Organization of the forum - hardware section

[squalho]

I would like to express an idea that came to my mind about the organization of the forum. I've been watching the result of this poll
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=443565
and I had myself some problems with my notebook's hardware so I posted a couple of thread, but I had a few or no answer.

What I think is that (especially for the "Hardware & Laptops" section) it would be useful to have the hardware section divided by manufacturer, so that posting in a section we will find other people with similar hardware and problems. This should help helping each other.

In my opinion the hardware section is quite messy, you can find in the same section people of different experience (and this is good) using very different hardware with very different problems, completely unsorted.
Moreover, it is very important dealing with notebooks to know the brand, because similar hardware built in machines of different manufacturers can lead to completely different behaviours.

Please let me know what do you think of this simple idea. Thank you.

Vittorio

[p_quarles]

Of course I agree with you completely that notebook support questions should be as specific as possible about the make and model. At the same time, there are already a very high number of sub-sections, and increasing that is unlikely to have the desired effect of better organization.

There have been a number of requests for new sub-forums recently, and the tagging feature built into vBulletin 3.7 is designed to help satisfy those requests, although in a slightly different way. Basically, instead of creating a new section, it would be best if people could encourage each other to tag their questions with relevant information. That can be anything from "Acer" or "Dell" to "Compiz" or "network manager."

Basically, the number of possible topics and sub-topics that relate to the central topic of this forum makes it inefficient to add new sections all the time. The tag feature allows users to insert this kind of specific information in a much more dynamic way that is not limited by the foresight of the forum administrators.

[squalho]

Basically, the number of possible topics and sub-topics that relate to the central topic of this forum makes it inefficient to add new sections all the time. The tag feature allows users to insert this kind of specific information in a much more dynamic way that is not limited by the foresight of the forum administrators.

Yes, this is true, but the manufacturers division would be quite static, so there would not be the need to edit it often.
The problem of the tags is that the search is as dynamic as the post and therefore depends on the way the user thinks the right keywords are (only 5 available)...
In fact we are still slave of the "keyword" based system, no matter if static or dynamic. Have you ever thought of using this?
http://www.google.com/mentalplex/
Hehe, joking aside, maybe I am an unlucky user because if I type on google my model+ubuntu I obtain no results :(.

I'd like to know other opinions too!

[forestpixie]

I think that if there were larger numbers of sub forums then in all likelihood more threads would be missed.

Further you would of course need even more subforums - I never buy pc's so I would need a forum for home builts. You can build laptops - so they'll need a home, then there are those pc's which started out as manufactured but have now morphed.

In short there are more than enough sub forums as it is.

[mips]

There have been a number of requests for new sub-forums recently, and the tagging feature built into vBulletin 3.7 is designed to help satisfy those requests, although in a slightly different way. Basically, instead of creating a new section, it would be best if people could encourage each other to tag their questions with relevant information. That can be anything from "Acer" or "Dell" to "Compiz" or "network manager."

Great idea in principle but I think we all know pretty well that most people do not use tags.

[p_quarles]

Great idea in principle but I think we all know pretty well that most people do not use tags.
Which is why I chose my words carefully back there. :)

In any case, we also know that people frequently select the wrong sub-section to post their questions in, which has the same effect. That would only become more pervasive if more sections were added.

[forestpixie]

In any case, we also know that people frequently select the wrong sub-section to post their questions in, which has the same effect. That would only become more pervasive if more sections were added. +1

Great idea in principle but I think we all know pretty well that most people do not use tags. Personally I think that the tags rather than the version should be compulsory - but yea doesn't appear to be used too much.

[LaRoza]

Personally I think that the tags rather than the version should be compulsory - but yea doesn't appear to be used too much.

The good thing about tags is anyone can add them.

[forestpixie]

The good thing about tags is anyone can add them.

and of course I always remember to put something in on the ones I post to ;)

[LaRoza]

and of course I always remember to put something in on the ones I post to ;)

Except this thread? :-)

[forestpixie]

and of course I always remember to put something in on the ones I post to :sarcasm:

[cyberdork33]

The good thing about tags is anyone can add them.not enough.