Microsoft newsgroups made their debut in April 1996, replacing the discussion forums on CompuServe. Over the years, these groups were used by millions of people to communicate with each other about computers, software and issues. At last count, the company had 2,000 public newsgroups and another 2,200 private groups focused on specific communities such as partners or its MVP (Most Valued Professional) program. However, this style of communication has its own set of problems which Microsoft feels are detrimental to giving their users the best possible experience.

“Newsgroups run on an outdated and discontinued platform that is no longer supported, making them vulnerable to spam and other usability issues,” Microsoft said in a statement. The company said that its forums get 15 million visits a month and have been growing, on average, 12 percent each month. By contrast, it said that participation in newsgroups has dropped nearly in half over the past year. Not only are the newsgroups a hotbed for spam, they often leave users feeling as though their conversations are fragmented. The style and setup leaves a lot to be desired.

Beginning this month, Microsoft will begin phasing out newsgroups, beginning with the least-used ones. The company will post announcements prior to the removal of information and threads, though, so that you can prepare yourself. In the meantime, you are encouraged to make a local backup of any newsgroup that you feel has useful content. During the transition, Microsoft will provide links in each newsgroup which points towards the best possible forum alternative for that particular type of discussion. This should help the newsgroupies be able to find each other – and their proper place within the community – much easier.

This move adds substantial benefits for the community as a whole. On Microsoft Answers, for instance, you’ll find that all of the content is now searchable. This negates the need for multiple postings about the same issue. Content will be easier to find and index for future use. There are also advanced moderating capabilities, meaning the teams and leads can help nip spam and trolls in the bud before they get out of control. The team feels that forums-based communications offer better user management platforms, and give people an overall healthy discussion space.

Are you still a newsgroup user? What are your thoughts about this announcement? I have a feeling there will be many die-hard fans who are not going to be happy with this decision. I have to agree that it’s a good call, and makes perfect sense. The old style became a nightmare to navigate years ago. I’m looking forward to seeing how the team in Redmond will use this change to communicate more with the consumers.

Microsoft is Pulling the Plug on Newsgroups

A startling announcement came today from the Ning network. Only one month after appointing a new CEO, the company has major reorganization plans in the works. In addition to laying off approximately 40% of its staff, the company is killing off all free accounts. Free account users will have the option to either change over to a premium membership, or move their network to another platform entirely.

As I read this news, I breathed a sigh of relief that both Geeks and Gnomedex are hosted on premium Ning accounts already. As of today, we have more than 27,000 members, 14,000 blog posts, 19,000 forum threads and countless photos and videos that all of you have contributed. That is a LOT of information sharing, folks.

In his message to staff members, CEO Jason Rosenthal stated in part that “So, we are going to change our strategy to devote 100% of our resources to building the winning product to capture this big opportunity. We will judge ourselves by our ability to enable and power Premium Ning Networks at huge scale. And all of our product development capability will be devoted to making paying Network Creators extremely happy.”

They want to make us extremely happy? That’s excellent news for our community. There are several things that we hope to see in the very near future. These are very basic things that will help our little slice of Ning continue to thrive. One of the most important things we need to see is a better way to control members. Currently, we have the ability to freeze or ban a member posting spam or other unwanted information. However, there is no way to ban a user by IP address. This is a HUGE problem.

Several times in the past few weeks, our site (along with many other Ning sites) was bombarded by a porn spam bot attack. We’re talking hundreds of posts being made in under an hour. Every single “member” came from the exact same IP address. Whoever was behind the attack knew full well that Ning doesn’t ban by IP. If they did, this attack would have been stopped in a matter of seconds… instead of taking over an hour.

There are several other smaller details that we would like to see worked on by the Ning team. I am happy to talk with them at any point in time in order to help contribute feedback and ideas. For the most part, I am happy with Ning and the features we have (although, half of what makes it a functional community are the “hacks” that had to be put in place). There is always room for improvement, though.

Then again, Ning has never really understood how communities work – and their platform strategy only reflects the lack of insight from the top down.

One large concern I have is the fact that many of our members have free Ning networks of their own. Most of them will not likely have the resources to convert their account to a premium one. What’s to happen to their communities?

Well, unless developers and designers put their collective heads together… Ning communities will remain stranded on a mostly-closed platform. There are ways to export Ning network data, but no translation tool to take those relationships elsewhere. What about a tool to import a Ning community into a WordPress 3.0 / BuddyPress installation?

Heck, I’d host a WordPress hackathon at my house over the weekend for the start of that – would there be any developers and designers interested. I live in the Seattle area, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t work remotely with capable individuals.

Inevitably, we’ll have community hosting set up under Lockergnome’s Premium Services. Signing up now will get you a domain name, WordPress installation and hosting, includes many popular plugins, and Free / Premium themes. Packages start at only $12.77 per month (which includes the domain registration), and there are no contracts. You can cancel anytime you like. This is classic WordPress at the moment, but I’m making moves to go into full WPMU / BuddyPress / WordPress 3.0 hosting.

Sometimes, you get what you pay for – which is to say that freeloaders should probably stop whining.

The Future of Ning Communities

Earlier today, I posted a video (and blog post) filled with tips on how to maximize your comprehension when it comes to whatever you are reading. That video made me reflect on the types of things I tend to read. I don’t often sit down with a book. When I do, though, my concentration is so absolute that I tend to tune out everything else. I let myself become absorbed by the text. This allows me to truly comprehend and digest whatever it is I’m reading.

I also spend a great deal of time reading things online. I’m constantly perusing blogs, forums, website postings, news sites – you name it, and I likely read it if it’s online. Even though it’s something I’m reading on a computer screen, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve my full attention. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t just as important as a book I can hold in my hands.

What do you read the most? Do you spend time curled up with a book, or are you like me… preferring to read what people in the world are up to, thinking, feeling and writing about? If you haven’t been keeping up with what people are doing on Lockergnome and Geeks, now is as good a time as any.

• Bloggers are revolting as the FTC sticks to its guns.
• Are you using TwitterFeed yet?
• Can you tweet yourself into early retirement?
• Is your face in the database?
• Could technology stop us from dying?
• The Linux Foundation membership just keeps on giving.
• New brain stimulation treatment may offer hope for depression sufferers.
• Can you sum up your life in only two words?
• Windows 7 vs Snow Leopard – who wins in a performance test?
• The Bing-Hoo deal is being called into question as Google looks on.
• Will your memory be the next thing to go Green?
• What’s the big deal about Windows 7?
• Snow Leopard really hits the spot for some users.

Be sure, as always, to keep your eyes on our downloads pages. We’re constantly updating it to bring you the very best and hottest software and apps at the lowest prices we can get for you!

What Do You Read?

It’s time to stand up and stretch. Get out of those chairs. Come on – you can do it. Stand up, and reach your arms above your head as high as they will go. Now bend over, and attempt to touch the ground (don’t worry, I can’t quite do that, either). Hold your arms out to your sides and stretch them wide. Heck, why not even twist a little to each side, much like a tree swaying in the breeze.

You have now successfully stretched out your body… but have you stretched your mind? I just stumped some of you, didn’t I? You thought for a second “what the heck, there are no exercises for that!”.

Ah, but that is where you would be wrong, my friends. Every time you read something, you stretch your mind. Every time you think a decision through, you stretch your mind. Every time you look at something through someone else’s eyes, you stretch your mind. Every tiny spec of information you absorb… you get the picture.

Many times, we don’t even realize that we have stretched our minds. We are so rushed through our day that much of what we have seen and done hasn’t even sunk in or made an impression by the time we pass out at night. It’s often much later, when a situation arises that forces us to recall certain pieces of information, when we realize “oh. wow. I knew that/learned that/remember that”. We forget to take the time to stop and marvel at everything that is out there, waiting for us to feast our brain on.

Spread your wings, little birds. Fly beyond your own nests and find those juicy little morsels that will feed and stretch your mind and soul.

• A University of Houston team is revealing the secrets of electricity.
• Protect your digital information with the coming of the new school year.
• If you believe everything the CEO of Yahoo has to say, then life is indeed wonderful.
• Some people are waiting with baited breath for Apple’s Kindle killer.
• Microsoft and Yahoo – will market share be enough?
• Do you Bing-Hoo?
• How do you keep your notebook secure when traveling?
• Many of us name our computers – but do you name your gadgets, too?
• Be aware of the newest domain-name “appraisal” scam that is circulating.
• Will Linux top Windows 7?

Stretch Yourself

Earlier, I read a thread on Geeks about Trent Reznor, the Nine Inch Nails frontman, deleting his Twitter account. Trent embraced Twitter quite awhile ago after discovering what an amazing outlet it can be. He quickly recognized the excellent means of communication Twitter provides. He helped raise over a million dollars via Twitter for a fan of his needing a heart transplant. He talked about the band’s upcoming tours and album, and reached out to fans. Trent loved the fact that fans got to know the “real” side of him, and that they learned there is more to him than just being “the NIN singer”.

Trent told the truth as he saw it on Twitter. He wasn’t afraid to say what he thinks about anything or anyone – positive or negative. However, this created some “hate tweets” from users. Reznor wasn’t happy when people lashed out at him for something he thought or said. He withdrew from Twitter for awhile at one point, and posted about his hatred of the site on his own blog. He returned recently for a short while, but it didn’t last. The account is now completely gone. He has stated that “idiots rule” on social networks.

My advice to Mr. Reznor is to grow a thicker skin. When you are in any type of spotlight, you are going to have critics and haters. Heck, I’m not even famous, and I have my share of people who leave idiotic, hateful or rude comments on each and every social networking site I’m on. You just let those roll off your back. If someone gives constructive criticism – learn from it. If they are simply a troll, ignore them and move on with your life. There are thousands upon thousands of GOOD people on social networking sites, ones who support you. They are the ones who buy tickets to your concerts. They are the ones who purchase your CDs. They are the ones whose opinions you should care about.

There are always going to be trolls, idiots and haters. Why let people like that rule your life, how you conduct yourself, or how you perceive yourself? Why would you judge all people on social networks based on the idiocy of a few? Isn’t that a bit much?

This wasn’t the only good story that caught my eye in our community today, but it is the one that spoke to me the most! All of you have been posting some excellent things on both Lockergnome and Geeks. I hope you take the time to check out what others are doing, as well.

• Clearwire is finally supporting OS X.
• How do you handle indecisive people?
• Convert your car to electric to save money.
• The Microsoft EU e-store collapsed during the rush of customers wanting to pre-order Windows 7 at a discount.
• The DoJ vs Google – is this another Microsoft fiasco?
• Don’t count Yahoo out just yet.
• Airlines are winning – and keeping – customers by using Twitter.
• Keep malware – and naked reporters – off of your computer.
• Say goodbye to the F-22 fighter jet.

You Need a Thick Skin to Participate Online

This phrase is used all over the world, I think, and can have many different meanings. However, in the case of a thread on Geeks today, it means exactly what it says! The poster is asking who else was (or is) involved in band during high school. I was never in band, but my assistant Kat was. Not only that – she was also the marching band Drum Major for two years!

It’s been said that what happens at band camp stays at band camp. However, I’m curious. Do you have any stories you’re willing to share? Was it as awesome of an experience as people have claimed? Keep your comments/stories family friendly and clean, please! Remember our younger audience!

While you’re thinking up your story, or reliving your memories, make sure to check out what else our community has in store for you today.

• Microsoft has confirmed when Windows 7 will be released.
• Is the Xbox Live Arcade snubbing Indie developers?
• A new study has identified a potential fix for damaged knees.
• Will Microsoft ever give ActiveX the axe?
• Are you planning to check out the new Ghost operating system?
• iCloud is an operating system that runs inside of your browser.
• Is it time to retire the land line?
• Why not advertise your business locally using social networks?
• Gnash is so close – yet so far away.
• Don’t feel discolored – it’s just a phone!
• Would you buy a car from eBay?
• How can you post screen shots directly to WordPress?
• Turn a megaphone into a low-frequency spy device.
• Microsoft is launching a Spotify alternative.

This One Time, at Band Camp

I can’t believe we’re already into July. Where the heck did June go? How did I miss it? I haven’t gone out to tan yet, nor have I played any beach volleyball. Wait a minute… I must have had some odd out-of-body experience for a moment there. Let’s call it a momentary lapse of sanity, ok? I don’t tan. I’m as ghost-white as it gets. The only “sun” I get are the rays that come from my monitors. We all know I’m not one to play sports, either. I’m not sure who took over my keyboard and wrote that garbage!

In any case, summer is half over I suppose. Time flies when you’re too busy to stop to breathe. Gnomedex is only six weeks away, and the team is working hard to get everything ready. I want to thank all of you who have offered your help and services to help make this year rock more than ever before!

Never fear, young grasshoppers. Even though I’m busy, I still make the time to see what you have to say! Your community contributions are the backbone that makes everything I do so much fun.

• Do you use a Google cheat sheet?
• What are your thoughts on Google Wave?
• “Instant-on” Linux faces stiff competition.
• Two weeks after buying the iPhone 3G S, are you still happy?
• Can anything interesting come from a lunch date between Bill Gates and Eric Schmidt?
• Google Apps is going to become an OpenID provider.
• Thousands of medical records have been compromised due to a Trojan.
• Despite the recession, Macs are selling like hotcakes.
• Over half a million laptops are missing or stolen each year.

Summer is Half Over Already?!

The days are going by so fast that I think I lost track somewhere. Here I thought it was already officially Summer – only to realize that it doesn’t actually begin until Sunday! It’s hot out. The sun is shining. Schools are out. People are going to the beach. How is it not summer?

I guess I’ve been so busy lately, what with Gnomedex coming up and all! Things are coming along nicely for the conference, and we’re going to have an amazing time. If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet – what are you waiting for? Don’t be the one sitting at home watching us on the live stream and kicking yourself for not showing up.

Even though I’m crazy busy these days, I still make time to check out what everyone is up to. It’s one of the most important parts of my day – and I hope it’s an important part of yours.

• Do you stand in lines for gadgets and phones?
• California is paying parents to take care of their own children as part of an unemployment package.
• There are big skies – and not much common sense – to be found in Montana.
• What are the top ten things you should consider when choosing an operating system?
• Are people still in love with Windows XP?
• Protect your PC with a hard-drive password.
• Do you have the courage to type 140 characters?
• Transform your XP notebook into an e-book reader.
• Is the sky the limit for wind power?
• Where do you rate on the Geek Hierarchy?
• What VoIP service do you recommend?
• Is the so-called “overpriced Mac” now just a fading myth?
• Does Twitter work for the US Government?

Is it Even Summer Yet?

Reading through things today in our community, I came across yet another post that gave me pause for thought. That seems to happen daily, doesn’t it? It’s so great to have all of you posting things that makes us all stop and think about life… often in a different way than we might otherwise have.

With the economy so tough and so many thousands of people out of work, it’s easy to lose hope. The house is getting foreclosed. The bills are stacking up. Luxuries are a thing of the past, as are dinners out – even at McDonald’s. It’s hard to see your way clear to remembering that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It’s nearly impossible at times like this to keep your hope alive, until one small, random act of kindness restores your faith.

Even though the post I mentioned above talks about a company who reached out to unemployed people, there are things all of us can do in order to help bolster the spirits of those we know and love who are having a rough time. I encourage YOU to reach out. You can do something simple, like taking a home-cooked meal to a family you know is having a hard time making ends meet. You could offer the use of your car to someone whose may have been repossessed due to job loss… they need wheels to go out and put in applications! Why not offer free babysitting time to that neighbor who is stressed out? Take her kids to your house for a few hours, and encourage her to relax and recharge herself.

All it takes is one simple little gesture to remind us that life is so much better than it may appear. Even during our worst times, there’s still hope.

Thank you to all of you who touch MY life each and every day just by being a part of this community. Even on the days when I struggle to do the things I need to do, I simply restore my own hope by reading what all of you contribute. I am so blessed to do something that I love so much – and it’s thanks to all of you.

• Apple is exploring application sharing.
• Have you ever built your own home server?
• Is Bing going to get hammered over live thumbnails?
• Controlling the UAC in Windows 7 is simple!
• Would you pay a hundred bucks in order to have an email address from Linux?
• Can a purely digital lifestyle work?
• Ready or not, here it comes – Windows 7 is just around the corner.
• Do you actually make money with AdSense?
• Regular light bulbs are made super-efficient with ultra-fast lasers.
• The Air France crash demonstrates the limits of technology.
• What do you feel was the downfall of General Motors?
• Newly discovered reaction to old drugs may lead to new antibiotics.
• What do women love about Geek guys?

One Small Act of Kindness…

What does the World need now? I’m talking tangible objects here. What more can we possibly need? This question came up recently in a discussion on Geeks, and I found it to be quite thought-provoking. If you were able to choose the next big invention, what would it be? Would it be something in the technology field? What about something that could save lives? Think carefully, and then reply to this post and let me know what you think the world needs!

While you’re thinking… be sure to see what else is being talked about in our community today!

• Are you ready to buy an SSD?
• Samsung’s SSD hardware is stupid fast!
• Is the XP mode of Windows 7 anything but a reaction tool?
• How do you bridge the technology gap between young and old?
• What all-in-one instant messenger should you use?
• A new technique that scrambles light may lead to sharper images and wider views.
• What is the breakthrough in advanced Cellulosic Biofuel?
• Cuil is clearly a non-starter.
• What is your Windows index base score?
• Are you looking for a deal on Pinnacle Video Capture for your Mac?
• One million people in Oklahoma are at risk of being victims of Identity Theft.
• 192GB of Ram? Who the heck could even use that much?
• If you’re looking for something special for your Mom for Mother’s Day, consider checking out Kiyonna’s!
• Check out the Diaper Dash game for hours of fun.

What the World Needs Now…

I think my new idea is catching on rather well. “Geek Eye for the Sloppy Guy”. I can’t help but love that title for the series I’m doing – beauty tips for guys! Who knows – maybe it will turn into a television show someday! Ok, ok – maybe not. But hey… anything can happen! Have you seen the latest additions to the series?

• Geek Guy for the Sloppy Guy: Keep Body Odor at Bay!
• Geek Guy for the Sloppy Guy: Trim those Raggedy Nails!
• Geek Eye for the Sloppy Guy: This ain’t the 1800s! Trim your sideburns dude!

I’ve been busy doing other things, as well. Don’t worry – I’m still a techie at heart! Just because I tend to take pride in how well-groomed I am doesn’t mean I’m not still a complete Geek! I love to read about anything and everything, especially things that all of you from the community put out there. I spend hours a day just checking out what’s what, who’s where, and why wonders never cease! Are you reading what your peers are doing?

• Stop spam from ever reaching your computer.
• No one talks about the hidden Windows tax.
• Men should not answer the phone.
• How do you properly uninstall AVG?
• Give me your old and tired PCs.
• What if Dr. Seuss wrote Tech manuals?
• BT has launched a huge frontal assault on Pirate Bay.
• Honsety is the best policy in the dating world.
• What are the top 500 Supercomputers?
• Intel wants a two second boot time on netbooks – using Linux!
• Being tasered is like having a great workout?!
• If Vista drives you crazy, what’s the best way to go back to XP?
• Can we just put an end to the OS wars?
• What is your biggest goal in life?

Geek Eye for the Sloppy Guy – a Beginning

Brrrr it’s freezing here in Seattle right now! I know that winter has hit everywhere by now, and is much worse in some places. For instance, in Maine the other day, there was a massive blizzard. Kat is headed there for two weeks. Lets hope she doesn’t get snowed in until Spring! With all of the snow and icy temperatures, it’s a great time for me to stay cozy in my office, and check out everything going on around my world.

Lockergnome Posts

• Mozilla and Google aren’t so cozy these days.
• What is the secrecy of the bailout money?
• Are we doomed until 2010?
• Try renting your college textbooks instead of buying them!
• How do you create an extended network using Apple’s Airport?

Geeks Blogs

• What are your thoughts on online music services?
• The Star Wars acapella video has been nominated for a People’s Choice Award!
• What are you looking forward to in 2009?
• What are your thoughts on the Auto Bailout?
• Do you know how to connect to our live chat using XChat?

Geeks Posts

• Do you Google yourself?
• If you had $2000.00 to spend on anything you wanted – what would you buy?
• Is the iPod Touch and/or iPhone the future of handheld gaming?
• Do you have any New Year’s resolutions yet?
• 50,000 YouTube subscribers, and 8,000 blog posts, and still going strong!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland of Writing

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Even before the World Wide Web, I downloaded everything I could find to run on my computer. I was a software Geek from day one. Hardware is expensive, so I never got into it nearly as much.

I got an email here from Josh, and he writes: “I’ve been a subscriber to your YouTube channel for awhile, and I thought I would put together a top 10 list for you about easy ways people can contribute to the software community”. So without further ado, let’s take a look at his tips.

1. Join an idea submission site to share the ideas on how to make a product better with the community, as well as the company sponsoring the site. Examples of this include Dell’s Ideastorm Ubuntu Linux’s Brainstorm site.
2. Download and test Alpha and Beta software. Companies that release this kind of software to the public almost always provide a way to report bugs as well as provide feedback. One easy and highly useful piece of software to test is a Web browser. Firefox and Chrome are two examples that offer easy to obtain public betas.
3. Join a public bug tracker for a piece of software you use. This way, you can report bugs you find, as well as help identify valid and invalid already existing bugs by voting. You can also confirm bugs that have already been reported in the bug tracker.
4. If you use OpenDNS, they have a community where you can submit domains for review, and vote on whether a domain is categorized correctly to help improve their content filtering. There are also a few places to report phishing scams, such as Phishtank.
5. Contribute support in forums and help sites. If you know the answer to a question someone is asking at one of these sites, you can post an answer. An example of such a forum is Lockergnome Help forums, Apple Discussions and even Microsoft Newsgroups.
6. Open Source projects often accept help writing documentation, or translating their documentation into a different language. Open Source projects also often accept donations. These donations can often be counted when you are doing your taxes. Some Open Source projects accept artwork, too.
7. Try to contribute what you are good at. Software companies need a lot of different skills, such as artwork, legal advising, financial management, translations, user interface testing, etc… There is a place where anyone can contribute.
8. Publicize software you use or like in your blog, Twitter, or even on YouTube.
9. Join a user group for a piece of software you use. I’ve never been in one, however I know a few people in these type of groups, including one person who is in a VMware user group. He is able to get large discounts on VMware’s product,s as well as give direct feedback to VMware engineers.
10. Use a lot of different software on multiple OS’s if possible.

So you see, there are many ways you can get your foot into the door where software is concerned, and make your voice heard. By helping out in any or all of these words will not only help you, but could help countless other people as well.

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How Are You Helping the Software Community?

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Do you visit online forums? Do you behave while you’re there? Do you know HOW to behave in a forum environment? Here are some tips to make your forum experience a much happier one for you… and the forum Moderation Team.

• Read the rules You may have been on other forums and gotten around there smoothly but if you are joining a new community you have to read the rules. You may be doing something that every new member (who didn’t read the rules) does and in worst cases get banned. Read the rules and follow them.
• No 1337-speak Posts that contains 1337-speak is not always easy to understand. 1337-speak is a very geekish way of writing. You try to replace every letter with numbers and symbols. For example, 1337 means leet, short for eleet -> elite. 1337-speak is even disallowed on some sites. Use proper English and spell check your typing. Do everything to look as engaged as possible. Do not ever use caps-lock for your messages. It makes you look dumb and you for sure will not receive valuable response.
• Have manners The worst thing is people who join a site and request people to do everything for them. If the site has an introduction forum, introduce yourself to the community. If you have a problem, don’t ask people to do things for you, do what you can to figure out how to do it and in worst case, ask how to do what you want.
• Try to help others When you have been in the community for a while, you might know more than the average user. Use your intelligence to help people. Tell them what they did wrong and tell them how to do what they want. Moderators can not help all users. Users are there to help and get help.
• Search before posting Always search before posting about a matter. Every common forum system has a search system that allows you to search through every single post on the forum. Many things get answered several times because some users don’t search before they make their request. This will help the moderators so they can focus on other things, the site itself, so it doesn’t get filled with loads of the same stuff.

Our live community leader Kat also is an Administrator at a huge forums site. GeeksToGo is a free computer-help site, with over a million posts, and more than 200,000 members. She has more than four years’ worth of experience in being an Administrator at these types of forums, and wanted to add the following tips.

• When posting for help on a computer help forum such as GeeksToGo, be specific. The Staff will have a much easier time helping you if they know off the bat what the problem is. If you don’t know what the exact problem is, give as many details as possible.
• When you join any type of forums, ALWAYS actually take time to read the Terms of Use (Terms of Service). Every site is different, and some allow things that others don’t. By taking the time to read these prior to signing up, you’ll know exactly what the rules of that particular forum are. This can save you trouble in the future.
• Don’t spam the forum with a hundred posts in your first day, just to make yourself “known”. You’ll be “known” all right… as a spammer, a pest, and someone to “keep an eye on”. Take time to look around the forums, and see how other people talk to each other. Watch posting style of long-time members and Staff/Mods. This way, you’ll be able to fit in much easier when you do begin posting!

All in all, being a member of an online forum of any kind can be fun, informational and addictive! Don’t burn yourself out by trying to do too much at once. Have fun, be yourself… and you’ll do just fine!

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<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9BkCjfye0i0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9BkCjfye0i0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://chris.pirillo.com/">Chris</a> | <a href="http://live.pirillo.com/">Live Tech Support</a> | <a href="http://media.pirillo.com/">Video Help</a> | <a href="http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow">Add to iTunes</a>

How to Get Along in an Online Forum

Hey, we’ve got Vista Forums online – including categories for Multimedia, Networking & Sharing, Performance Management, Scan, Security, General Discussions, Hardware Devices, Games, File Management, Account Administration, Mail, and Setup & Installation. Each one of these Vista forums has a separate RSS feed, too – so if you want to track what’s happening in the world of Vista support, you can do it with ease. The forum servers are much happier now, and we’re only going to add more categories over time. Vista Help, ho!

Vista Forums