Merge Aximsite forums with Mobilitysite: a discussion

Pocketbrain · 10-17-06, 09:39 AM

Just a suggestion. I don't write the software that runs forums, but it should be fairly straightforward which forums to view, filter forums that don't interest or matter to you when you view new posts. If you want it all business, de-select the water fountain. If you own an ipaq, de-select Axim, Loox, etc etc. I noticed that UMPCsite has its forums over at mobilitysite. The biggest problem I see with this is, of course, merging the accounts. The top poster over at mobilitysite will become a minor player! And, I'm sure that there are a few accounts over at mobilitysite with the same username as an Aximsite account, but with different users. Should be possible to perform a merge anyway (usernameAS, usernameMS). This might be messy at first, or even completely undo-able, but I think it would benefit the community.

Consider this: How much of the technical information over here at AS is non-Axim specific? We probably generate more posts in this area than at mobilitysite on the whole. And the water fountain, social forums are non-device specific. The name mobilitysite suggests the broader reach that Aximsite has attained. We talk about smartphones, ipod vs. Zune, palm... lots of AS's users have a different device and still come back for both social and technical reasons.

Drawbacks: ipaqhq old-timers who value the low traffic of their site may not appreciate the gabby Aximsiters ending up on their front lawn all of a sudden.

Best solution would be to go back in time and not re-badge ipaqhq as mobilitysite, but do that with Aximsite, instead.

What do you guys think?

10-17-06, 09:48 AM

You bring up a very good point indeed. I brought several of your points up to Chris a while back. It looks like you and I were thinking along the same lines. His reply? It would all be worked out. I will leave it at that since he ultimately knows what is best for his sites. I just work here. Or, at Mobilitysite anyway. I personally see no issue with merging the forums but yet keeping the 2 sites separate. You have to admit, other than a few posters over at Mobilitysite, it's pretty dead over there at the moment. Other than staff, we're not seeing that much traffic. By merging the forums, that will change drastically. Some people may not like the change but I think that change is good. I'm all about making Mobilitysite as well as Aximsite a better place. That's just my two cents.

**Rishad** · 10-17-06, 03:43 PM

Excellent post PocketBrain. Hope to get lots of input from everybody.

stevenator65 · 10-17-06, 04:16 PM

I think 98% of people on both sites know that both sites are sister sites. Ultimately post counts aren't as important as the sense of community that these sites engender. Chris turned the other site into MobilitySite b/c HP wasn't working with him anymore. Well, you can now see what's going on at HP. They are a complete mess. They fired Carly Fiorina, and their Board is under investigation for all sorts of nasty things. Chris saw the writing on the wall way before the you know what hit the fan.

Now we have a situation where Dell stopped making Axims, but we have a huge, wonderful community here, and a leading edge site at MobilitySite, so merging the two makes great sense. Many members belong to both sites anyway. We may be loud, but we're nothing if not friendly.

**radimus** · 10-17-06, 04:26 PM

I'm all for merging them... I like many of us are going converged, Axims are probably extinct, unless Dell doesn the UMPC and brands them as Axim.

The site would be more WindowsMobile(ity) Site than tied to any specific hardware vendor

10-17-06, 04:54 PM

I think it is a great idea. OMG i think i'm agreeing with radimus. we have a lot to gain if continue to be a great resource for the axims, ipaqs and other ppcs out there; continue to build on that knowledge, which will ultimately be the foundation for continued community growth and sharing as small format computing evolves. after all it is about mobility. :approve: :approve: :approve: :approve:

Bagelsnbrew · 10-17-06, 05:35 PM

I vote for the "Best Solution"

On a more serious note, the time is right for a merger. As Radimus stated, the time for a Axim hardware specific site has passed. A general Windows Mobility site will draw more fresh content in, and this place is starting to get a bit stale. IMHO, you really don't need to hear much discussion, just do it!

dgoldring · 10-17-06, 11:21 PM

I tend to agree with everyone else. The market is clearly shifting. The Axim-like handheld is not at the forefront anymore. The converged devices are taking the stage and UPMC is not far behind. I think it makes perfect sense to have a forum that is available to all of these devices.

One suggestion, though would be to pay careful attention to how the forums are created. I would love somthing like what they have over at (is it howardforums...the cell phone one) where there is a different forum for each device. You can visit all of the forums or just stay in the one you want.

My other concern is that I usually stick to the new posts screen when I am reading. This might get a bit unweildy. I would think we need some way to view new posts only from certain forums.

Doug

Pocketbrain · 10-18-06, 09:51 AM

I don't think it's a good idea so much because of the shifting market, but because of the evolution of this online community.

BirdBrain · 10-18-06, 10:35 AM

I agree with most of what has been said above ... I think merging the two sites is a good idea, and I think it can be made to work. As long as the flexibility is there to sort out only the Axim stuff (if one so desires), or screen out mobility topics that aren't of interest to the individual, I think merging will be fine, IMHO.

Pocketbrain · 11-09-06, 11:49 AM

I'm thinking a list of forum areas, with checkboxes to fill. Do a list of all forums, uncheck anything that doesn't appeal to you, etc. You would essentially be subscribing to forums, not threads. It would be nice to filter. I notice political BS in the main channels has dropped considerably since they made that area of the water fountain Subscription-only.

F2504x4 · 11-09-06, 04:04 PM

i think it be a good step in the right directtion, , if the above mention filters can be put into place. We do need to keep up with the changing market place.

Zaniax · 11-09-06, 05:43 PM

The axim's will eventually vanish but not the mobile devices in general -
so, I think it's an excellent idea :approve:

.

11-09-06, 05:48 PM

I vote for this idea as well. I'm quite sure there's quite a number of us that have an account with mobility site as well. I know for sure that both PocketBrain and Kulnet have accounts there. I have an account there as well.

Another thing is if PDA is really starting to get phased out, we might as well be united. Lol, sounds like earth is being taken over or something..

W.I.P. · 11-09-06, 05:57 PM

It saddens me to think that Aximsite will "disappear", but I do look in on Mobilitysite as often as I come here... If the filters can help keep an "Aximsite sphere" within Mobilitysite, it probably really is time that these two sites come together as one....

We pave paradise.... and put up a parking lot... ;)