Do we need a Tech Newbie forum?

geordieracer

I notice there is one board guide for this part of the forum - Fran. I cannot for the life of me remember the last time that they posted or tidied anything up in here.

What we need is a board guide(or two) who is on here regular as clockwork so they can move things about a bit and tidy up all the duplicate threads and do what is needed.

People with Virus queries should ALWAYS have their own thread as every problem may be unique to them and help with going through it all step by step. This is how it is on dedicated places like microsoft and google and such like and should be here.

Threads abotu what laptop to buy - whilst a bit of a pain should also be on their own as again every poster has different requirements.

The other stuff like hoax calls should just be shuffled all into the one thread - by the board guides.

debitcardmayhem

closed wrote: »

"see FAQ"

would save a lot of time.

Should be in the site feedback and suggestions section really, where are all the mods?

On Skegness sea front waiting for the rockers ..... ok I'll get me parka:p

Lil306

geordieracer wrote: »

I notice there is one board guide for this part of the forum - Fran. I cannot for the life of me remember the last time that they posted or tidied anything up in here.

What we need is a board guide(or two) who is on here regular as clockwork so they can move things about a bit and tidy up all the duplicate threads and do what is needed.

People with Virus queries should ALWAYS have their own thread as every problem may be unique to them and help with going through it all step by step. This is how it is on dedicated places like microsoft and google and such like and should be here.

Threads abotu what laptop to buy - whilst a bit of a pain should also be on their own as again every poster has different requirements.

The other stuff like hoax calls should just be shuffled all into the one thread - by the board guides.

I actually sent an email tonight about this very thing. I wouldn't mind being a board guide or mod since I know forums and I'm on here often enough anyway

As for seperate forums, I selected the "no this option is fine". Anyone is welcome, I never turn down helping people if I can.

Dave_C_2

It would be much better if we had a fresh set of stickies or a FAQ that we could point to regarding the common questions and answers. A few off the top of my head:

Closed's method of speeding up a slow PC - this is a must!
Callers purporting to be from Microsoft.
How megapixels don't matter on digital cameras compared with other features.

I find that in attempting to answer newbie questions, I learn more than just taking a passive role. We were all newbies once!

Dave

debitcardmayhem

Savvybunny2009 wrote: »

I am one who posted about needing a new laptop, and I still do as I'm no expert on tech specs or reliable brands and thought those who knew more than the average mum (me) would be kind enough to help. I'm sorry that my post has upset some of you, I didn't know where to ask, I checked the sub £350 thread and it is outdated, and I searched for similar threads and many suggestions were for refurbs which is not something I am considering. I am sorry, I don't have anyone techie to ask.

You have no need to apologise, please come back on here for whatever reason if you need help, advice or just to chat(however the Moneysavers arms is better for that, if you can stand the painfully bad jokes, lack of taste etc). It is not guaranteed that you will find the correct answer/advice but most of the girls/guys on here offer advice because they want to help if they can, and the same is true of other users on the many other forums on MSE.

stilltheone

Savvybunny2009 wrote: »

I am one who posted about needing a new laptop, and I still do as I'm no expert on tech specs or reliable brands and thought those who knew more than the average mum (me) would be kind enough to help. I'm sorry that my post has upset some of you, I didn't know where to ask, I checked the sub £350 thread and it is outdated, and I searched for similar threads and many suggestions were for refurbs which is not something I am considering. I am sorry, I don't have anyone techie to ask.

Perhaps this is because we know what is described as a refurb is actually new with a full twelve month warranty.
Since this is a money saving website, we aren't going to bypass a true bargain because of a description.

How about this Acer Aspire 5745PG-354G32Mns for something different?

Touch screen laptop for £379.

Demo here.

Not a serious recommendation, but who knows...it might open your eyes to new possibilities.

GunJack

There's an awful lot of sense being spoken in this thread with regards to tidying up the techie board, and I feel that this single thing (i.e. a spring-clean) would benefit everyone. It would also be easier to help people if they did what they could by following a decent sticky first (like closed's thread for example) and THEN started their own for specific advice.

p.s. where have all the interesting virus infection threads gone ??

rmg1

I must admit I am one of the "culprits" that doesn't always use the search function before posting.

Having said that, if I am posting a question, it's usually something specific (i.e. virus removal or sorting out phone extensions).

As for the multiple threads on virus/malware removal, I enjoy reading them (sad I know). I like to see how things are done at this level of expertise, basically because I wouldn't have a clue but would like to learn. I wouldn't even dream of giving advice on these matters becuase I don't know enough, but some of the information/advice given by others tweaks my curiosity enough to Google for extra information.

I agree that the layout could do with a bit of a tidy-up but would that have an impact on how this site looks/feels for newbies? Maybe this is a case of "better the devil you know". I know for some it could be a bit tedious wading through the same question time and time again but, as someone else has already said, if it bores you don't read it.

I don't read every post on here, but if a question catches my eye, I'll have a quick scan at the OP and, if it grabs me, probably mark the rest of the thread to read at my leisure.

I don't think we need a new board, just a slightly different way of using/viewing this one.

Squire_Fulwood

Another two pennyworth

I don't feel obliged to plow through every thread on the forum and bore myself. I scan the titles and if they look familiar or a repeated subject I go to something else that looks promising. There is also little point in reading threads that do not interest me or about which I know so little that I can't help .....unless I can learn from the other answers.

Also, by definition, a newbie is a newbie and possibly unfamiliar with the full facilities or the protocols that some contributors think exist. They may also be a bit timid about joining in and are glad to have a subject on which they can make their maiden post. Hopefully they will become better at it with practice.

Fifer

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

Another two pennyworth

I don't feel obliged to plow through every thread on the forum and bore myself. I scan the titles and if they look familiar or a repeated subject I go to something else that looks promising. There is also little point in reading threads that do not interest me or about which I know so little that I can't help .....unless I can learn from the other answers.

Few people do feel thus obliged. But people also lose interest in a forum where the first few pages of threads are all variations on a limited number of themes, just as they do when there are only a few interesting threads amongst seas of spam. And if people lose interest, forums die so people with problems lose a place to get help (or at best, the form loses helpful people).