the next one up is the Business plan, which is £500/month.

Pro Plus will be £180 (including sales tax) and then the next one up is the Business plan, which is £500/month. — Jamal

Why would you need the Business plan? Sure, Discourse is a business, they have every incentive to make a profit even shrewdly. Would you say the cost-analysis benefit as far as their pricing plans are fair? Not withholding anything relatively vital to a high tier? Just curious. :chin:

I don't think we'll need the Business Plan. Pro Plus should be enough, and it'll be a while before we need that.

It's about image storage.

1. There's no way of convincing people to use external image hosting while image hosting is built in to the site and works so nicely (as it does in Discourse, something I'm unwilling to turn off, even if I could)

2. Discourse doesn't let me restrict uploads in any way apart from individual upload size. Like, only certain groups being able to upload images or a maximum number of uploads per person per month or whatever---these are not possible.

What this means is that sooner or later we may need more storage space.

Sorry if this has already been covered, but do I have to create an account or are passwords and login for this one automatically transfered over by any chance?

You have to create a new account:

Please create your account there now if you intend to continue participating. User accounts and passwords cannot be transferred automatically from the current forum. — Jamal

It's about image storage.

1. There's no way of convincing people to use external image hosting while image hosting is built in to the site and works so nicely (as it does in Discourse, something I'm unwilling to turn off, even if I could)

2. Discourse doesn't let me restrict uploads in any way apart from individual upload size. Like, only certain groups being able to upload images or a maximum number of uploads per person per month or whatever---these are not possible.

What this means is that sooner or later we may need more storage space. — Jamal

Surely you can just make an announcement and institute an effective "honor system" where everyone decides which images are valuable (worth sharing).

You must definitely be able to see who uploads what and what users take up what amount of MB or data space, yes?

You must have thought about the repercussions.

Hmm... so if I get banned one day for my "knee-jerk contradictions" (in my view, unacceptable falsehoods that fly in the face of common sense forcing an immediate reply for the sake of all that is good and True) I can make an account and just upload image after image in "good faith" and force you to upgrade spending your hard earned money lest others be deprived of equal creative freedom. Interesting. :naughty:

How about you stop blabbering and get over to the new forum? I expect you'll have more trouble than most owing to your paleolithic computer, so I'd like to help you through any problems you have (if it's even possible).

:smile:

I absolutely intend to. And will soon. I'm merely deciding if I should re-invent myself. If not just to avoid the current possible "heat" I have as-is. I have been warned, formally. Which as you know happens "only once", gulag style. Perhaps something new and edgy. Like the opposite of my current moniker. Something like "Buddy" or "Bro".

In all seriousness I will shortly and certainly will subscribe. Comes up easily on the phone and I just brought my tablet out of retirement (I'm assuming I own it now since I was making monthly payments for it to use as POS system for my former employees and the cellular company made a change without me paying off the full balance yet just forget about it apparently). What annoys me is that even though it's no longer wireless equipped (cannot make or receive calls but of course can connect to Wi-Fi) the battery drains regardless. Like. What is it doing while powered off? Should I be concerned? :brow: