Text 11407, 120 rader
Skriven 2008-03-21 22:53:49 av Jeff Bowman (1:229/500)
  Kommentar till text 11406 av Maurice Kinal (1:261/38)
Ärende: Re: insecticide
=======================
MK> > Fidonet web interfaces are just there for convenience
 
MK> Obviously not for messaging else we'd see more than we have.
 
The web didn't start taking off for the general public until after the BBS had
already started to die.  People were more interested in new technology and ways
to chat and message than trying to find ways to still use what they considered
old.  Only sysops really took advantage of the internet, to transfer mail
packets.  Everyone else went to web forums and live chat and all the other
advantages the internet offers.
 
 
MK> Web browsers are for browsing.  Editors are for messaging.  The two don't
MK> mix well and I for one don't believe they should since they are
MK> completely different animals.
 
You don't always have your favorite editor handy.  I keep an online journal for
example just so that I have a common way to update it.  Same goes for web
forums, you can access them from anywhere.  And services like Gmail are great
because not only does it offer free POP3 and IMAP for use with my email client,
but the web interface is the best one I've ever used for webmail, letting you
manage the email remotely as well.
 
Another big advantage is the ability to use stuff like Java-based VNC, telnet,
and SSH clients.  Just keep them hosted on a server of yours somewhere, and
connect to it like any other web page. Since most machines have Java installed,
it just works.
 
Sometimes a web browser is the only tool you have.  But obviously in many cases
it's also the only tool you need.
 
 
MK> > (User Javascript) built into Opera
 
MK> Don't use java, and my guess is that I never will.  Never needed it and I
MK> doubt I ever will.  Have run into www sites that claim that I do but I
MK> ignore them since they don't know what they're talking about.
 
Java != Javascript.  Java is a plugin for browsers to run applets, and can also
be used to build standalone cross-platform applications.  Javascript is just a
scripting language that can be inserted into a page, which executes in the
browser itself, not a plugin.  The languages aren't even the same.  Some dummy
just decided to give them confusing names.
 
Personally I dislike Java for the most part, but its cross-platform capability
has always made it useful to people.  But I do enjoy the capabilities
Javascript allows. In fact, most websites use it in some form or another these
days. Some rather extensively.
 
 
MK> As for plugins, I don't have any since I've been able to do what they do
MK> all along without them.
 
Plugins do a lot of things in browsers which makes life easier.  I can watch
movie trailers in high quality right in the browser.  I can check to see if my
computer meets the system requirements for a game, right down to the details
such as pixel shader versions, which is important these days.  They allow for
Flash content, which has completely changed the web over the last few years in
many respects.  Sure, some of this stuff could be done manually, but why waste
your time?  If I can click something and it just happens, I've achieved maximum
productivity.
 
 
MK>JB> Like it or not though, web forums are what's popular now
 
MK> Other than the current political blogs at the moment, I totally disagree.
 
Blogs are totally different than actual web forums.  A blog is just somebody
rambling and people leave comments.  A forum is open for anyone to create
topics of conversation, and to post in other peoples' topics.  Things tend to
stay on subject and are easily moved if they aren't, as opposed to Fidonet.
Someone can come along and see an exact subject of conversation they want and
go straight into that one.  Bad users are also much easier dealt with. And
access controls for various sections are easily implemented.
 
 
MK> They are no different than Fido echoes except on the web based ones it MK>
is the web administrator doing most of the posting while in Fido it is
MK> sysops.
 
You haven't looked at many web forums if you think that, I'm afraid.  Many are
so large that they have to employee a number of moderators to keep an eye on
everything.  Some forums evolved to such size that they have pay areas.
 
 
MK> Also the web based ones you're never sure about the so-called
MK> users being real and in reality could indeed be the same person posting
MK> under a different handle.  That happens in a far lesser degree in Fido
MK> echoes.
 
They're easily found out, either by mannerisms, or by the admin or moderators
who can easily check the IP.  I've done it both ways myself on more than one
occasion on more than one forum.  With any large network so easily accessible,
you're going to have trolls and stupid people.  Fidonet was no different once
upon a time.
 
 
MK> The www never held much appeal to me and has become less appealing the
MK> more I use it.
 
Welp, as I'm sure you're already aware, you're in a vast minority.  It's kind
of a shame, because you really are missing out on a lot of things.  If you have
a particular amount of Linux knowledge, for example, you could be off on Linux
forums (like the huge one for Ubuntu) and be offering help to folks and
beginners, and discussing advanced stuff with others.  It's a pretty nice
place, actually. I've posted there before myself.  I can't name any other
Linux-specific forums off the top of my head, but rest assured, there are
plenty.
 
 
MK> > and maybe you just truly hate GUIs and the web.
 
MK> Hate is too strong a work.  Utterly useless would have been a better
MK> guesstimation.  ;-)
 
To each his own I suppose!  As long as you truly enjoy your way then more power
to you.

--- D'Bridge 2.99
 * Origin: FyBBS (1:229/500)