[Hokerer]

And until you upgrade your browser, you can try just entering the URL directly.  Put...

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?action=unread

...into the address bar at the top of your browser and that should take you to the same place as clicking on the "unread" button.

[gordonstrong]

I've also noticed that the unread button can be covered up if you zoom your IE window (control-scroll button); I've seen this on a large-screen Win7 system with IE8 so it's not an old phenomenon.

Click right under your name and see if it brings something up; it might be hidden in the dark brown border.

[Michael Thompson]

I've been corresponding with Fred by Private Message, but just FYI for the rest of you, I'm using Firefox 3.6.8 on Macintosh OS X 10.4.11.

[Michael Thompson]

I've also noticed that the unread button can be covered up if you zoom your IE window (control-scroll button); I've seen this on a large-screen Win7 system with IE8 so it's not an old phenomenon.

Click right under your name and see if it brings something up; it might be hidden in the dark brown border.

Actually, that works! Cool, and thanks.

[rabid_dingo]

I've also noticed that the unread button can be covered up if you zoom your IE window (control-scroll button); I've seen this on a large-screen Win7 system with IE8 so it's not an old phenomenon.

Click right under your name and see if it brings something up; it might be hidden in the dark brown border.

Actually, that works! Cool, and thanks.

See? Good info just delivered differently. I hope this small sample of help shows the potential of the group here.
Cheers. 

[Michael Thompson]

Well, it's better at least. I can use forums, and I do so in several instances. I just prefer e-mail instead. The Forum has a lot of potential, but also way too much content. The work is sifting through all that to find something. The unread button does help a bit.

[gordonstrong]

Here's a fast way to use the forums:
1. When you login, have it remember you so you don't have to do it next time
2. Click the "Unread" button to view the list of new topics
3. If you see a topic you want to read, click the "New" button on that topic; it will jump to the first unread post
4. When you're done reading everything interesting to you, click the "Mark all messages as read" link so that the next time you do this, you'll only see things you haven't seen before

Or you could just bookmark the Unread page http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?action=unread and jump straight to step #3. Just hit that once a day, and you have a near TechTalk experience.

[denny]

I have to admit that I find it a bit amusing that so many people have talked about being overwhelmed by the volume of info on the forum.  It seems like they're saying they liked TT becasue it was underused and there wasn't that much there.

[bonjour]

I have to admit that I find it a bit amusing that so many people have talked about being overwhelmed by the volume of info on the forum.  It seems like they're saying they liked TT because it was underused and there wasn't that much there.

I'm glad you voiced that, but those were my thoughts as well.

[bluesman]

I have to admit that I find it a bit amusing that so many people have talked about being overwhelmed by the volume of info on the forum.  It seems like they're saying they liked TT because it was underused and there wasn't that much there.

I'm glad you voiced that, but those were my thoughts as well.

+1

Good point Denny.

If I am looking for a resource, I generally look for the best one I can find.  If the forum has more info why wouldn't one want to take advantage of that.  Some folks also seem to be overwhelmed with the level and diversity of info. here on the forum. 

I think that if given the opportunity to learn how to navigate around the forum, one would be hard pressed not to come back again and again.

[dbeechum]

Before too many people go down the "weird" path - I'll point out the counter argument. TT had lower content volume, but the signal to noise ratio is/was much better on TT.

The forum is great for fostering a sense of community, largely because everyone on here can be a chatty cathy without folks going cross eyed. TT and other email groups inherently self-whittle and with the exception of strong personalities tend to foster a more anonymous community that contributes only when important to them.

[susanr]

I have to admit that I find it a bit amusing that so many people have talked about being overwhelmed by the volume of info on the forum.  It seems like they're saying they liked TT because it was underused and there wasn't that much there.

Denny,  I think you are misinterpreting the meaning.  It isn't that TT was underused (altho I guess from the forum standards you could consider it that way) but that the information was much more readily available - on TT you do not have to go hunt for anything - it just comes into your e-mail box everyday - you can easily scan the titles to see what is there - those topics of interest can easily be clicked on and you get your brewing fix for the day. It doesn't matter if it is 5 topics or 40 - they are much quicker to scan than the forum is.  I have to admit I really prefer this method - I have been trying to keep up with the forum but I just don't have the time to do so.  Being the brewing junky that I am I have way to many topics that I am interested in now coming into my mailbox - and no time to really focus on any of them.  With TT things do come at a slower pace which many of us like - I don't need to know answers immediately - I like information to come in at a slower pace.  If there is something that I really want information on right away then I would come to a forum or do an internet search.  I think that the forum and TT are two totally different ways of receiving information and I think it is wrong to assume that one is better than the other as that is very dependent on the individual.  TT is better for me - the forum is better for you - but that doesn't make one exclusive to the other - I am sure there are many homebrewers out there that love both and use both.  I will use both (plus HBD) but prefer the TT version overall.

I really hope a solution can be found and TT (or a version of it) can be saved.

Cheers,
Susan

[denny]

Before too many people go down the "weird" path - I'll point out the counter argument. TT had lower content volume, but the signal to noise ratio is/was much better on TT.

Yes, very much lower S/N on TT, but still, a very much lower post count in general.

[denny]

Denny,  I think you are misinterpreting the meaning.  It isn't that TT was underused (altho I guess from the forum standards you could consider it that way) but that the information was much more readily available - on TT you do not have to go hunt for anything - it just comes into your e-mail box everyday - you can easily scan the titles to see what is there - those topics of interest can easily be clicked on and you get your brewing fix for the day. It doesn't matter if it is 5 topics or 40 - they are much quicker to scan than the forum is.  I have to admit I really prefer this method - I have been trying to keep up with the forum but I just don't have the time to do so.  Being the brewing junky that I am I have way to many topics that I am interested in now coming into my mailbox - and no time to really focus on any of them.  With TT things do come at a slower pace which many of us like - I don't need to know answers immediately - I like information to come in at a slower pace.  If there is something that I really want information on right away then I would come to a forum or do an internet search.  I think that the forum and TT are two totally different ways of receiving information and I think it is wrong to assume that one is better than the other as that is very dependent on the individual.  TT is better for me - the forum is better for you - but that doesn't make one exclusive to the other - I am sure there are many homebrewers out there that love both and use both.  I will use both (plus HBD) but prefer the TT version overall.

I really hope a solution can be found and TT (or a version of it) can be saved.

Cheers,
Susan

Susan, I agree with you on a day to day basis.  But what about if you recall a topic in TT 6 months back that you want to re-read?  In that case, at least for me, it becomes much easier to search a forum than many back issues of TT.  And I know that because I've kept every TT going back for years so I could search for stuff.  It's quite unwieldy..at least for me.  But as you say, different people have different ways to retrieve and utilize info.  That's why we're working so hard to try to find a replacement/alternative for TT.  We're testing one of those now, and I hope we have good news for TT aficionados soon.

[Hokerer]

Before too many people go down the "weird" path - I'll point out the counter argument. TT had lower content volume, but the signal to noise ratio is/was much better on TT.

Yes, very much lower S/N on TT, but still, a very much lower post count in general.

Wouldn't a "better" S/N be "higher"?