Off-topic

[padishah_emperor]

As this section is about site suggestions, feedback etc. I have a suggestion which I\'ve voiced to a couple of members, it should really be made public for debate.

I think the Off-topic forum is devisive, there seems to be too many frayed tempers myself included to the point where I just don\'t want to post on it anymore.  Moreover it seems to be a place where people like to just rip into Sharp or the Zaurus usually while pointing out an alternative product, the mere mention of loyalty causes uproar and anger, it seems odd on a Zaurus User Group, maybe a Zaurus Appreciation Society should be forked?  :cry:

Some of these arguements can get quite bitchy and personal and does not serve the community, I find it - and I am sure I am not alone - quite a turn off to find people really attacking something I have just saved and invested in, it makes me wonder if it was worth it, but what is probably more damaging, is what it does to prospective converts or interested parties, one (a friend in London) has told me \"I wouldn\'t bother joining\", a guy with 20 years UNIX background and a fellow doctorate, the guy who could solve YOUR problem!  To loose one person is a shame.

It also seems that anyone wanting to show some pride in their new toy - I mean personal mobile tool, which for some of us is a massive investment and a long-term commitment (especially former 200LXers who are used to getting 7-10 years from a handheld, not 6 months), gets shot down or flamed, in quite a nasty way at times, it is devisive and sometimes offensive.  It can simply make you feel bad, and for what?  :shock:

In the meantime, unless someone blatently attacks me or the Z, I am staying clear of it all, but for the sake of a happy community, off-topic discussions can be conducted on a variety of other sites out there designed for that and the praises of competitors can be sung on the competitors forums.

It\'s got nothing to do with curbing free speech, just making sure there are still a few of us left, 2 or 5 or more years down the line. ;-)

That\'s my view anyway, what do you think?  Answer nicely. :-)

[rikiya]

I totally agree with you again and I do get pretty short tempered from the sayings about the zaurus and I will not make any stupid comments anymore but I do say that I was one of them and just like you said about the part

off-topic discussions can be conducted on a variety of other sites out there designed for that and the praises of competitors can be sung on the competitors forums.

I said the same thing in one of the comments too  Just to let you know I agree with everything you said.

[padishah_emperor]

Your support is most appreciated

[vishnja]

I think I understand your point. The Zaurus User Group has quite a broad design, it\'s just users of various Zaurus models exchanging experience, tricks, ideas, code.
It attracks different groups of people, people who use the Zaurus for very differnet purposes and for different time spans. I think, people who share a general interest in new devices similiar to the Zaurus should also be able to exchange links and thoughts. But what we don\'t have here, (and what you sometimes find at other sites on other gadgets) is a fanclub.
A platform for all the proud Zaurus owners showing off there devices and exchanging  \"the nice stuff\": success stories, records, pictures. Things that create a cult object, make Zaurus owners even more emotionally attached to their PMT and make this device attractive to people who could be potential Zaurus owners.
What do you think?

Other ideas: a flame forum and a Forum-police ;-)

[rikiya]

It\'s all right to look at different products but I wouldn\'t like it when people talking about the zaurus in a bad way

[coolass]

I also agree. I posted about this in General Dis. called \" Just a thought\"\' which touches on this very sudject. \"Always good to know you\'re not alone,if so you would just be complaining\".  COOLASS

[Joshp]

I agree.  The off topic form is good for looking at other prodects.  Or like me I have posetd some theings in off topic form that did not dirlecty affect the zaurus.  And I also agree that flameing in the off topic sould not be allowd.  But sould the off topic form be removed I don\'t think so.  Should it be more tightly contruled yes.  And also I don\'t like peaple bashing the Z.  If you have a legemet problume thats fine and or you had a bad experce with a zaurus that is also fine, but keep it reasable don\'t come in and go \"The zaurus was the worst pda I have ever ownd.\"(not the wrights thoughts on the zaurus.).  Do I belive that sharp sould be bashed all the time no, and that is not what the off topic form is for, the off topic for is for execluty that off topics.  But about computer releated things.  Not \"Whitch is better the US or the Eupren console\" what is that.

JP :evil:

[DrWowe]

Let\'s make a distinction here.  I doubt I\'ve bashed the Zaurus, except maybe in frustration (as in, my Netgear WiFi card causes my 5600 to crash constantly).  When I post criticism, it\'s generally aimed squarely at Sharp, and more precisely, their brain-dead middle-managers who won\'t support the fine product their talented engineers put together, won\'t provide review units to major websites, refuse to sell their best products outside Japan, etc. etc.

[padishah_emperor]

Yes DrWowe but it\'s getting tired now, no company is perfect, they are for profit, not for correcting injustices unfortunately.  I can tell you that as someone who owned a Clie before going over to the Z, Sony are no angels and treat their customers far worse, plus they bring out new machines so fast your Clie is obsolete before you get it home.

Now, back on track..

Thanks to everyone else who has taken the time to share their views, maybe a fansite or appreciation forum is what we need?

I take some comfort knowing there are mostly happy Z users out there who knew what they were getting, maybe more fan-based activities would be more helpful.  Maybe someone has an idea?  I really would like to know what kind of good experiences people have had as well as the bad.

;-)

Long live the Z!

[padishah_emperor]

A platform for all the proud Zaurus owners showing off there devices and exchanging  \"the nice stuff\": success stories, records, pictures. Things that create a cult object, make Zaurus owners even more emotionally attached to their PMT and make this device attractive to people who could be potential Zaurus owners.
What do you think?

I think that\'s a great idea, just what we need, but it\'s not my call. If others are supportive, who knows?

(Just saw how many posts I\'ve now done, I need to take a break ;-) I must be a true zuggite now)

[DrWowe]

Yes, but there\'s a saying about the more you love someone, the more you care about their flaws.  You see, I don\'t care about Sony\'s flaws because I don\'t care about their Palm PDAs much at all.  In case you were wondering, I actually very much like my Zaurus, which is the only reason why I really care about Sharp\'s flaws to bother posting in the first place.

Anyway, I agree enough is enough.  Lets go back to discussing how to get the most out of our toys.  

[padishah_emperor]

LOL!

Indeed.

(A flame forum could be good for cathartic rants, and as my Grandfather is fond of saying \"it\'s an Englishman\'s right to moan\", I\'m sure people from all over the world could use a good rant occassionally. Even at Sharp ;-))

[amrein]

A platform for all the proud Zaurus owners showing off there devices and exchanging \"the nice stuff\": success stories, records, pictures. Things that create a cult object, make Zaurus owners even more emotionally attached to their PMT and make this device attractive to people who could be potential Zaurus owners.
What do you think?

I think that Zaurususergroup.com and www.killefiz.de/zaurus/ are the web site you are looking for. I\'m sure that any good suggestions will be used by their web masters to improve them.  Adding contents too, submitting links, ideas, review, web site themes, new faq entry... I\'m sure that  every Zaurus users appreciate any work arround our device.

Want to create another thread with \'How can we improve our web sites\'?