Paltalk Rocked last Night!!!!

[mylanta]

Hey thanks to new star Photolady, PeteF, Tony and the usual bunch, we had a super night last night and were the number 2 populated group in Computer Tech!!!
Any of you with topic ideas for future chatrooms, please post them here.
Soon we will move forward with guests there as soon as we get back in the loop with software vendors in June.
Remember Grand opening is coming and we will reopen our lines of vendor communication soon. one of the things that will bring besides prizes and giveaways, will be guests for Paltalk Chatroom.

[photolady]

Thanks Rich. Chat was great!! I really enjoyed talking/typing to this group. I haven't chatted for about 4 years and I never realized I missed it til last night. I'll be back every week from now on. ;)

And I'm going to check mic's today. And change that sound card by next week. I probably need different speakers also. The ones I have were pretty cheap and made that way too. Any ideas on speakers?

[kern]

Hey thanks to new star Photolady, PeteF, Tony and the usual bunch, we had a super night last night and were the number 2 populated group in Computer Tech!!!

yep all the activity was a welcome change. many thanks to the "regulars" and the "new faces"!!

[casey]

Thanks Rich. Chat was great!! I really enjoyed talking/typing to this group. I haven't chatted for about 4 years and I never realized I missed it til last night. I'll be back every week from now on. ;)

And I'm going to check mic's today. And change that sound card by next week. I probably need different speakers also. The ones I have were pretty cheap and made that way too. Any ideas on speakers?

I don't know much about speakers but next week Staples
has this sale:

altec lansing vs2121 speakers (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)
564460
$52.98 - $18 is - $20 er = $14.98

is = instant savings
er= easy rebate

The easy rebate means you can just go to their web site and fill out the rebate forms...

[kern]

And I'm going to check mic's today. And change that sound card by next week. I probably need different speakers also. The ones I have were pretty cheap and made that way too. Any ideas on speakers?


I like Polk or Altec Lansing. For a decent relatively inexpensive set, check out Altec Lansing V2220 or V2221.

[mylanta]

The key to speakers is the word "amplified"...all the brands mentioned are fine here...I have a Yamaha sub woofer system I bought on eBay a few years ago at 2AM (couldn't sleep) for $35 and the sound is "Symphony Hall" quality!!!

[mylanta]

Thanks Rich. Chat was great!! I really enjoyed talking/typing to this group. I haven't chatted for about 4 years and I never realized I missed it til last night. I'll be back every week from now on. ;)

And I'm going to check mic's today. And change that sound card by next week. I probably need different speakers also. The ones I have were pretty cheap and made that way too. Any ideas on speakers?

Fantastic what we need is more regulars and it gets better for everyone.
Of cousre if some of the old regulars would return, that would be kewl too!!!!

[photolady]

Thanks for suggestions. I like Altec Lansing also. These I have just got because the ones I had before, mice chewed the wires inside the subwoofer, and I got a deal at Fry's for these. Now that I live in my own home that is mice free, I wanted to get a set of better speakers.

[dale@fcg]

More thoughts on Paltalk structure (in addition to the ideas of guests and specific topics):

1. Take the idea of specific topics and once in a while have Q&A's hosted by one of us. I'd love to pick Dan's brain on networking; Doug on router/firewall/filesharing on peer to peer; Rich on hd's (mbr issues, imaging, name brands,etc); Fred on web site building and hosting; Pete, Tony, JoeS, RobC, Terry, and others on various s/w apps; RobS on h/w; even Al on Win98, Martians, and conspiracy theories ;)

2. Tutorials on various hw and sw, once again hosted by none other than us.:argue::hug: Why not listen to Dan's way of doin sumptin one week, then hear out Pete on another topic some other nite, and so on. Sometimes learning new methods of doing something is very helpful- or learning something you never new is really helpful.

If the above ideas are alternated with guests and specific topics to be discussed, none of these 'timed spots' would get old- since there could be a Q&A one week, a tutorial the next, a guest the next, etc.

[mylanta]

Really good thoughts Dale, now all we have to do is figure out how to get Fred and Doug to show up.

[PeteF]

More thoughts on Paltalk structure (in addition to the ideas of guests and specific topics):

1. Take the idea of specific topics and once in a while have Q&A's hosted by one of us. I'd love to pick Dan's brain on networking; Doug on....


I like the idea of specific topics.
Here's a few ideas & things to consider.

* Be consistant by having presentaton of Topics at certain
times, such as 10pm or 11pm.

* Don't schedule presentations to compete with time slots
of very popular TV shows.

* Limit presentations to short segments 15 to 30 minutes.

* Follow up presentation with Q & A session.

* On a routine basis, take suggestions for topics of presentations.
On a weekly, basis, put several topics up for voting by all members
of this Forum. Suggestions & Voting will will serve to get people actively
involved and draw more people in.

* Encourage any member to produce their own presentation and
submit it for review via *.mp3 or *.wav file that can be played into
the chat room.

* Promote the PalTalk sessions by having downloadable Webcasts
of the most successful presentations. This will allow everyone to
listen regardless of work or sleep schedule or whatever. Eventually,
more people will attend the live sessions because of the ability to
ask questions during the Q & A sessions that follow a presentation.

* Promote the PalTalk sessions on the home page.. www.kickenhardware.net
by listing this month's topics & schedule.

* Put a link to... www.kickenhardware.net on the TOP of page on
the forums with something that will attract people. Why not use the
ADs section at the top to advertise the PalTalk Session?

* Open a new category Forum named.. "PalTalk - KH Computer Help"
as a place to take suggestions, voting, and discuss anything related
to the PalTalk sessions.

---pete---

[mylanta]

I love it all except you probably failed to notice we do have the forum advertised at the top and we also have it interjected now and then into the chatroom box as well (thanks to Lina).

[dale@fcg]

all we have to do is figure out how to get Fred and Doug to show up.

Rich,
Schedule them to host a topic or Q&A. That'll put them under the gun to show up. :bump2::attention::boink::clap2:

[mylanta]

Dale,
Sheer Brilliance....top rung of ladder achieved!!!

[dale@fcg]

:laugh::horn::cheer2::pizza:

[PeteF]

I love it all except you probably failed to notice we do have the forum advertised at the top and we also have it interjected now and then into the chatroom box as well (thanks to Lina).

What is the chatroom box? Where is that?

Yes, I did miss any ads you might have placed at the top of the Forums
pages. I think the way you did banner ads with old software was superior
to the current scheme. Especially the way the banner would change
anytime you clicked near the top of page. Colorful banners with graphics
definitely work better.

For the "Paltalk - KH Computer Help Desk", it would definitely help to
have a special logo. Hmmmmmmm, I just had a thought! You were talking
about some FREE give-aways on future Paltalk sessions, right? Well, how
about having a contest to give away some of those items?

How about a "Paltalk - KH Computer Help Desk" LOGO contest?
People can submit their artwork for a logo and you can give away
1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes and let the members of the Forum vote on
the winner.

Again, this serves to get people actively involved and acts
as marketing tool to promote the Paltalk sessions.

---pete---

[mylanta]

The chatroom box is what we were all typing in and above it at the top was the banner for forum.
Actually I have the same idea for the give-aways. And you can bet your "bippy" the freebies will only be given away at the Chatroom too!

[compusimple]

Don't we have to be a little cautious regarding people who aren't normal signers-in and allowing them to interupt to have a computer problem solved.
Or at least acknowledging them and give them some idea as to when the forum will address their problem.

Elliott

[mylanta]

Elliot,
What usually happens is most of the non users who come in with a problem, tend to type in and someone handles their problems in the chatbox anyway.

[dale@fcg]

It would really behoove us to be willing to interrupt our topic to help any 'newcomer' that pops in looking for help. As it is now, Al or rbob usually type them a hello and ask if they have a computer question. That would probably still suffice.

[mylanta]

Yes and we would be willing to....

[tonyd]

Last night I demo'd PalTalk to a friend. We went to one of the Computer Rooms and signed in. Almost immediately we were greeted in the chatbox. It was nice to be greated. We felt welcomed.

-td

[mylanta]

Tony we have done it both ways. In most cases if we greet users immediately they leave without answering.

[dale@fcg]

Maybe we should all (or at least all be ready to, until we see a half dozen hello's or so) type a hello to each newcomer:welcome:. There really is a certain level of comfort and willingness to stick around to hear what we have to say :ear: and come back if one feels accepted.

Another thing would be to be very tactful about criticizing the hardware or software a newcomer is using. Most newbies or uneducated pc users are using McAfee/Norton/Maxtor/Emachines/Spyware-R-Us/ChanTech/Belkin routers/Acme tissue paper/LD ram (remember Snow from last week, who wanted free RAM or his money back?) because either that's what came with their Office Max purchase, or because the "GEEK SQUAD" highly recommended it.:faint:

We need to point out that many of us in the chatroom have chosen some other brand because of its ease of use and efficiency. Both Al and Rbob have used this smooth talking approach to steer folks away from things like Norton and over to Nod, etc. To point out that Western Digital HD's are what most of us use and experience very few problems with is a much more likely method to retain a first timer than to put that newcomer on the defensive by belittling his existing items or choices.:director:

[casey]

Another thing would be to be very tactful about criticizing the hardware or software a newcomer is using. Most newbies or uneducated pc users are using McAfee/Norton/Maxtor/Emachines/Spyware-R-Us/ChanTech/Belkin routers/Acme tissue paper/LD ram (remember Snow from last week, who wanted free RAM or his money back?) because either that's what came with their Office Max purchase, or because the "GEEK SQUAD" highly recommended it.:faint:

We need to point out that many of us in the chatroom have chosen some other brand because of its ease of use and efficiency. Both Al and Rbob have used this smooth talking approach to steer folks away from things like Norton and over to Nod, etc. To point out that Western Digital HD's are what most of us use and experience very few problems with is a much more likely method to retain a first timer than to put that newcomer on the defensive by belittling his existing items or choices.:director:

Rich, I want you to note that I am keeping quiet and letting this pass .:) :attention:

[mylanta]

Larry,
Duly noted and I am in awe of your control! Probably because I didn't post it though?
Dale,
I really hope we don't "lambaste" people for the foolishness of free free free and MacAfee etc use (note this new spirit of non-confrontation Larry)...
I mean we do have to watch Dan here but he is usually asleep by the time these folks wander in....and I think we try to first work through the problem the user has, then suggest other programs and hardware at the end...

[dale@fcg]

What I mean Rich, is that it is so easy (at least for me) to try to convince someone that they should get rid of that questionable or no-good (imho) hardware or app that allowed the problem in the first place. But that's not gonna retain newcomers. So I agree, let's solve the problem first and then opine upon choices.

Larry,
I had/have no intention of rehashing the Norton wars :gossip:, just trying to emphasize the need to help first, and then offer advice to prevent future reoccurences of that problem (by switching brands or adding something new).

Seems like mentioning Norton around here is worse than talking politics or religion. :scared:

[casey]

Dale. I think it was more the newbies or uneducated pc user remark ,that if I was the old larry, would have jumped on.Since I have been fooling with computers since
1989(pc computers) or you could say I first worked on and repaired computers back in 1958 (synchro/servo systems)I don't consider myself a newbie and maybe you could call me uneducated because I don't know all there is to know about computers and probably will still be learning when I die, but I have some education besides
schooling, and have been using Norton longer then most people here are using Nod32 I believe I have a right to my opinion. Now don't take this the wrong way as I also don't want to start another thread on Norton( besides I believe I held my own in the last one).


Most newbies or uneducated pc users are using McAfee/Norton/Maxtor/Emachines/Spyware-R-Us/ChanTech/Belkin routers/Acme tissue paper/LD ram

[mylanta]

Larry,
While I might infer you have poor choice in antivirus programs, I would never infer that you are either a newbie or an uneducated user.
The beauty of the Posse, before it imploded or was made to implode by the team Captain, was that everyone had a strength or an area of so-called expertise, and when they all came together, there were an ominous force in "help desk", yet no real individual was that well rounded either as to be able to speak on all topics. There really is no one here who knows close to everything. Remember one of the good "catch phrases" that came out of the radio
experiences, which we really practice on this forum, not just mouth the words, is "users helping users" and that could not be phrased better as far as I am concerned.
Besides that what Dale was referring to are what someone we know refers to as "aimless toothless souls" with "red rusty Chevies" who float in and out of contact on Paltalk chatrooms. You wouldn't have fit that classification in 1958 either.

[dale@fcg]

NONONONO, Larry. Understand my drift here, buddy. Not everyone who uses Norton is a newbie. Just that many newbies have told me flat out they have NAV because some so called guru at Staples told them to or because their pc came with a trial version of NAV.

Seriously, Larry, being ladder climber and wrung gripper, I have no room to call anyone on this forum a newbie. I have been enjoying and educating myself from your posts for years, both here and over at the other bbs.

I knew I shoulda left out that Norton reference. It was not meant to be a judgment on Norton, just the fact that if someone shows up in our chatroom with virus or trojan issues and says they are using NAV, within minutes there is a suggestion to change AV's (it has nothing to do with anything personal here)

[casey]

[QUOTE=dale@fcg

I knew I shoulda left out that Norton reference. It was not meant to be a judgment on Norton, just the fact that if someone shows up in our chatroom with virus or trojan issues and says they are using NAV, within minutes there is a suggestion to change AV's (it has nothing to do with anything personal here)[/QUOTE]

Dale, it was not taken personally but I wanted it noted that people disagree on a lot of things and especially when it comes to computers.

[dale@fcg]

Computers, Larry. That ain't nothing. Consider sports, lifestyle, religion, and politics.

And where would we be without Larry's deal-sensing abilities? :typing: