[Elecraft] New Elecraft Message Board?

[Vic K2VCO]

Fred (FL) wrote:
> I'm proposing it is way past about time, for Elecraft
> Inc. to create and support an "Elecraft Message Board"
> for all its many customers and fans.  IMHO -
> this REFLECTOR thing - is about 10 years out of date,
> and an antique.  

This is a complaint that keeps popping up, like a gopher on a golf course.

*NONE* of the clever web-based solutions for "forums", "message boards" 
etc. is a good a solution for this type of discussion as the 
old-fashioned reflector. Why?

1) No matter how fast your internet connection is, the process of 
navigation and reading messages in such a system is slower than an email 
client like Thunderbird or Outlook Express. You cannot get away from the 
net and server overhead. Glancing at a post to see if I want to pay 
attention to it takes a fraction of a second.

2) Many of us do not dedicate time to reading Elecraft messages; we 
simply deal with them as part of our regular email usage. For example, 
part of my job is doing technical support for users of a product. I also 
belong to several discussion groups for political subjects, etc. I get 
tons of mail. By using a basic email client I can quickly scan the 
hundred emails or so in my inbox and attend to the high-priority ones 
first. It is an extremely efficient use of my time.

3) You can set up folders in a basic email client that alow you to file 
saved messages and sort and search them in the most convenient way for 
you personally. Web-based systems can barely approach the same 
functionality, they are harder to use and are SLOOOOOW!

The old-fashioned reflector is efficient, appropriate technology. It is 
a perfect tool for the job at hand. Don't fix what isn't broken!
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco