E30 Zone

The Zone software is old and outdated. This is starting to cause issues for everyone, to update our current software is just not feasible anymore and a complete revamp is needed.

I still want to still keep the same feel that the current Zone has but all new shiny software.

So this is your chance to have your say, what would like to see in a new Zone? e.g. design, features, section ...

I've already have requests for taptalk and an itrader feedback type system.

Over to you

I see nothing wrong with how it currently functions, although I never visit via a mobile phone so don't know if what you are on about above is for mobile browsers.

The only thing I think we need is the feedback stuff linked to people's avatars, so it shows a feedback type score.

Pacerpete has only just mastered links and photos, we don't want to alienate our brethren

Ditto never experiencing any issues, but I also only ever log in when I'm in my office on pc's. Works fine for me

My only comment is that when I access the Zone using an iPad, all the photos are miniscule, and I have to 'tap' on them to open them at a reasonable size in one (and depending on the photo host and their perculiarities) sometimes two other screens.

Obviously the solution is to access the Zone using a 'real' computer, but I can shut down the iPad in seconds if I hear him indoors starting to walk down the stairs so he doesn't realise how much time I spend on here

I couldn't do that on a laptop

Current format works well in my opinion,

As an old git,I do not expect to fully understand the workings of the interweb thingy.I am constantly suprised at how much information I can gather via my desktop computer in my own home,gathering similar information via my laptop and a dongle thingy is more of a challenge,I often feel that signal strength is my main issue,however.

Regarding the zone,my only real gripe is the trader issues that we seem to be getting more of recently,perhaps a solution here is a clearly defined set of rules for trading within the zone,and payment by all for the benifit of placing an advert?Those with an 'Approved Trader' arrangement,in effect,are paying 'upfront' for the adverts,so no extra levy to made there.

Moderators and team members cannot be everywhere at once,we have had a number of threads recently that have spiralled out of any semblance of control,so the addition of the long a-waited 'report' button to ring a claxton in the mod's chatroom would be of great benifit,I feel.

I'll get me coat,now.

Never had any issues with the layout, would like the search option to be better tho...

By far the easiest forum to use

I know it might cost a bomb in terms of bandwidth, but allowing users to upload images to the Zone itself rather than third-party sites would be useful. When compiling new Wiki articles from old Tech posts, I've noticed that almost all the photos are long-dead, which isn't helpful when people are searching for solutions to their problems.

No problems regarding the current format, however, some good suggestions have beenmade above. Love it.

An e30 zone App would be good

beemerbird wrote:My only comment is that when I access the Zone using an iPad, all the photos are miniscule, and I have to 'tap' on them to open them at a reasonable size in one (and depending on the photo host and their perculiarities) sometimes two other screens.

Obviously the solution is to access the Zone using a 'real' computer, but I can shut down the iPad in seconds if I hear him indoors starting to walk down the stairs so he doesn't realise how much time I spend on here

I couldn't do that on a laptop

That small image prob you're having could be a safari (presuming that's what your ipad is using) tweak - not sure.

I use opera mini which doesn't load forum images at all & not yet bothered look into why, but the browser itself or just the browser settings, determine these things..

with the laptop, just alf-f4 a few times and close the lid

Malc, that panic button idea is ok, but it's like giving a kid a jar of sweets imo..

In general, is there a way of giving the 'for-sale' sub forum a different look and feel, the psychology of a more clinical look, may persuade people to be less complacent and frivolous when dealing with a transaction?

Regarding recent high profile cases, there aren't so many outright rip off merchants, only one as far as I can remember - a new member breaking a white 316i and just did a bunk when he had a few bites. Really the zone looks after itself, but having a more integrated feedback system is a very positive move - currently feedback is hived in its' own section, and newer members may not even be aware it's even there.. Also if feedback is clear to see, it a, brings awareness to the buyer and b, makes the seller more conscious about keeping it looking positive.

There should be strict guidelines for clear communication and agreed dispatch times. The 3 strikes and a ban idea is a little short sighted. If there are outstanding disputes, some of which not yet brought to public attention and a member is banned, there's very little a buyer can then do from within the zone.

The zone is what it is - ebay are solely an online auction site, it's their job to get the transaction side sorted and they still haven't got it right!

more to come

Grrrmachine wrote:I know it might cost a bomb in terms of bandwidth, but allowing users to upload images to the Zone itself rather than third-party sites would be useful. When compiling new Wiki articles from old Tech posts, I've noticed that almost all the photos are long-dead, which isn't helpful when people are searching for solutions to their problems.

+1 on this - Although maybe just for people with access rather than everyone on the zone... People come and go all the time so images would be uploaded and then never be used etc.

- The current layout is brilliant, so hopefully there is no change on that side of things, I have tried to join other forums but just can 'connect' with them in the same way as the zone.


- The traders part is always going to be an issue, and to police it, it would be very hard. I do think a redirected page before looking at sales threads would be helpful, short and cheerful so people dont scan over it and just click 'next page'... State a few obvious suggestions like, 'check the sellers history' and 'when sending money through paypal, always send as a payment and not gift unless you fully know and trust the seller'

- As Malcolm has said in the past, a 'report button' would be a good suggestion, just so things can be flagged up a little quicker so they don't go unmissed.

Also, I am assuming this isnt going to be cheap for the zone, so why not try to start some sort of 'donating' scheme where people pay a monthly fee of £1-£2 and help support the zone that way... Give a few benefits like 25%-50% bigger inbox, maybe first access on parts for sale for 15 minutes or something like that?

There is a donating button on the home page, Jim.

Yeah, I have seen that one, but its just a small box half way down kinda thing...

With a monthly donation, people would be giving more in the terms of over time. Plus, if they have some sort of small benefit, then it would make people want to give more...

The zone relies on one off donations, merchandise and traders etc so making more pennies for it would be ideal

Also add, a redirecting page to the Wiki when wanting to post in the tech section, with a 'Did you find your answer? Yes/No' at the top, if no, then you get redirected to post in the tech centre... The Wiki has so many answers on there and thanks to GrrrrrrrrrrrrrMachine updating it all, its never been more helpful.

imo, leave it alone i never have any problems with it, we have just upgraded this on one of my biking forums and it has nearly killed it, if it aint broke dont try and fix it

so the zone will be going down again ?


this is becoming a regular Christmas theme

NOOO! not the feckin run board again

a simple icon at the top of the page with a link to display your posts would be nice, its a common feature on other forums. i just find it annoying to go to my profile to fins my posts

a report function would probably please some people

I've made my views on selling and feedback pretty clear before - newbies shouldn't be allowed to sell until achieving a reasonable post count and sellers should post a link to their feedback thread(s) on each advert. Also sellers and buyers need more rules in terms of couriers, postage and who's responsible for each part and what happens if it all goes wrong - i.e. accepting the moderators as judges on each dispute.

Prices are on the up and the volume of disputes and money involved will go up with it IMO.

Search function could be much better and perhaps an instant messaging/chat feature.

If the zone needs any hardware, I may be able to help in terms of servers, disk arrays etc as I work for a large IT company and can get access to assets planned for recycling.

Kos wrote: a report function would probably please some people

A nice set of Net Curtains to go with it, would make them
even happier.

Topblag wrote: ........ and perhaps an instant messaging/chat feature.

best leaving that sort of function to facebook, BB messenger I messages etc.

it will also take away post from the actually forum it self some of which are entertaining

please keep the look and feel the same - it works perfecly

but if you could do a direct upload for pics it would be sooooooo much easier

thanks

jim

Jim320i wrote: Also, I am assuming this isnt going to be cheap for the zone, so why not try to start some sort of 'donating' scheme where people pay a monthly fee of £1-£2 and help support the zone that way... Give a few benefits like 25%-50% bigger inbox, maybe first access on parts for sale for 15 minutes or something like that?

Another board I use gives users access to icons once they've donated. Getting dosh to the Zone that way might be useful in the sense of avatars; you can have your own if you pay a few quid.

Other than that, just as others have said; the Zone looks great to us mere users, and if it ain't broke...

andyp wrote:imo, leave it alone i never have any problems with it, we have just upgraded this on one of my biking forums and it has nearly killed it, if it aint broke dont try and fix it

Have to agree with this. The last time the ads section was changed it didn't go down well and was changed back pretty quickly.

Jim320i wrote:Also add, a redirecting page to the Wiki when wanting to post in the tech section, with a 'Did you find your answer? Yes/No' at the top, if no, then you get redirected to post in the tech centre... The Wiki has so many answers on there and thanks to GrrrrrrrrrrrrrMachine updating it all, its never been more helpful.

How annoying would this be? I know I would end up just not posting in there anymore.

And as for the zone hosting it's own images, what's the problem with using external image hosting sites? If you can't add [ img ] and [ / img ] around your image link then you shouldn't be allowed to use a computer imo. There are plenty of guides on how to post images up. I'm no expert but I would assume that bandwidth is one of the biggest costs for the zone, hosting images on here would massively increase bandwidth and therefore costs and the only way to pay for this would be to either have adverts or have everyone pay subscriptions, neither of which I would have thought the majority of members would want.

Its already been said but my vote goes to better search thing and direct photo upload. There the only things I don't like

clarko74 wrote:what's the problem with using external image hosting sites?

As I mentioned; those photos disappear. If you don't log into your photobucket account regularly, they will delete your photos. So people who documented their suspension rebuild or their common rust spots or all the different M20 crank shafts (and yes, these photos used to exist) find their images gone a year later, so that when people search for that info, they get a thread filled with "Image Could Not Be Found".

I admit though, the cost to the Zone may make this untenable.

Great feedback, thanks

Keep it coming !

There will always be a problem with getting zoner's to part with hard earned.

BMWCC costs only £35 per year if paid by direct debit.....value of the zone is far higher....any newbie who has asked a tech question has recieved an answer that will have saved him/her at least that amount in labour charges!

Kos wrote:a simple icon at the top of the page with a link to display your posts would be nice, its a common feature on other forums. i just find it annoying to go to my profile to fins my posts

it does have one already lol

dips346 wrote:

Kos wrote:a simple icon at the top of the page with a link to display your posts would be nice, its a common feature on other forums. i just find it annoying to go to my profile to fins my posts

it does have one already lol

Yup, click forum, then on the right, there are 3 options...

View posts since last visit
View your posts
View unanswered posts

Jim320i wrote:

dips346 wrote:

Kos wrote:a simple icon at the top of the page with a link to display your posts would be nice, its a common feature on other forums. i just find it annoying to go to my profile to fins my posts

it does have one already lol

Yup, click forum, then on the right, there are 3 options...

View posts since last visit
View your posts
View unanswered posts

never noticed it

having photo's located on servers externally is a lot less hassle. Without going into details, it would require an additional server, when taking into account storage (typically a storage array halves the physical disc size) and data throughput, then as mentioned the impact to bandwidth is a consideration. Then the housekeeping is quite messy - it's just messy

ok, don't worry about image hosting then. Only if I come across something in future that's hosted externally, I'll move it to the Wiki server for safekeeping. That'll keep space to a minimum and avoid server clutter for the Zone ;)

Kos wrote:

Jim320i wrote:

dips346 wrote: it does have one already lol

Yup, click forum, then on the right, there are 3 options...

View posts since last visit
View your posts
View unanswered posts

never noticed it

f***ing newbies lol

f u c k u

ive seen it on other forums, maybe it just needs to be a bit clearer ?