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Hi folks, new here and I had a question as I'm considering Green Chip membership.
Does the Green Chip section use the same message board software as this section? It's really, really, REALLY old software...seems like with a pay site the admins would be able to afford an upgrade to something more modern like phpBB or IPBoard.
Does the Green Chip section use the same message board software as this section?
Yes, Green Chip uses the same format. "Upgrading" it has been discussed many times, but most of our members prefer the ease and simplicity of this format, which allows scanning an entire page for new posts in seconds. In addition, this software is more stable and doesn't have the security risks of some of the newer software.
Thanks for the response.
Just some background, the first 2 internet communities/message boards I ever participated in, way back in '97 or '98 (that is a long time ago for a youngster like me) used this software. So when I came here and saw it my immediate reaction was "holy jesus, they're still using that stuff?" The funny part is that when I started migrating to other message boards that used phpBB and IPBoard and other stuff, initially I hated it because it lacked the threaded response model that this software uses. Over time I got used to it and now coming back to this seems weird. But I think once I get used to it I'll be fine.
And I totally understand the security/stability aspect. Generally the longer a piece of software has been around, the fewer bugs and security holes it has (as long as it's being actively used and supported, at least).
My favorite part about this old program is you don't have threads lasting for an infinite amount of time. I can show you threads on other, none gaming boards, I participate in that have been ongoing for over a year, rehashing the S.O.S. Just when you would think it is gone, someone inevitably resurrects it from the dead with a new posting.
Like they said in this old VolksWagon ad:
Cobbson
On the free page, use COLLAPSE LIST to turn the format into a vBulletin-type format. Go to SET PREFERENCES, then LIST STYLE for other possible combinations.
On the Green Chip pages, in SET PREFERENCES, there are also many possible combinations you can use. "Threaded Guestbook-Style Listing" produces a vBulletin-type format.
Is there a way to set it up so you click on New Posts (as in Vbulletin) or View Unread Posts (as in phpBB) and it brings up a list of threads with the first new post in each?
Try COMPRESSED LIST, GUESTBOOK, NEWEST FIRST to see if that's what you are looking for. If not, you can experiment with the various settings on both the free page and on Green Chip. There are many possible combinations.
>>most of our members prefer the ease and simplicity of this format, which allows scanning an entire page for new posts in seconds.
Well, that works because the links for the messages change to their "read" color when you read them, and that information is stored in your browser history - so you can easily see the newer, unread messages by their color. However, that works only if you don't clean out your browser history. If you're like me and you frequently clear out your browser history & cookies (either through your browser or using a program like CCleaner), then ALL of the messages return to their "unread" link color appearance and you're back to square one. So there is no such "easy and simplicity" for those who emphasize privacy or hard-drive cleanliness! (BTW, if you browse in privacy mode, your browser will not store your history once you close your browser.)
I'm sure there are still people out there using rotary dial phones and 28.8K modem connections. But change is the only constant in the universe, and the features, functionality, and capabilities of today's message forum software greatly enhance both communications between members and the user experience overall, and simply blow away 1990s forum software like WebBBS (which is not without its own security vulnerabilities).
The other aspect of new (i.e., current) forum software vs. old is that when there IS a vulnerability found to exist, since there ARE so many users of that software a security patch/update is immediately issued. That is unfortunately not the case with a script-based forum like WebBBS, which I belief ceased development back in 2002, now a decade ago.
